The Portland daily press., 1872-02-07
The Alabama Excitement.

The general impression in Washington in
well1nformed circles is that the stock jobbers
and sensational papers are manly responsible
for the present furry. The Washington Re
publican which doubtless receives its inspira-
ton of Tuesday morning from the State De-
partment says ..-.. 5.-4
s'The English excitment over the American
claims, as presented to the tribunal of arbitra-
tors at Geneva, is regarded here in the best in
formed official circles as a matter of domestic
concern only, produced by local causes and de-
signed to accomplish local effects upon English
politics, and nothing more Dispatches of the
most trustworthy character received in this city
yesterday from London justify the view taken
by the State Department, and warrant the
clearest inference that any vigorous movement
on the part of the American government in the
present posture of affairs would awaken gen.
uine surprise in Lord Granville and transfer the
demand for explanations from this side of the
ocean to the other. Up to the present. writing
not line or word of official inquiry or state
ment has passed upon the subject that is being
so sensationally treated by the press of the two
great commercial cities. The genuine aston
ishment of the English government and peo-
pie at the size and scope of the American de-
mands is a complete yindication of some late
silly accusations that the points of the Ameri-
can case had somehow found their way into
unfriendly hands; that the surprise of the
Gladstone Cabinet was unfeigned, is attested
ny Tile eAtfOfu1idTy means duOpUeQ Dy IL 10
avert the disastrous use it was feared the
Disraeli party would make of the American state
ment in the Parliamentary session beginning
to-day In the opinion of those best calculated
to judge nothing less than an absolute fear that
under an outburst of popular indignation
Dis-raeG would force through a vote of censure
upon the government for its share in a treaty
which gave opportunity to what would be stig-
matized as insulting and extravagant demands,
could have tempted the liberal cabinet to the
dangerous expedient of resorting to its semi
official organs to open an unofficial but often
sive warfare upon the argument of the United
States as presented at Geneva. That this was
the moving cause of the whole affair there is
now neither room to doubt nor deny, but there
is great doubt if the English government has
been consenting or approving party to the ex-
tent discussion has been carried by the press
that is not restrained by official connection with
the liberal party. A secondary motive with
the English government has been a desire to
influence the individual Judgment of the for
eign members of the Geneva Conference. The
tribunal is not at present in session, and its
members, it is hoped in England, cannot fail to
be impressed with the general European view
of the extravaganza and utenabiity of the
American demands as reflected in the European
press. This is an important point with Mr.
Gladstone and his colleagues, because, through
the proceedings of the tribunal of arbitration
should be carried through amcably to a final
award, there will be a necessty for much skill
full management in passing the consequent an
preparation bill through the House of Com
MONS" tr tftr m