The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-05-30
The Ethics Of Diplomacy,

The Ethics Of Diplomacy.
The settlement of the dispute between Eng
land and America is sufficient occasion for
dayof thanksgiving to heaven. The idea of a
possible war between Great Britain and the
united states was too cruel to contemplate
with any sort of calmness or resignation.
But the better feelings of both countries have
triumphed and we shall have peace 1t NAV
be said by some that the timid commercial.
business and capitalist interests have saved
the treaty of Washington by their interposi-
ton, and that motives of humanity had little
to do with the conduct of either country
But we prefer to think that the latter had at
least sufficient weight to turn the doubtful
scale in favor of peace
In the course of the negotiations between
the two countries from the first there has
has been much to remind one of the wide
difference that unhappiy still exists between
the rules governing the relations of indvidu-
ais and of nations. What are regarded as
virtues in the former case are denounced as
the grossest vices in the latter. The crown
ing graces of private life are the bane of d.
plomacy. Generosity, a just regard for
the rights of Others, magnanimity, humane
leeIng and strict integrity-these are what
gam man the respect and love of
his fellows, and nation, as is sup
posed,-though none has ever yentured
to try the experiment, the contempt of
mankind. To forgive an injury and to suffer
a wrong rather than contend, are alike con-
sistent with Christian morals and with the
natural laws of right. But what scornful de-
rislon would greet the enterprising statesman
VINO should undertake to introduce these prin-
ciples in case of international disputes! 1t
would be far easier to impress upon the Fee
Jees the notion of the sanctity of the human
body. In short, diplomacy is still in its bar
barrie era. The morals of the race course are
higher than those ofthe nations in their deal
lngs with each other. International relations
are adjusted almost solely on the basis of
mere brute force. Two countries are like two
naked savages with clubs-the weakest must
60 to the wall Two governments are like
TWO boys, one OF whom says to the other,
'Give up that marble or will whip YOU"
These disagreeable features of diplomatic
intercourse are undoubtedly less noticeable
In the case OF the Alabama quarrel than in
almost any other in history, because the !
puerile idea of superior physical power was
formally laid aside, and the principle of the
submission of disputes to court to be de-
clded in accordance with the principles of |
equity was adopted in due form. But Great
Britain curiously enough kept the old wea-
pom, m the biggest" in reserve, and at
tempted to make it useful in bullying us out
OF our rights at Geneva. As it has turned
out, the attempt was not successful, for our
government can show good equivalent for |
all it has conceded. But there are those who |
contend that we have allowed Great Britain
to frighten us out ofour rights They talk of
our national humiliation of our s'uncon-
ditional surrender" of our ''disgraceful back
down." There is no reason for such charges
But suppose our government had consented
TO make some sacrifice, not involving any
principle, rather than fight? Suppose it had
waived the payment of dollar for the pur-
pose OF saving ten, dollars and ten lives
would IL not be at once the most remarkable
and the wisest thing ever yet done by ma
lion? Suppose it had said to Great Britain.
I'VE can better afford to lose money than YOU
can to be wrong?' Such conduct would be |
highly commended in an indiyidual-whv
not IN great nation that can so much better
afford magnanimity?
A STRAW FOR THE T'RIBUNE.-At the Roll
ing Mills there has usually been club of
from twenty to thirty Tribunes taken by the
employees. But since Mr. Greeley has left
the Republican party and that great journal
mas become Independent, there has been a
great change, for instead of Tribune club,
there Is now one of sixty for the New York
Times. This is straw which may indicate
where some of the real workingmen are.
ed While picking up straws, we will just add
another. In another large manufacturing
company in this city where there has been
,''o""e club Of sometimes nearly hundred,
ING sehtieman who had interested himself
previously In getting it up, on the late expi-
ration Oh the time, could find but one man
VINO Would take 1t, and he was very indiffer-
ent about it. When will great men and in
huentlal journals learn that they have tauobt
men to think for themselves? y"
THIS time the Tribune writer who sees
thousand of Republicans, in short the whole
Kennebec Valley-focking to the Greeley
standard, writes from Augusta. II the fell
low would only sign his name to his gushing
ietlers, one could then tell what man
hor Vi man he is. We believe, however
that the writer is an-out-and-out Damocr.t
VINO gioried IN Union defeats in 1864 and
swung his hat for Seymour and Blair in 1888.
1t may be possible that some wag having
seen the. enthusiastic responses that have
Deen published in the Tribune has attempted.
as pure work of fiction, to 90 one better.
special dispatch from Petersburg saws
tnat tne largest conservative meeting in that
city since the war, was held Nav 18th and |
ratified the nomination Of Greeley and Pro,y,'
-MacIias Union. 'i' - ''0"n' j
Yes, and in two weeks afterward the Gree
ley delegate to Cincinnati from Petersburg
was defeated for the Mayoralty of that citv
oy the Grant candidate by over 1000 MAORI
w. Let your readers know that fact Mr..
Union. i..ia...... n, Id, -. 't'~ -
Political Notes.
no" peasant it is for brethren to dwell To-
gether in peace. .,t-..I - - w
Greeley Democratic journal ssI ;,., -
bon! BlOckhead! Fogy! Doltp, '"i 'ouf-
Straight Democratic iourn.l s.ru...,
Renegade! Slanderer! Idiot! Jackass y,