New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-17

single loophole or leave a6y point at the mercy OF
an understanding between the two contracting par
ties But that is not the man reason. They dare
not 30 before Pa'Aiament with bargain at
the terms Of watch any cayil can be raSc0'
Latterly, the c Conservatives have shown how much
capital they count on rpskng out of tho 5nnaeTs OF
the Ministry/on this AaDama question. Popular dis
trust is at 1t win not be enough to Offer tech
meal de cnsa to technical criticisms Criticism must
10 selood in advance, and that moro than all things
else. a Why Lord Granville, who is as eager as Mr.
fisb1fora settlement stands out for the joint in
strncton to the Arbitrators l suppose the matter
N/n be aITanced in few days, but meantime VI IS
Aft dangling in the air, hanging TO thread OF dHer
fenco which one decisive word would sever. Nothing
! could be more odous than such suspense we nave
sacrificed what we had of pride and what we had Oh
consistency, and what we had of national dignity
and now we hesitate whether to sacrifice lawyers
scruplc or a Diplomatic punctilio
Very likely attach too much importance 10 'he
language of The Standard, which have reiefreu 10
above for one can never be certain that that paper
enjoys the confidence of the leaders Of the party Tor
which il assumes to speak. They have SO often leit
II ninforned of what they were about to do, and so
often taken a line which ii had pronounced mpossl-
HE that its warnings or limitations can seldom be
taken as official unless confirmed from other sources
But in this ease, the attitude of mr. DisIaeh ana
Lord Derby ever since the Easter Holidays has been
very rosoute and very consistent. They nave never
ceased to press the Government for explanations ana
declarations. They have from time to time
acouiesced in their silence, and admitted
the right of the Executive to conduct
Il difficult negotiation unhampered by the embar-
easements of publicity. But they have never 1aied
to seize the first moment and the first plausible pre-
text for renewing their opportunities. Twice, at
4 Loe ,,tx-at nfiaaf
bring the question to the attention of the House, and
the House is ne impatient as he is, and will undoubt-
edly support him whenever he makes up his mind
that the Government can be taken at a disadvan-
tace But in their present position with reference
tn the at Washington Ministers are prac-
tically, though unintentionay, supported by their
| opponents and The Standard is only writing III lhe
Liberal interest when il declares that in any case
the indirect claims must be clearly, defnitiyely I'M
mstakably barred not merely passed over In silence
while left on the record there must be written doc
uments admitting Of no double construction which
| shall peremptory preclude America from accepting
| and the Arbitrators from awarding, single SIX
pence on account of the enhancement of maritime
insurance during the struggle, the destruction OF
the general trade of the United States or the pro-
| longation of the civil war;"
| English goodwill to the Treaty, il should be
added is by no means increased by the discovery OF
the price TO be paid Canada for her assent to those
provisions of it which executed at her expense
| The correspondence between the Canadian Minister
| and the English Government, published yesterday,
has been received with WY faces. tits in substance
confession that the Canadian parts of the Treaty
were known to be mfavorable to Canada, and that
| England acceded to them under the pressure OF
what it is the fashion to call imperial necessities She
wanted to settle the Alabama claims, and she cared
very little what Canada might have TO cOneede in
| order to insure the important parts OF the
| Treaty. But as the execution of the Canadian
| part was made to depend Canadian assent, and
as Canada entertained strong objection to giving
| away what she thought valuable rights, without
consideration, England has agreed to pay from her
own Treasury the price which America declined to
| pay. We would not hear anything about Fenian
claims, and Canada does Tot believe that the
| amount may pay for our ten years fishing in
| Canadian waters, ascertained though it be by
valuation, viii her losses. In
these circumstances she notified England
| that she should expect to be UNIDENTIFIED, and the
form of naturalization she desired was All imperial
guarantee of Canadian loan, 10 be applied to the
| construction of Pacific railway and the enlarge
| ment of the st. Lawrence Canals. She wanted
$2O,OOOe0O. England agrees to $l2,jo00G0, and the
bargain seems to have been struck. But nobody
pretends to be pleased with the transaction. On the
contrary it has given new strength to the long
growing conviction that the interests OF England
and the interests of Canada not common. and
| that both can best be promoted by separation.
| That conviction has never been more openly pro-
| claimed than now, and Canada may feel sure thai
the slightest expression of a wish for independence
would be responded to from tins side With some
thinglike enthusiasm. GIVE.