The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-07

placed our case, satisfied with the Justice Of
our claims and that Justice Will be done By the
Board, but ready to accept their awards a. .
settlement whatever they may be. England's
protest against our bill and the hue and cry OF
the British press against its submission to the
Court Of Arbitration is an insult to the court,
as well as an offsnse to the United States,
entitled to no respect whatever. It Is a base
attempt to bully, not only our government, but
the Geneva arbitrators, for which the only ap-
propriate reparation is an honest apology to
the United States and to tho eminent and
honorable men of the arbitration.
Mr.. Senator Edmunds hits the nail upon the
head In submitting that the protest of England
against the american case" betrays an in
tention ''to revoke the Treaty Of Washington
unless the claims of the United States shall
be presented upon principle and in q man
nsr agreeable to the other party" But these
remarks and the accompanying resolution Of
Mr.. Edmunds mean something more than
mere expression Of opinion. They mean that
General Grant will stand by the american
case" as the case authorized by the treaty,
and he cannot do otherwise. II Mr.. Glad
stone, In order to save himself from vote Of
condemnation by the Commons on home
affairs, finds II necessary to appeal to the
patriotism Of John Bull against ''the insolent
pretensions of the Yankees" General Grant
upon this issue has no alternative but to meet
him face to face-peace or war. The general
voice of this country will now soon be heard
upon this subject, and IL will be, as it is COM
ing In, general voice for the american
case" and no abatement to the extent Of
penny under English bullying and impertl
hence.
Indeed, from the pressure ofpublic indigna-
ton, and from the danger Of q ruinous popu-
lar reaction upon this question 10 the event Of
any concessions to British bravado, we think
It not impossible, from what has already been
done by England and tho English press,
despite the sudden silence of some of the
to prejudice our claims before the Geneva Con-
ference, that General Grant may be compelled
to withdraw from the arbitration and proclaim
the absolute revocation and abandonment of
the Washington Treaty before the return Of the
day of It's ratification by the Senate. There will
be no safety to the administration in temporizing
with England upon this business. The oppo-
sltion elements of the country were never so
earnest, 80 Industrious or 80 desperate in
their efforts to compass the defeat of General
Grant for the Presidential succession as they
are to-day. They are moving heaven and
form, Custom House frauds, and all sorts of
charges of NATURALIZATION to defeat him,
but with the odds still overwhelmingly In his
favor But let him back down from this
american case" at Geneva and he will be
overwhelmingly defeated. Against this dis
graceful and ignominious retreat from the true
American position on these Alabama claims,
with all the concessions they have agreed to,
the glorious services of General Grant in the
field of war and in the field of diplomacy, in
the work of reconstruction at home and in the
cause of peace at home and abroad, will not
avail to save him from the wrath of an offended
people.
And upon this issue what would be the
consequences following General Grants de-
feat? Conspicuous among them would be
war with England; for what to the ruling ele-
ments of the opposition, If successful, the
Copperheads and Southern confederates, would
be the depreciation of our national securities
or the final redemption of the national debt,
outstanding or prospective? Who can an
swerp While these great issues Of our civil
war-the national debt and the financial neces-
stiles resulting from it-are in danger from
sudden political revolution. the reelection
of General Grant becomes most important
matter. Not till within the last three days
did there appear to be any possible combina-
ton Of hostile forces, or any probable contin-
gency in our domestic or foreign affairs within
range Of the chapter of accidents that would
be sufficient to prevent his reelection. But
now the contingency has come which may
make or break him, which may exalt him
above all the glories he has achieved, or bring
him, with all the laurels be has gained, down
in the dust To advance higher In the affec-
tons, the confidence and gratitude Of the
American people he has only to stand by their
claims as submitted by his agents to the arbi-
traitors at Geneva; to lose the support Of the
people he has only to abandon their cause In
this case in submission 10 the astounding inso-
lence and presumption Of John Bull.
We have, however, not the slightest mis-
givings as to the policy Of General Grant on
this difficulty. He is not the man to be
bullied. He il remarkable for his amiable,
generous and conciliatory disposition; but he
is quite as remarkable for his 1rmness against