The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-08
THE WAR FEELING IN THE
CITY.

Inc aI-preVallng SuDject Vi COuVeTsHtiUu yos'ot'
day among all classes throughout the city was the
possibility OF q war between England and the
United States growing out OF the respective att
tudes assumed by the two governments In the mat
ter OF the Alabama claims. 1t was talked
over in the morning in cars, In omnibuses and
on ferryboats, people hurried to their business
1t was the subject OF later conversations IN count
ing houses, In stores and on Change. Wall street
was aglow with the topic. Humble laborers in
humble workshops In the intervals OF their toll,
ing theme. 1t formed the al-prevailIng
staple of talk in city groggeries, from the
gded palaces Of highest estate. the lowest liquor
dens OF the metropolis. Strangers meeting at din
ner IN the public dining saloons caught the spirit Of
Infection and lnterchanged their Views In the mat
ter. Stokes for the nonce was forgotten. Indicr
ments against city officials were not thought Of.
Bedford's Grand Jury became thing Of the
shadowy past. The days work over the theme was
renewed with increased zeal. At home,
at the clubs at the opera, at the theatres,
at balls, at parties all the phases.of the question
were discussed. In Short among all classes OF peo-
pie 1t was the first thing talked about in the morn
and the last thing talked about at night. or course
forming the basis OF all this talk were
THE LATEST DISPATCHES
contained in the telegraphic columns OF the MORN
ing papers, These only served to Intensity the gene
raj eagerness the subject OF new developments
All day crowds thronged about the newspaper bull
letin boards to If there were any later news
and the extras sung out by the newsboys were
bought with an alacrity unparalleled since the war
OF the rebeion-the most positive proof that could
| be offered OF the present feverish
CONDITION OF THE POPULAR PULSE.
It ia unnecessary TO state that foremost
| In importance, and that comprising more
than anything else to arouse the public
feeling and attention, were the published Sespatches
between Minister Schenck and Secretary Fish in an
extra OF the Euenirg Telegram, the first paper in
| which they appeared and the first paper to an
nounce to the American people the firm stand taken
| by our government IN this matter. Like wlldfre
| spread the news Of these dispatches, and their
tenor was specially the theme OF nearly every
| tongue. In our great moneyed centre,
| WALL STREET,
the eject was like magic. Gold, which sold in the
morning OF 109T, went up at bound to 110l<.
| Under the influence OF the same feeling the stock
market weakened, and prices generally receded.
| In both the Gold Room ana the Stock Exchange
there has not such excitement for long time,
| an excitement not 30 much engendered BY
| fluctuations In prices by deep-seated feeling
| impression that something will grow out OF thls
that underlying this matter are questions OF grave
seriousness, ana that between the two great
! "kindred nations''
WAR WAS NEVER so IMMINENT AS NOW.
"Granting the published interchange OF dispatches
between our Minister at the Court Of st. James and
| our Secretary OF State as reliable" said promt
nent wall street banker yesterday, and issue is
| made at once between the English government ana
| the United StatesS"
| "Do you think war will be the resultr' asked the
| gentleman with whom he was conversing.
BACK DOWN OR KNOCK UNDER.
s'England must back down war Is Inevitable"
evil England back down2'
| "she has no alternative but to back down or
| fight"
| "And 80 you think our government win stand
! ~
.Firm as granite"
"But the Geneva Conference has not yet an.
| nounced its decision upon the Alabama Claims"
premier Gladstone in his.speecn In the House OF
| Commons foreshadowed the action OF the British
| government In case the Conference decide that
| these claims must be paid. The Premier is the
| mouthpiece OF the government"
sThe Conference may decide against the clalms.n
"They cannot" sharply retorted the banker, and
then added Win empuasls, 'hnu tney Will nOL"
| sHILLY-sHALLYING.
"The British government" said another of the
solid men OF wall street, "have been shllly shay.
ing this question. Matters are reaching focus.
These claims have got 10 be paid or war Is newt
| able.n
"In case there Is war; asked bystander,
| evil money values be affected muchr
| sNot very seriously, IN my opinion" responded
the gentleman addressed. spectators VIII do
their utmost TO push up gold and depreciate stocks
of all kinds and government securities, but such a
| war as this will be will not drain heavily our
resources Our immense resources Will hardly be
| anected. II viii be o holiday matter to the great
war 10 crush the rebellion-a war; great as It was,
| from the erects Of which the country, through Its
great recuperative energies, has already very
nearly recovered"
EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.
The question OF exports and imports formed the
subject OF q lengthy conversation between two Of
our heaviest importers. There was very little dis
agreement IN views. Both were inclined to look on
inc gloomy side Of the picture as affecting their
prospective business profits; aud yet down, deeper
| down than either Of these considerations there
burned in the bosoms OF both spirit 1of noble and
d;sinterested patriotism that would merge indi'
vilual pront in the greater and graver question d
| the national good
"After all,n said one, ian interruption Of commerce
between this government and Great Britain will pe
greatly more TO the disadvantage OF the latter gov
| eminent than to ours. We can do without Britpf
| fabrics. They will ind 1t hard TO do without oul
| grains and breadstufIs."
.sTha,'s 80, tnat's So" said the other, repeating
the words to give them emphasis.
| CHARACTER or THE WAR;
This was branch OF the subject quite as mucl
talked about a. any other.