The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-11

through the acts or growing out of the acts
OF the Anglo-Confederate privateers, and
England supposes that we are ready to aban-
don our case, and that General Grant will be
defeated unless he obeys the popular voice. On
the contrary, while condemning Secretary Fish
for his first blunder, the American people Gen.
sure him yet more severely for not standing
firmly by our case, and its abandonment by
General Grant would be fatal to his prospects
OF reelection. There is misunderstanding
at Washington, also, of popular sentiment in
regard TO the treaty. The people demand the
removal of Secretary Fish for his share in the
destruction Of the treaty, and the politicians
imagine that the country deplores its failure.
On the contrary, while condemning an in
competent Cabinet Minister, our citizens, with
whom the treaty was never popular, are
quite willing that the Alabama claims shall
be left an open question, to be settled with
England at some future and probably not far
distant day They are willing that the Treaty
OF Washington shall become waste paper to-
morrow In this sentiment they are in accord
with President Grant. They admire the firm
ness with which he resists all attempts to in
duce direct or indirect abandonment of our
case as first presented to the conference, and
they agree with him that the United States
can afford to wait for settlement of their
claims against the British government
This false cry of war does not originate with
the President or his friends, but with those
who are striving to save Secretary Fish. 1t
will fail for the reason that its object is trans
parent If we had any quarrel with the
sipaniard it would be scarcely becoming the
not be the policy, of the United States to
press il ut this time Spain, distracted
and crippled at home; ruled over by for
eigner seated on a lettering throne; torn by
factions; with instructions breaking out in
al directions, and suppressed to-day only to
gain new life tomorrow; with Cuba in revo-
lution-a revolution never to be overcome
Spain would not be ga foeman worthy Of our
steel" Yet, even rupture with the Spaniards
would be undesirable, inasmuch as it would be
likely to further embarrass our relations with
England. The experience of our rebellion
government would be any less arrogant in its
tone, or any less insolent in its demands, when
it found us engaged in war with another
nation. At present there is no prospect of a
disturbance Of the peace between the United
States and England. The breach of
treaty obligations will be on the
part OF ENGLAND if she should
refuse to abide the Judgment Of the Geneva
Tribunal; but we should not declare war
against her on that account, being satisfied to
tear up the Treaty Of Washington and return
to the position we occupied before the English
Joint High Commission for settlement Of
our international differences. England GER
tainly could not make her own bad faith and
broken pledge a reason for declaring war
against us; but who shall say what might be
her next position if we should be engaged in
difficulty with another Power? Even this
Spanish canard may encourage Mr.. Gladstone
to perscvere in his apparent determination to
break up the Geneva Conference, and
thus may defeat the object of those WHO
originated it. One thing is certain we
shall have no war either with Eng
land or Spain, land the people of the
United States do not want war. They are
willing to wait until the time arrives when
our government will adopt warmer and more
American policy towards Cuba, and they are
entirely Indifferent as to the fate of the Treaty
OF Washington. They do not object to post
pone settlement of the Alabama claims; tho
debtor is solvent, the security is good, and
principal and interest are certain to be paid at
last. All they ask Of President Grant is such
a reformation of his Cabinet as will insure
more statesmanlike and more American man.
agement Of our dealing with foreign nations
in the future. This will be far more satisfac-
tory to the people than any attempt to divert
their attention from the bunders and failures
of the past by raising Washington warwhoop
against poor, enteebled Spain.