The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-06-07
Tho Tren,x NJ Iuddlci.

1ho Hrons y MIudLe.
The humble pie which Grant and the
Administration consented to swallow, in
the belief that the Washington treaty
would thus and thus only be preserved,
seems likely to prove bootless humilia-
ton. The supplemental treaty proposed
by England, and which was to do away
with the American claim for Indirect
damages, was accepted substantially by
the Senate; but these wise men must
needs tinker Mr.. Gladstone's English so
as to make it conform to the require
ments of their moro cultivated tastes.
Mr.. Gladstone does not seem to relish
this imputation upon his orthography,
and rejects the corrections, ampli6ca-
tions. or whatever the changes may be.
protesting that he and his Govern ment
cannot understand precisely what posi-.
ton the United States desires to assume
in relation to consequential damages.
The action of the Senate. and the subse-
quent correspondence between the high
contracting powers. has been kept secret.
and it is consequently not fully known.
outside of official circles, what or where
precisely is the present hitch that ologs
the progress of the wheels of arbitfa-
ton and seems to threaten the entire de-
struotion of the treaty. The general be-
lief. which is very probably correct, ia
that the amendments or alterations made
by the Senate, in the supplemental
treaty, give too great latitude to neutrals;
that instead Of specifying the nature of
the Indirect damages. for which neu-
trail was not to be responsible, as Eng
land proposed, the Senate has go changed
the phraseology as to relieve neutrals of
all obligations what ever for the losses
they may infliot by their narslessness or
neglect upon friendly power while at
war, except for strictly direct damages.
Some are of the opinion that the objec-
tions urged by England to the changes
made by the Senate are all mere pre-
tence. and that her purpose is to take
advantage of the bungling and stupid
diplomacy OF the United States to escape
from the payment of any sum whatever.
even for direct damages. This seems
scarcely probable. for surely it were bet
ter for England to pay few millions Of
dollars. and be at quits once and for
all, than to have these claims OF America
hanging like the sword Of Damocles
over her head. and ready to fall upon her
devoted neck whenever her complioa-
tions with some other power presents Gil
inviting opportunity for indignant Ame.
RIGA to demand peremptory judgment
against her. Be this as it may. there is
certainly very little hope. at present. of
the final euceess OF the treaty., The
grand stroke Of foreign policy which was
to "envelop the end of Grants admins.
tration in blaze OF glory" has proved
humiliating abortion. Not satisfied
with the substantial benefits which would
have resulted to the country from tie
success of the treaty and the conduct OF
the arbitration in an open and honorable
manner, Grant and his advisers resorted
to the role OF the pettifogger, backed by
the clustering of the mere bully, and
have succeeded as they deserved. The
welfare of the country, the honor of the
American people. and the interests of
civilization itself, throughout the world,
were all risked in base attempt to boil
ster corrupt party. and all lost.
ENGLAND IN DANaER.-The terrors of
the battle of Dorking sink into insignia-
csnce beside the new peril that is said to
threaten the English nation. Lord
Shaftesbury, in u speech at the Turkish
Mission Aid Society, at Exeter Hall,
alluding to the eruption OF Vesuvius.
said it was popular delusion to think
England free from the. probability of
these eruptions; the most eminent &C.
ologists had often told him that England
constituted the cover Of subterranean
we'll OF fire. and was liable at any mo-
ment to meet the fate of the district
round Vesuvius. About the date when
this cover falls in, we may look out for
the settlement OF the Alabama claims.