The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-20

effect Of restoring peace, good will and har-
mony between the two nations, but would
leave behind it the seeds Of an aggravated
jealousy and discomfort which would be GER
tain to bring forth evil fruits
But can we consistently with our national
honor and with the requirements Of good faith
temporize further with this question by hold
ing forth to the British government any new
compromise, such, for instance, as we are told
has been proposed by Senator Patterson,
and which probably contemplates the
consideration Of our claims for indirect
damages by the Geneva Tribunal coupled with
some sort of an understanding by which we
are to pledge ourselves under no circum-
stances to require money compensation in case
judgment should be given in our favor? We
have already lost ground and injured our cause
by the wavering uncertainty Of our position.
In this our diplomacy has been in marked
contrast to that OF the English statesmen. In
June last Lord Granville declared in Parlia-
ment that the whole of the American indirect
claims had been 'swept away" When
our case was found to embrace such
claims he protested against them, the
Queen in her speech to Parliament
was made to say that their consid-
GRAFTON by the Geneva Tribunal was not con-
the House of Commons pronounced them
''preposterous and absurd" and such as no
nation with the spirit of England would con-
sent even to discuss Lord Granville adheres
to his determination not to suffer the portion
of our case relating to these claims to
be considered OF Geneva, and on every occa-
sion up to the debate of Monday last the
English Ministry has positively and absolutely
refused to 60 to arbitration unless we abandon
our CASE Their has been no lack Of backbone
on their side; they have made no proposition
for compromise except such compromise
rs would yield all we claim and conoede every
thing they demand It is therefore certain,
beyond peradventure that any diluted, tim
orous counter-proposihon we might make ct
the suggestion of Senator Patterson or any
body else would be thrown back in our teeth
by the British government and only add to
our humiliation and disgrace. Unfortunately,
our position has not been equally decided
and firm with that of England To be
sure we have said, 'the President can
not consent to any proposition which,
by implication or inference withdraws any
part Of the claims or of the case of this gov
eminent from the consideration of the tribu-
nall" and again, as late as May 8, 'the Presi-
dent cannot and will not withdraw any part of
what has been submitted, within his own con-
struction Of the intent and spirit of
the treaty." But then our acts,
or the acts Of our Secretary of State have
beied the bold words of the President and,
like the woman who hesitates, the Secretary
has been lost through his vacillation. While
avowing our intention to stand firm he has
invited propositions of surrender, until he has
brought us to the verge Of national disgrace.
We tell the Senate that the country is sick |
and weary Of this ''bewilderment of diplo-
and that the people desire it should
cease. If we ore happily to be spared the
deep humiliation that seems now prepared for
us, let us have no more temporizing prop
ositions. Let us put down our foot as
firmly as England has set down her own, and
tell the British government that our case
is before the Geneva Tribunal; that we
claim now as we have always claimed,
our right to control it ourselves; that
we are willing to abide the judgment of
the Conference, whatever it may be- that
our last word is spoken, and that if England
chooses to withdraw from the Conference and
destroy the treaty the responsibility must
rest with her alone. In such position
there will be the ring of true Ameri-
canism, and it will be hailed with
pride and satisfaction all over the Union. The
day for cowardly surrender or timid COM
promise has passed, let us hope, forever, and if
the Senate should reject the present disgraceful
1t must take q firm position from
which even Secretary Fish must not be suf-
fered again to retreat.