New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-16

at the end IL becomes q di5graeeful panic. In
his telegram of the 25th Of April, Gen. Schenck
alludes TO the encouragement which the British
Government has received from the pro-
English articles in American newspapers, and
the writing and telegraphing OF frightened
busybodies. He then gloomily reverts to the
fact that the English do not appear to care
whether the Treaty fails or not. Mr.. Fish, on
the eth, makes great step forward, pro-
posing that the British Government should
propose a settlement on the basis OF stipula-
ton that England should not hereafter
exact of us responsibility which she scorn-
fully refuses for herself; in consideration OF
which we will not ask for damages, but leave
the Tribunal to express its opinion on the
principle in question. This, Granville on the
Goth refuses proposing instead that this
puerile stipulation shall be balanced by the
American Government agreeing that the Arbl-
traitors shall ignore the indirect claims. Even
that seemed to his Lordship, on second thought,
rather too indulgent, and he made Gen. Schenck
send, two days later, an offensive Introduction
to his proposition declaring the stiff adherence
of Her Majesty's Government to what they had
before said of the indirect claims, and their
conviction that Mr.. Fish had failed to dis
tinguish himself in his rejoinder.
Mr.. Fish is very long-suffering, but this is
rather severe. He answers on the 4th OF May
regretting that Her Majesty's Government ID
so hard on HIM, and saying that our Govern
ment cannot withdraw or give up any part OF
its Case. Mr. Schenck, now thoroughly alarmed
about the Treaty, sends hurried dispatch,
oh rarcbopna tho Min
istry may be persuaded to adopt; and the
next day he sends an amended proposal for q
reciprocal stipulation, binding both nations,
which would suit Lord Granville. 1t did not
suit Mr.. Fish, who informed him that
the President could not make treaties
without consulting the Senate, and in
a subsequent dispatch he strikes out
his fatally ingenious idea of an additional
article which has proved the ruin of the
whole negotiation. On the same day Gen.
Schenck sent another sad-colored dispatch,
saying that the Parliament and country were
unanimous with the Ministry, and against ar
bitrating the indirect claims, and added that
he had read this dispatch to Lord Granville,
and that he "admitted it was cOrrectw We
should have been greatly surprised if he had
not. Again, Mr.. Fish, too much excited to
keep quiet, sends another long dispatch to
London, which begins with this earnest pro-
testation "All the propositions by the British
Government involve coyertly, probably with
"out design [oh rare righteousness j, Whdt
"his Government can nerer agree to-the with
"drawal from the province of the Tribunal OF
"what we believe to be entirely within their
competencep Let us appreciate these con-
scientious and sagacious words, for they are to
appear never more in this controversy. On the
10th of May, Lord Granville sent to Gen.
Schenck the proposed article which we pub
lished yesterday, and on the 18th the President
sent it to the Senate. In this article, England
makes no concession whatever, holds firmly to
the ground she has held from the beginning, and
we give up our whole position. "The Presi-
"dent of the United States consents that he
"will make no claim on the part of the United
Estates in respect of indirect losses as afore-
"said before the Tribunal of Arbitration at
Geneva"
We have no answer for those Administration
newspapers who pretend to think that THE
TRIBUNE has taken partisan attitude in this
matter. We sustained the President in it as
long as he seemed mindful Of the dignity and
interests of the country, and we would have
been glad to sustain him in that path to the
end. But we can see no sufficient motive for
this sudden retreat and qualification. If the
Senate wish to cOndone and share it, we hope
it may be done quickly; that the scandal and
discredit of the whole affair may pass over
and be forgotten as soon as possible.