The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-20
THE PRESS.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAR. 90 '7s'
mr. NoroIT r;umuh of the Republic.

or the United States could properly
a,ain, the most advanced position as civil
lived nation. This country has frequently
lost in some measure the prestige due to in
situations that are undeniably the most lib
eral and the most perfectly adapted to the
uses of free people in the world, by local
and temporary disturbances and morai iifos
ularities. Slavery for long time almost heu-
tralized the favorable impression WHICH o"i
form of government was calculated 10 HAM
on mankind. We gloried in our oeniociaoy'
but the English boosted OF their ireeaonl'
We have nrided ourselves on our liberal elect
i've franchise. while the English have pointed
with equal exultation to the strength OF theh
government and to the perfect protectioh IL
furnishes to British subjects in all parts VI
the globe. America has commenced i'Seii W
+he world as a country that has brought al
most to nerfection constitutions and laws es-
tabIisbing civil and political equality, but
ENGLAND has had the credit OF having brought
70 a high degree of excellence the admins
tratiye machinery of government.
On the whole the preponderance OF evil
dence showing high degree of civilization
has undoubtedly been on the American side.
But if the case were still doubtful, it seems to
us that the conduct of the rulers and the peo-
ple of the two nations In the difficulty growing
out of the Alabama claims has settled it con-
clusiyely in favor of this country. The moral
attitude of the American people from the mo-
ment when they saw their commerce swept
from the seas by the cruisers of friendly
power, till Monday of the present week when,
to the evident establishment of his hearers,
Mr.. Gladstone announced in the House OF
Commons that the reply of the American gov
eminent to the British note declaring that
England virtually repudiated the treaty OF
Washington, was ''couched In courteous and
friendly TERMS" has been a spectacle caicula-
ted to excite the most profound respect and
admiration of mankind. While our people
were still devoting all their energies to the
preservation of the Republic, they bore with
patient dignity the cruel blows inflicted by the
government of the British empire. Nor did
they lose their self possession in the flush of
victory A people with less moral balance
would instantly have employed the tremen-
dous military and naval resources called into
existence by the exigencies of the rebellion,
against the cowardly and treacherous power
that had not scrupled to take advantage of
their extreme peril to add to their sutferings
and dangers and to double their losses. In
stead of this they entered on long and per-
picking series of negotiations during which
they preserved their calmness and modera-
ton though England at times exhibited a
marked dissemination to make any reparation
whatever for her great crime.
But the people of the United States have
shown to the best advantage their perfect
moral balance and the thoroughness with
which the peaceful and rational spirit ofmod-
ern civilization has pervaded the masses, in
these last months, when England has added
to her crimes that of semi-repudiation of
solemn treaty obligations. In Great Britain
the announcement of the policy of the govern
ment in rejecting the claim for indirect dam
ages was received with excitement and agita-
ton that seemed likely to flame into violence.
He very llduC NdlnhC opCCCuCos
Wing Wed with Tory in taking the strongest
possible English ground. But happily these
hostile movements met no response here.
Theto of the American press has been re-
gretful but eminently pacific. And our gov
eminent, after due celebration, has answer
ed England in such a manner as to remove all
apprehension that the sword will finally be
called upon to arbitrate between the wrong
doer and the power against which itso grievous
lysinned. These are facts that may properly
excite the most pleasant anticpations in re-
gard to the future history of the race.
ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS, that veteran
and steadfast Democrat, has been not little
concerned about the National Democratic
Convention. The World, however under
takes to quiet the apprehensions of Mr..
Stephens and the rest of the faithful few, by
declaring that there will be such convention
at an early day; but it will not be called until
after the Connecticut election, so as to get
the drift of the political current. Chief JUS
tice Chase, it is said, has laid aside his ermine
and left for New York to consult with Mr..
Belmont, the Chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, relative to the future of
that party. Until after the Democratic Con-
vention the health of Judge. Chase will be
quoted with regularity by the New York Stock
market.
IT is significant circumstance that the
Woodruff wing of the woman suffrage party
is cooperating with the Democracy in Con-
neeticut. Mrs. Beecher Hooker, who calls
Mrs. Woodruff 'my darling Queen,' is can
wasting the State for the Democracy, but with
poor success, it is said. On the other hand,
Mrs. Livermore, who represents the more re-
putable element of the woman suffrage party,
did the Republicans excellent service in New
Hampshire.
OUR marine reporter declares that in an
experience of twelve years, during which it
has been his duty to take special note of the
welfare or misfortunes of those who ego down
TO the sea in ships,' so much suffering, so
many terrible disasters and so much loss of
life have never come under hls observation
during the same period of time, as within
the past few months.
1t is now considered probable that the
House will agree to the Senate resolution fix
ing the date of the adjournment of Congress
on the Goth of May. s..s .r4s
BoUTwELL's SHIPPING BILL.-The meager
reports of the bill prepared by Secretary Bout
well in regard to giving American registers to
toreign-built vessels, have conveyed wrong
impression of its character The bill does not
provide to allow any general registration of
vessels built in foreign countries, but applies
only to one class In some foreign countries
vessels are owned by American citizens but
employed entirely in the domestic trade of
those countries. This is the case in China,
Japan, and some other Asiatic countries. The
owners of these vessels desire to sail under the
protection of the American flag, and Secretary
boutwelfs bill proposes to give them that priv
iiege. The bill, however, contains a clause re-
stricting the privilege to vessels which are not
engaged in trade with this country, and abso-
lutely prohibits them from visiting this coun-
try.
WELL PUT.-The Boston Traveller is remind
ed Of fable when Senator Sumner saws Pres
dent Grant is disturber of the peace of the