The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-03-14
Our English Cousins.

States ana England remain without
change. Since the furore concerning the
treaty arose in England with the protest
OF that country against the consequent
tial damages" to be claimed by the United
States, notes have been interchanged be-
tween the State Departments of the two
countries, the general tenor of which are
calm and without speck of belligerency
England still asserts that the indirect
damages resulting from the acts of the
cruisers built in her ports form no part OF
the claims 70 be considered by the arbi-
traitors; while this country insists that the
question whether they do or not is one of
the very matters upon which adjudication
Is TO be had, and that, following an affirm
the amount
Recent dispatches states that the Joint
High Commission which negotiated the
preliminaries of the treaty will not be
again called together to heal this mex
pected fracture How or in what manner.
or at what time, an agreement is to be
had, is not stated, or whether an agree
ment can be reached at all 1t certainly
is an unfortunate and irritating state OF
things; although if the first burst of an
ger pass off harmlesslv, time may take
away the grief of mutual wounds. and
make each party less susceptible
The veteran diplomatist, William H
Seward, has been recently interviewed
upon the subject of the relations of the
two countries, and has expressed himself
without reserve. He gives the decided
opinion that no hostiIities will ensue. or
ANYTHING beyond the paper bullets OF
the BRAIN in which diplomacy and the
press are so fertile. Mr. Seward natural
" INDUCES tender feeling toward the
Reverdy johnson treaty, negotiated under
his administration of the State Depart
ment, which was so unceremoniously re-
Jected ia the Senate, and ridicued un-
thinkingly All over the country, As the af-
ter dinner diplomacy of Mr.. johnson, un-
der the modifying influence of English
wine. Mr.. Seward is reported as saving
do think that the Johnson-C Clarendon treaty
was the best treaty that could have been nego-
tlatet, lhere Mr.. Seward arose, saving with
SUDDEN energy and having rejected that they
rusht to be preclnded from making any more
treaties for the settlement of the A ALBANIA
CLAIMS NY opinion Is that the treaty which |
negotiated failed because of the passion and
prrJudicps engendeTed between the two coun-
tries The settlement OF the Alabama claims is
reserved for the future. The time has not vet
arrived, because those passions and prejudices
have not yet sufficiently subsidized.
50 far as we are permitted to know of
the future, it would not seem to be very
serious matter If the question of the Ala
bama claims should remain unsettled for
time. OF course it is better to heal I'D
quarrels, and live at peace with our neigh
bors; but when our neighbor has set an
example, having the force of law, which
would place him greatly at the disadvan
tage in quarrel, be is to degree under
bonds to keep the peace. While we We're
at war, and placed at a great disadvan-
tage, England put her own construction
upon the laws of neutrality. and the de-
mands of national comfy. She found it
consistent with both to permit the build
ing, arming, equpping and manning of
ships, superintendent and paid for by
belligerent, and to see them sent forth to
plumber, burn, sink and destroy. She
found it consistent with the same good
offices to furnish those ships, in all her
ports, with supplies, instead of OBTAINING
them as violators Of her neutrality, and to
send them forth Refrigerated on their
work of destruction.
Suppose we withdraw from this treaty,
and SO tar as England is concerned, ac-
cept her reading of the law? 1t requires
no great stretch of probability to foresee
The tine when she will be at war with
some power, great or small. Then her
vast commerce all over the world lies at
the mercy of swift sailing steamers. Our
hundreds of ports outlooking upon the
Atlantic and Pacific are permitted, by
England's Interpretation of international
law, and her practice under it, to sell to
her enemy ships and equipments, and to
permit our skilled sea men to enlist under
their flag. Can she complain, if with
what measure she mete it shall be meas
ured to her again? If anything in the
world will keep that bullying power on
her good behavior, it will be the knowl-
edge that her account may be balanced in
this way.