Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-03


About the time when the board of arbitiators
under the Washington treaty met at Geneva,
some little stir was produced by the report of
sensational Washington cores pondent who
claimed to have discovered that the United
States would gain nothing from the treaty except
the valuable though unpleasant knowledge that
our diplomatists were no match for those of
Great Britain and had allowed themselves to be
completely outwitted. The treaty in which we
had allowed ourselves TO take so much pride
and upon which statesmen and phlanthropists
had Joined in congratulating not our country
men alone, hut the whole human family, was
according to this authority, only clever piece
OF diplomatic iugglery, whose ultimate delusive-
ness was sure to bring to US disappointment and
modification propOrtonate TO our original salts
faction with it, and to make our relations
with England more precarious and unpleasant
than ever. 1t was the same writer, we believe
who learned that the Cease prepared by Mr.
Bancroft Davis was weak and imperfect. and
quite unsatisfactory TO the counsel retained to
represent our government. The counsel took
pains to deny this statement, but their denial
did not suffice to remove the impression. indus
triously cultivated, that there had been mis-
management somewhere, in consequence of
which the result Of the Geneva conference wa,
likely 70 give very little satisfaction in this
country In short, if the shock of the great
national disappointment in store for us was NOT
alleviaied by timely disclosures, it was NOT The
fault Of this Washington newsmongcr. The
effect of his well-meant efforts, however, though
they alarmed some naturally Respondent peo-
pie, was transtorY, and probably less than he
hoped or intended.
But whoever has undertaken a similar office
in England has had much better success. The
expressions of doubt and dissatisfaction there
began later, but are much more general and
decided than here. On this side of the water
nobody went further than to suggest that we
had probably been oyerreached and must bear
the consequence; but in England, if we NAV
trust the cable dispatches, the leadino news.
papers say that, if a bad bargain has been made
their government will repudiate it. The "cose@
prepared on behalf Of England has NOT hoon
Published, SO that they are still ignorant Of the
precise form which their side of the question
will assume; but ours has been before the public
for two or three weeks and the more they study
it, the more alarm if causes. Opinion seems 70
be divided between letting the arbitration 90 on
but refusing to accept its decision, if unsatis.
factory, and directing Chief Justice Cockburn
the English arbitrator, to withdraw at once, th,
government, at the same time, repudiating III,
obligation Of the treaty.
This discussion seems to US childish, if no
worse. II a treaty imposes any obligations
these have been solemnly assumed by Grea
Britain in this instance, aud She cannot renudt
ate them with honor nor with safety. which i,
her international relations is with thai countr,
a more important consideration Queensland
ing grievances were a source Of ANNOYANCE an,
apprehension TO her before the treaty, and Their
will be much more cause for alarm II they re
main unadiusted, with The aggrayation of a r,
fusal 10 make amends after having solemn
pledged herself TO do so. Our claim as pn
seuted 10 the arbitrators Is the present cause q
dissatisfaction, but we have surely right I
Claim what we please. II is the custom in a
private as well as public controversies 10 max
the claim broad enough to cover all possibl
Riounus o. recovery The United States wi
hot reiuse !" accept the decision IL ID Shout
award us something less than our whole 4,
mandj and, at any rate, il is not what NO c,a;,,
but what the arbitraiors, competent and A.
terested, award, which concerns our adverssr'
We suppose the present excitement and alar,
viii subside, and England viii conclude 10 ne
form her unpleasant duty with the best ora
she can command; but, If not, we can aflo
better than ever " wait aud leave the immet