The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-08

posed upon our merchant seamen by their cap
ture and the burning Of their vessels for the
sums we spent In pursuit of these English
cruisers; and that upon these claims, If ad-
mitted by the Geneva Conference, we have
the right to ask interest from July l, 1868.
This is the whole case, as briefly summed
up, which has excited the anger of England
and which Mr.. Gladstone regards as absurd
and preposterous. Is it an extravagant case ?
Is there any statement in this summary that
is untrue, or any inference that is unfounded ?
Is there any statement or inference that Mr..
Fish could have omitted without failing in his
duty to the country? We regard the case as
plain, truthful record, known to all men and
portion of history. If the record ofsnds
England and exasperates Parliament, the
fault is not with us. We did not make it, but
sought to avoid 1t in every way.
We do not contend that this case
will be accepted by the Geneva Con-
ference. We can understand how the cold,
able, impartial men who sit on that tribunal
may rule that in many instances we have no
just claim. We expected as much. No COM
plainant ever goes into Court assured that he
will come out of 1t with all his demands ac-
cepted But it is not for England to decide
what is wrong in our pleading or what is
right. It is not for Mr.. Gladstone to say that
we are 'preposterous and absurd" or for
Mr.. Disraeli to intimate that we mean to
compel the Geneva Conference to exact
from England an indemnity like that
exacted by Germany from conquered
France. This is our meaning when we
refer to the ignorance and arrogance of the
English press and public men. The highest
sum we ever heard mentioned as the probable
indemnity was twenty millions of dollars.
Many of our public men did not expect a
dollar. The country was under the same
belief and was profoundly content; glad to
know that peace was assured, caring nothing
for money and really desiring no money. It
Is, therefore, surprise to us, shook
to our national pride and honor,
to be suddenly arraigned as though
our Secretary of State had sent his
agents to Geneva to deal with England as
Shylock did with the merchant whose life was
in his bond. We repeat that 1t is surprise
that cannot help wounding America as no act
of English unfriendliness ever did before;
for, whatever may be the faults of the Ameri-
can character, we cannot be called mer-
cenary people. We have heard of nations
going to war for sum of money. We saw
this when England, Spain and France joined
In the Mexican expedition. But we have
never admitted the principle into our diplo-
macy.
This, then, is our case; and we now see how
England regards it, When the Queen and the |
Prime Minister feel called upon to make a |
declaration, we may rest assured that they |
speak for England. But no less does our |
President speak for the United States. If |
Gladstone and Disraeli unite in policy of |
publican-will unite in policy of proud and |
resolute resistance. There never was o |
clearer case of injustice upon one side and |
kindness, courtesy and good feeling on the
other. General Grant might as well propose to
repeal the Emancipation Proclamation; to re-
"
colonial dependence upon Great Britain; to
strike twenty stars out of our flag; to do, in
fact, any impossible or dishonorable thing, as
to withdraw his case from the tribunal elected
to decide it, Let the end be what it will, that
can never be. If war be the alternative, let
us welcome war; for there can be no military
or naval discontinue, no burning of towns or
ravaging of coasts that will be as unfortunate as
. public confession that we made case which
was dishonest and exacting, and abandoned it |
at the naughty command Of England. We are
glad to know that the President and Cabinet |
have made this resolve. We can say that the
country Is as one man behind him. Democrat |
Or republican, loyalist or rebel, we are Ameri-
cans in our determination to defend the ma
tional honor, and to have no treaty of peace
that will not be just to ourselves as well as to
England.