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

called upon 10 take back our declarations, to
admit our turbulence and insinoerity Of charac-
ter, by saying that We were dishonest In our
pleadings, to 60 to Geneva with q case
amended to suit England, which will practi-
cally be confession of Judgment against our
selves.
We feel that we have been eminently fair
in this whole business. We have expressed
no anxieties as to the decision of the tribunal.
II it does not award dollar to US we shall
not complain. We entered into this negotia-
ton not In q mercenary spirit, nor to humi-
late England, nor with any purpose of obtain
ing an unfair advantage over her. Having done
this, we mean to stand by our case and accept
the decision of the tribunal. England must
either take this treaty and observe
1t or accept the consequences of
receding. She must learn that the
Palmerston traditions are as little needed in
Washington as In st. Petersburg and Berlin.
She may add menace to menace, and send her
navies to our coasts and threaten us with tho
extremity of wrath. We mean to obey q
solemnly accepted law. which is the law to US
all. The American people are united in this
resolution as they have rarely been united
before. If President Grant gives way single
point his administration will be wrecked. He
could not 60 before the country and get an
electoral vote with record Of surrender
aud humiliation. This will be his re-
cord If, under the pressure Of Eng
fish public opinion, a public opinion
inspired by ignorance and arrogance, he con-
sents to withdraw his case and virtually
admits that he was capable of dishonesty and
bravado.
And as to war, we do not fear 1t, nor have
we any apprehensions that there will be war
The results of contest would be to cripple
the English commerce as severely as our own
was crippled during the rebellion, to occupy
Canada and Mexico and drive the British flag
from the Continent. A town or two might be
burned, even as Sebastopol was burned; our
coasts might be blockaded, and We
should have no more wines and brandies,
no silks or spices-perhaps small
supply of coffee and tea-but we should learn
the precious lesson Of our own resources, our
capacities for subsistence, our power to
stand alone and defy the world with shut
gates-the lessons Of prudence, thrift and
self-reliance. We should add to our wealth
by this compelled development Of our re-
sources more than we should lose by any pos
sible expense Of war, and President Grant
would emerge from the strife with the glory of
having planted the flag over the whole Cont
nent, of having driven the foreigner from
America. If the President were moved
by vulgar ambition, if he saw war as a pas
sion or the means of power and glory, if he
were controlled by the ignoble purposes which
were underlying the characters of Napoleon
aud Frederick, he would welcome conflict
with England upon the very issue which she
now 80 unwisely thrusts upon US. But the
President, as we have said, is man of peace.
He has shown moderation, q prudence and
o love for peace which give us the highest
guarantee that he will not wantonly
cause single gun to be fired in
anger. For this reason, more, perhaps,
than any other, his resolution to accept no in
dignity from England, and to be moved by no
menace-to stand by the american case" as
presented by his Cabinets joyfully accepted
by the country. He will find the country be-
hind him. He will see that whatever divisions
there may be on domestic questions as against
England upon an issue like this the country
Is unit, and will support him to any extent
and in every emergency. The cause is not Of
a party, but of the republic, and every patriot
30 regards it. We are not democrats or re-
publicans now, but Americans, resolved to
have our rights against the strongest and
proudest nations In the world.