New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-26
BRITISH TOPICS.

II OC%'SN"'
ALABAMA CLAIMS-COMMENTS ON MR.. SEW
ARDS DEATH-CoRPORAL PUNISHMENT.
IPRON THR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THB TRlBUNb.l
LONDON, Oct. 12.-There arc people who are
yet content to let the ghost of the Alabama rest IN
peacesuch peace there sand Lord Redesdae Is one
of them. A fortnight ago Lord Redesdale wrote 10
The Times that the English Ministry had been guilty OF
grave negligence urging before the Arbraors AZ
Geneva the argument with which he had supplied them
dare say you know argument but the substance OF
il may be condensed into sentences to wit, that al
hitting England had done wrong and the United states
had damaged thereby yet the United States are not
in position TO claim damages Of England on account OF
that wrong because the Confederate States being once
more annexed to the United States, cannot appear as
plaintiffs to recover damages against England on account
Of their own wrong dOing neither the United States
the relation between the sections of the Union being
In the nature Of partnership. 1t is by no means the
first time that this argument has been urged Dy Loru
Redesdae. He brought 1t out in the House OF Lords
with much soemniy and succeeded In extracting from
Lord Granville pledge that should have the consider
alton of the Government Apparently, the Government
on consideration decided not to urge IT, Atany rate IL
was not urged at Geneva though 1T makes part OF the
English case and Lord Redesdae is convinced that II 1t
had been sufficiently pressed matters would have gone
quite otherwise than they did, and no verdict or much
lighter verdict have been recorded against England
His Lordships complaint attracting bat slight attention
and eicng response, he wrote again yesterday 10
the same paper still soemnly and even menacing
ly and also somewhat wOnderingy, since he cannot I'M
derstand that charge from such man as himself
ON such q subject against such Government should be
left unanswered.
Who then, Is Lord Redesdalei He Is Conservative
Peer Of much ability in his way holding the important
office Of Chairman OF Committees OF the House OF Lords
place which gives him very great power over the bus
ness of the House, and especially over private DIS
Many promising schemeprOmislng profit to its proec
tors at the public expeDse-bas met timely rate az
Lord Redesdae's hands But he is man. taking
technical views preference TO large views and he mas
persisted in treating the Alabama case In the precise
spirit which Mr. Bright most uniustly imputed to the
American counsel the spirit of " attorneyshp" His
direct influence public opinion s slight and the Times
finds il easy 10 answer ms letter with banter and
persjage and finally 10 dispose of the whole argument
as "quibble," which it would be "mOnstrous" TO ex-
pect the British Government adopt lend ear
to seriously American readers will find the Times art
Gle noticeable for its admissiOn-t is an admission In
substance-hat whatever may have been the degree Of
guilt OF innocence Of the British Government in the
escape Of the Alabama it ought to have resented the
Confederate violation Of English neutrality and that
account denied afterward the hospitality OF En-
gllsh ports to the Rebel cruisers.
Mr. Stewards death excited much interest on this side,
and some Of the leading papers published elaborate
biographies of him, and editorial estimates Of him.
Considering how vehemently Mr. Seward used to be at
tackled England the present tone OF feeling is very
remarkable. His Ofenses, what the English deemed
SUCH against England are but lightly remembered
against him. nor are his early services TO the Anti
Slavery thought to be Obscured by the iukewar
ness and backsdings OF his later days. think the
absence of unforgvng personal rancor as an element
OF political hostility frequent characteristic Of
English than OF American life. Undoubtedly Mr. Sew
ard was looked upon enemy politically, to En-
gland yet there was probably never a time when he
would not have been received here cordially enough and
now that is dead his old antagonists are strewng
his grave with flowers. They recognized that
Mr.. Stewards differences with them, like theirs
with him, not personal but POLITICAL purely &c. to
extent, in Mr. Summers case. II Mr.. Sumner had
here il the people would have welcomed him
think they did years ago, when almost every
distinguished house in London was open to him. You
will find some very quotable things, very striking
ones Also in the English articles Mr. Seward. Among
them all none TO me more remarkable than the
sentences in which The Times incidentally compares its
own country with ours, in explaining why Mr.. Seward
did not attain in America such prominence as an
equally strong and energetic statesman atains in Eu
ropean communities. "No one in America" says The
Times "can rise much higher shine much brighter
than his contemporaries That high tabeland OF intei-
gence does allow the peaks to tower very far above
it. That general enlightenment hardly admits Of lumi
naries" This is said, tar can judge not SCOT
nngly, but in seriousness.
How singular vein Of brutality runs through the
generous fiber Of English human kind is unpeasantly
shown this week by fresh discussion the Of the
cat in hogging prisoners. Mr. r. A. Taylor the Radical
member OF Parliament for Leicester, wrote manful
protest against the practice, which the leading Liberal
journal Of London published large part of Mr.. Tay-
lors letter was simply transcript OF account Of the
last foggng that has occurred, when sick man. suffer
ing from bronchial disease, and unable to walk across
aI.aN.a D,,s,.
lie opinion the stronger part of it, seems TO be quite
against Mr. Taylor and on the side Of the foggers. The
very journal which gave him hearing ssented shar ply
from his views maintaining that foggng promotes the
security Of the public from such crimes garroting to
suppress which it lately reestabshed, and that the
public not likely to throw aside this means OF punish
ment merely because q rufhan bowls with terror or
shams faintness Perhaps not, but If not, the public
might as well abandon the pretense Of having abolished
judicial torture OF which there many more
cruel forms than ogging. 1t is odd II nobody can be
found TO echo Mr. TdyOrs protest is 1t that paper
cares 70 discuss the question on its true basis
The successor to the late Mr.. Justice Willes on the
bench Of the Court OF Common Pleas is the Hon. George
Denman, a fourth Of the first Lord Denman whose
judicial fame the son has chance to rival He has
sat for Tverton pretty radical Liberal for some 10
years. and been Queens counsel since 1861. Few
LAWYERS of equal standing the bar equal stand
ing in the House Of Commons and the present appoint
ment is simply fu1llment OF the general expectation
which for some time past has designated Mr. Denman
the proper the first judicial vacancy. The
place IT, Of course place for life, and the salary is just
the salary of the President Of the United States.
should have thought Mr.. Denman would have dishked
TO sacrifice his political career He has great aptitude for
the House Of Commons well genuine professional
ability But judgeship with It's great dignity, Its high
pay It's secure tenure and the traditions which make
almost every English lawyer look TO IL the natural
prize and reward OF distinction at the bar, perhaps
too strong temptation 10 be resisted 0.w.s.