New-York tribune., 1872-10-17
FOREIGN MISCELLANY.
RESULTS OF SIR ALEXANDER CoCKBURNS
REASONS"


SWISS ARBITRATOR. .,.sv,
lPRoM THB REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE OF Ihh ,''D'-
ToNnoN Oct. misunderstanding the very
frank and concillatory speeches OF three ,5o
ters there is some reason TO fear that or ',
churn has succeeded IN his main OBJECT ana 'haV Vho
ora of GOOD feeling" between England and America Is
os,noped for week two The situation Is certainly
remarkable When the award became known there was
cenerai and crcdtabe disposition to accept In goou
faith; not merely TO pay the sum awarded but to eat
the whole controversy ended and, provided we wouu
do the same thing readiness to shake hands over IT,
and try 70 live henceforh good terms each with the
other I anticipate the indignant comment OF Ahell-
cans that &c is for and not for the Engsh 10 ue
whether the wrong is sufficiently atoneu ior su0o "
is wo who suffered the wrong Du' io".ni- I'M
Der "they neer pardon VINO H"'o NO" r'
wrong" Amid the greatest aoquescence comes OH
Alexander Coekburn with his 800 pages Of Reasons
going over all the old points abusing the American Coun
sell tearing omen halfclosed wounds and pouring Vtrlol
and enDpowderino them His performance was greeted
must say with subdued howl OF delight, which grew
snace into such roar that the Ministry became really
alarmed.
Beyond all doubt the Ministry, for its own sake and
for the sake OF the general good understanding depored
the appearance Of Sir Alexander Cockburns paper They
are in no way responsible for it, although its publication
IN the official London Gette might seem, at first sight,
70 be their act But they bound TO publish the
record of the transactions at Geneva and the Tribunal
itself had Sir Alexander's reasons part OF the
record by voting unanimously that should be annexed
TO the proceedings. Tie English Government had no
choice in the matter. They at once saw or
erhape OWNED the mischief would do and Mr. loves
sneeoh at Glasgow gave them precisely the oppor-
tupity they wanted TO neutraze its effect. 1t was all
the better because the speech was to be made ON an
occasion which excluded the idea Of its being made ex
pressy for this purpose-the good people Of Glasgow
having some time before asked Mr. Lowe TO accept the
freedom OF the city, and speech being always neces-
sary on such occasions. Moreover Mr.. Lowe Of all
members OF the Cabinet least likely to be suspected OF
talking merely sentimental views that or any other
question: and his sympathies during the Rebellion
sympathies hardly word to in MI loves case,
but We may say opinions-were all on the side of the
South. His speech expressed you know, sincere re-
cret for the publication Of Sir Alexander COckburn's
dissenting opinion 10 had been preceded by one
from Mr.. stausield and followed by one from
Mr.. Forster both In the best possible spirit, the
Ministry might congratulate themselves having
snuDbed Sir Alexander COokOurn efectuauy, and
might fairly hope TO have supplied an antidote
to his poison But it unhappiy turns out that popular
feeling is strongly on the side Of Sir Alexander Cock
burn and that Mr. loves regrets and criticisms prove
moro irritating than sedauve. They have in fact been
met by general outcry against the expressed desire
the Ministry suppress COckburn and Mr. Lowe told
In so many words that his speech and not the Lord
Chief Justices opinion which ought to have been sup
pressed
The result Of It all is anything but gratifying to those
who hoped that the hatehet would be finally buried al
Geueva Few people can have expected to the
British Arbitrator clutch it's projecting handle, and come
back to England in his warpaint braudishing the old
weapon mlschevously in the air, and yelling out the
savage whOop the last echoes Of which thought to
have died along the soft shores Of Lake Leman
From the day when Mr.. CockJurn by base
epeech in defense Of O base cause, bent him.
self 70 the will Of an unscrupulous Minister and
laid the foundation Of his fortune he has done nothing
even in private he-less creditabe to himself or less
helpful to his country than the publication OF this
opinion such an oense Is not likely to be committed
with impuuity. II Sir Alexander Cockburn had been
content quit Geneva in silence, portion OF the MS
tory of the arbitration would, it is probable, have re-
manned unwrtten. Neither his colleagues nor the
American counsel would have cared to make public the
relations which existed between them and Sir AeXan-
der Cockurr ospIain what the British
arbitrator performed his duties what other duties
he took himself perform in addition TO those pre-
scbed TO him by the Treaty But this opinion is chal
lenge and than challenge, and Sir Aexan-
der COckburn has undertaken 10 sit in judgment on his
associates as well the malefactors who fitted out
the Alabama is Just possible that OF them may
think themselves free to supply materials for
correct estimate the value of Sir Alexander Cock
burns opinion.
Tho arbitrator whom Sir Alexander COckburn selects
for special attack NJ staemph the representative Of
Switzerland, the weakest Of the arbtratng Powers
He discovers in n. staemphrs mind what to him
bias. He sneers az his views of international Obga-
tion founded not precedent but vague notions
OF general justice. Aud be seeks TO convict NJ
StacmpH OF ignorance naccuracy in dealing with the
mass OF comp icated facts which he had TO pass
Judgment II may, therefore, be worth while TO say
that NJ staempfi Is lawyer OF great distinction whose
opportunities OF becoming acquainted with the prip
ciples OF international law have been unusually great
and whose practical familiarity with them, and with the
duties and obligations of neutrals have been i'm
rneasnraby greater than those Of the Chief Justice. Sir
Alexander IL is true has presided for some time over
the Court Queens Bench but then Staempf has been
three times President Of the Swiss Confederation and
there is hardly post in Europe well adapted to
train a man in the knowledge of just this class
OF questions Switzerland country which
exists by virtue Of the existence Of principles Of neu
traty Surrounded by warning States 1t has been con-
stautly called upon enforce neutrality singularly
stringent ITS character and obligations. The instinct
Of sefpreservaOn, the anxiety not TO give oense TO
more powerful neighbOTs, the desire 10 observe equal
good faith toward everybody. have combined 70 esta6
Ish In Switzerland standard Of neutrd duties
exactng than exists anywhere else IN tho world.
the United States Its neutrality Is not merely passive
IL is positive active and energetic. It's municipal laws
arc of wide scope and subtle in the precision with which
they define the things permitted and forbidden TO its
citizens; yet Swiss iuTists do not claim, as English
ursts that their duty their DeighbOrs
basis than the enforcement OF their local statutes
by the ordinary processes Of law Switzerland the
sale even Of 70 belliZcrent IN time Of pro
bbited. When a war breaks out the Swiss Govern
ment Is not content with leaving their law 70
execute itself Nor does it lay upon foreign
envoy tfe duty OF putting its statutes In operation Of
collecting evidence, Of overcoming the rs inerti0 Of
living officials cOnnving with bought-over by of
the beIlgerents Il does not trust It's Custom
touse officials. II draws military Gordon around its
frontier. and docs not permit musket TO cross till
peace declared. Il IL surprising that citizen Of such