The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-07

our minister az London, has actually APP
preached the British government with view
to such settlement He may have exceeded
his instructions and have gone too far. That
remains to be seen. But we are inclined to
Secretary of State. Of course England has
seized with avidity an overture that would give
her an opportunity of escaping from an en-
barrassing dilemma without sacrificing her
pride. She does not care about the liability of
neutrals in the future, for she has the facility
of making rules to suit her own interests on all
occasions, provided she can get comfortably
out of the present trouble. The gentle init
nation of Mr.. Fish or Mr.. Schenck, con-
sequently, that compromise of this character
is possible, has struck with force the English
government.
But at this stage of the business the Presi-
dent becomes alarmed and assumes firm atti-
tude He had made in the strongest terms the
submission of the American case for conse-
quential damages sine qua non, and cannot
Characteristic Of General Grant. Then he
cannot afford, after the Cincinnati Convention
and with the political prospect before him. to
take any step that looks like yielding to Eng
land He is afraid to wound the national
pride by abandoning the ground the govern
ment and nation had taken. Little as he pre-
tends to comprehend the intricacies Of d.
plomacy, he understands the danger of wound
ing national pride In his anxiety, conse-
quently, he ignores Mr. Fish, and calls upon
his friends of the Foreign Relations commit
tees Of Congress for support. Instinctiyely
his common sense tells him he ought to main
tain the ground he had taken. He resolved, it
is said, to withdraw the instructions to Mr..
Schenck or to repudiate them, Withdrawing
the claim for consequential damages. Surely,
he can see now that Mr.. Fish has been mainly
instrumental in leading him into this humili-
ating position. Will he request that respect
able old fogy to retire and appoint some vigor-
Gus, high-toned American in his place? We
regret the President did not forego party con-
siderations in matter of so much
national Importance when he invited
certain members Of the Foreign Relations
committees of Congress to consult with
him. He should not have ignored the demo-
Gratis at such time. His own friends, how
ever, did not appear to give him much conso-
lation. Members of Congress as well as the
people have become disguised with the miser-
able Encouragement of this Alabama claims
difficulty. The best course for the President
now is to take the responsibility, hold to the
position assumed at first, and leave our case to
the Geneva arbitrators IfEngland should refuse
to go to decision or to abide by it and the
Washington Treaty falls, this country will only
stand where it did before. War need not follow
1t is not a question of war. Indeed, we were
on better terms with England before the treaty
was made than just now The time will come
when settlement can be made, and peace
able one, we hope, without making the sacrifices
we have made in this treaty, and without bind
ing ourselves to an alliance and neutral obi
cations that may prove inconvenient in the
future. We have peculiar destiny and life of
our own, and should be careful not to make
entangling alliances or obligations. At least
let us have an end of this war of words and
diplomatic chicanery. Let our case stand as
it is and abide the result The responsibility
rests with England and not with the United
States.