New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-07
lvgEjcl AND ENGLAND.

TINS CouHll1
iyFEICi AND ENGLAND
If A., Edmunds had restrained Tor m hour
u, tvo bis natural impctuosty he wo1d nave
,oo,,ed something of what the British GOV-
eminent think of our Case, recently presented
ot Geneva. The Queens Speech refers IN
the most guarded language to the large
"claims included in our case, when were un-
"derstood on her part not to he withln the pro-
"yincc of the arbitrators." Her Majesty addS
that a friendly communication IN that sense
has been made to our Government
Of course the first matter OF any interest
which occupied the House of Lords was al
attack by the opposition upon the Government
for its conduct in the negotiation OF treaty
capable of giving rise to such misunder-
standing. Mr.. Disraei lost no timo IN
ASSEMBLING the Ministry with great
malice, referring to the reserved and
decorous language of the royal speech
with especial acrimony. 1t was certainly
tempting opportunity. lie was reasonably
sure of one of two results. Either Gladstone
would lose his temper and say something rash,
or would keep cool and lose popularity
by it, The irascble Premier did not
dsappoint him. He made fiery
speech, avowing the magnanimity and
gentlcness with which England had gone into
the treaty, and the lion-like courage with
which she would defend her rights against
our "preposterous demands" With few
more chOlcric statesmen on both sides We
might find ourselves face to face III lew
DAYS in an attitude where retreat would be
impossible for either.
There il a great deal of nonsense talked, on
both sides of the ocean. about the liability of
Republics TO sudden storms Of popular passion
and the serene superiority of constitutional
monarchics TO any such accidents We hope
that the lesson of the last lew days VIII
not be lost on The timid souls who have been
in the habit Of thinking III this style. Inc
people of the United States have left this mat
ter to the constituted authorities. When the
Treaty was concluded, il was published widely
read and generally approved. 1t was sanctioned
by the Senate and ratified by the President, ana
the Board of Arbitration formed. Several
efforts were made by minimizing or sclf->cck-
ing politicians to excite discomfort against the
Treaty amOug those who, il was imagined,
might be injured by it, But those efforts
continually failed. The agents of our
Government presented our ease, including
in it all the demands which We had steadily
made for five years Wewerc willing to await
the decision Of the Board OF Arbitration, trust
ing to their impartiality and to the strength Of
our cause If the decision had been against H.,
We should not have been very well pleased,
but we should have submitted loyally.
This was the behavior of the Republic.
Does it suffer by comparison with that of the
freest and greatest monarchy on earthf Brit
ish public opinion accepted the Treaty with
twice the effusion and delight which was ex-
hibted here. They grew almost idylIic IN their
expressions of satisfaction. If they dreamed
that because we were reasonable, we had re-
nOunced all our rights and our claims, that
WIS not our fault. We gave no such as
surances at any time. They refused lump
sum to cover all damages, III consideration OF
which we had offered to waive our claim
for indirect losses. We were there
| fore driven to include these in our bill,
or stultify all our previous action. When our
case appeared, there was IL week of surly com
ment which grew at last Into violent denim
citation. The tempest of vulgar passion cul-
| minated yesterday in an uncalled-for para
| graph in the Throne Address and foOlishly
| impulsive speech from the Treasury Bench.
What the result of all this will be, it is
premature to say. Every day Of this cause
less excitement in England makes the matter
more difficult. II is not probable that our
Government will withdraw its case. After
Mr.. Gladstone's speech, yesterday, it will
be hard for the British Government
to abide by the Arbitration. Both
sides in Parliament are working so earnestly
for victory that neither will dare to take q
position which could be called un-English.
We can only assure our excited cousins that
this is matter which concerns them in
finitey more than it does us.
One result of the incident is worth noticing,
a. confirming the view We have taken. We
suggested, some days ago. that one object of
the English clamor might be to influence
European public opinion against lis, and thus
indirectly bear upon the decision of the Arbtra-
tors. If this DO so. the attempt has failed. The
Aigemeine Zeit0ng of Augsburg severely crit
cses the violent tone of the English Press
nounces this prctension of England to make
herself at once party and judge IN the suit
These are two of the most influential
Journals of Germany and Austria, and may
fairly be taken to repre- sent the intelligent
thought of Europe upon this sudden and UNI
expected obstacle opposed by British susccpti-
bility TO international peace and harmony.
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TIRTFF R{GDTRY and PRdTJICdI STtTPS