The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-06-09
The washington Treaty.

The Washington Treaty.
As this is the age Of betting, It is a mat
ter of wonder that heavy bets have mo-
been made already on the question of &
war about the Alabama claims. The Ques
ton appears to be one involving the neces
sary elements Of uncertainty to make Il,
solution equal to a game of hazard. 8sItsil
evident that England is sincerely DESTROYS
OF avoiding war-but not nearly as much
so now as she was a month ago. On our
side it seems to he matter of perfect in.
difference. to be settled according to the
shifting demands of political canvass.
We think it pretty apparent that English
sentiment is far from being SO eagerly pa
ciic at present as it was lately. Leading
Englishmen of ell classes have come to
understand that there is no real sentiment
or principle underlying the difficulty at
Washington, that it 10 mere party meas
use kept alive for an emergency in the
coming Presidential election, that, in a
word, public interest in England is kept at
fever heat of uneasiness and apprehen-
sion, without a shadow of sincerity on the
part of the American agitators and without
any scruple as to consequences. 1t ia quite
natural that they should become tdisgusted
at such a position of things. .As;ong as it
could be supposed that the United States
was sincere in it's pretensions, however alb
surd they might be, people could be simply
uneasy at the prospect of disaster from
such pig-headedness, but when it became
evident that a nero game # fast and shut
was being played at the expense Of Ma
tional agitation, that of politicians
were merely tampering with the sensibili-
ties of the whole English people regardless
Of their feelings and comfort, it was but
natural that alarm should give way some
what to indignation.
The suspicion of English statesmen can
not but be confirmed at seeing the shuf-
fling proceedings of Grants Senate on the
question of indirect damages. The Presi-
dent publicly recommends action on their
part, which will settle that point satisfac-
torily. The Senate, which is his most sub
servient tool, sees fit to modify that recon-
mendation and couch it's proceedings in
such language that loop-hole is still left
for misunderstanding. In case of necessity
it might still be insisted that consequential
damages were not abandoned. No one
can doubt that this action of the Senate
vast at the secret instance of Grant, and
that he is determined to keep the question
open by all kinds of dilatory strategy,
until he can find out whether war with |
England is necessary to his re- election. In |
fact his whole course, for several months |
past, has indicated to some observers, that |
this was his policy.
The question of betting, therefore, re-
solves itself down to single doubt-will |
it be necessary to Grants re- election that
he should get up war with England. The
popularity of the Alabama Claims with
wealthy people who are inter-
ested in them, the ultra fanaticism of many
who yet hate England for that
episode of the war, the eagerness of many
If our Irish population in this country for
such an occurrence, and the general excite
nent and glorifcation consequent upon
ling and drumming, volunteering and
lrilling aud other accompanyments of
lew war, would all tend to strengthen it's
apostle with important elements of suf-
rage.
1t is evident, then, that the question of
var is yet very uncertain one, and that it
will hardly take a definite shape until the
ogs that now hang around the Presiden-
ial canvass shall have cleared ND suf- /.
ciently to show pretty clearly how the s
and lea :