Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-05-01
True Dignttr is in Doing Right.


True Dignity is in Doing Right.
\ late issue Of the New York Ece'ling
Fest discusses the consequential dam
age > question in the following dignited
and statesman-like manner
I One of the morning papers argues that We
cannot recede from what has been said IN
I our case of consequential damages, because
it will lessen the dignity Of the nation.
Having once submitted a statement 70 the
ArbltratOrs, we are obliged to maintain it as
IL IS, without modification or amendment,
and IN the very words in which it was origi-
nally printed Ii would be to stultiiy our
selves TO admit that we were mistaken in
any particular, and cast a shade of doubt
over the other parts Of presentation which
are not now brought into question, and on
which We rely for success.
W G tail 70 see the force Of this reasoning.
The only points for US, as great nation, to
consider, are whether the case as prepared is
true and tenable IN law whether Il Is iustard
right IN itself whether the demands We make
OF another are demands that, IN similar cir
cumstances, We should be willing u have
made Of ourselves, and whether, supposing
them well grounded and tenable, they are
presented IN courteous and inOtfens.ve way,
against which proud and sensitive nation,
has no right to take offense. If in all these
respects we may properly answer in the
alternative, then we must adhere to the posi-
htlOn we have taken we must say that we
nave done right thing in the right way
and that we are not obliged 20 consult the
over punctilIous or morbid scnsibilIties OF
our antagonist. But IT these points cannot
be properly determined 10 the affirmative, &
we are wrong in principle or wrong N meth
Cd, the only dIgnlfrd and upright course Us
To put ourselves rectus an cum rs soon as we
can.
No one has contended go far as we are
informed, that a claim for specific cOuse-
4uentlal damages ought 70 be presented to
the arbitratOrs at Geneva. Mr.. sumner, Iu
his famous speech, put forth view of these
indirect injuries as as part OF bis rhetorical
exposition OF what we bad suffered during
the war by the laxty OF Great Britain. they
we're fOrclbly depicted, and not perhap=,
lnaccurately bat IL was never ANTICIPATED
hy any senator, we suspect nOt by Mr.. sum
ner himself, hat his u ,gel and impress We
pictures should be incorporated into legal
paper and made the tasis Of a pereDptOry
demand for redress Nor were they. IN lact.
ever incorporated in the case. they we're
mentioned inc tally Jsg5 await the ques-
tIOn Of damage and not Rs the ground Of a
special award but IL seems they have
aggravated it 70 such q degree as to arouse
an intense eNeilsmeut ~ n. s.dhd, anu %
ring tns treaty d " &lon l'7e.l ihI
ulI7tI u7' anu u"us 10 al 'oi', ''.'0''
oy aenl -ol-'lal CORE 'l4e.' my '.'
dlllI Is ration I''ei' dot7 Ho' '4pe'' ~
i'09I'0 any 'H'ns Uul1I rug "1'- ~
iuehLial damages Out thal ll ~ 'lnlls lHeH
- tHe aIbitrdt3r7 ~ mere tentative oT
means oi arriving az an OPINION % tLe A.
stFact question OF law.
We uouD' "LetheF the dlHi.i7'' -I'l '''7
uAd any such SHY purpose the ffe-iuth'
ana the ; cretary OF state are b'1H ol mem
Too wise 70 urge 50 shelIo" q lrett At ~ nc-
'ense OF doubtful proceeding '"l VIVA.
v'neI purpose 'heht INDUCES tHeH - oii'~
y lIlese coiseq ueh I,al PREF AsIons- iHey IT.
offensive 70 GREAT Britain they are support
ed i'y the continental JuTlsts. our own best
writers on international Law, and such ~
President oolsey and MIR. Beach lawrence.
abandon them. there is not Senator % th'
Z mon, ar We are told, wn5 up13l-- them
only q SINAI. minority Of the u lI-e vs. Rope
sentttlFes ~ their iaY3r. WIN e ne mere htI Is
community, with the larger part ~ the press.
are eager u sec them dropped. bar mo-
tive other than q mistaken pride ol cou-is-
&c ~ Is left % tue government for its per
sisteneo III presenting them against So great
odds OF opinion But that motive Is not
a good motive. and like the morality vi Sen
atOr carpenter, IN bis recent letter arguing