The Portland daily press., 1872-05-17
THE PRESS.
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY II, 1872.
A Deserved Disappointment.

patriotic partisan hostility both here and in
Great Britain. Only consumnate tact, the
most inperturbable GOODNESS and unfailing
good-nature on the part of the President and
the Secretary of State have saved it from ut
ter wreck. But there is now probability
that the Senate will advise the adoption of
the proposed supplemental article to the trea-
ty and the subsequent withdrawal of the
claim for consequential damages, by means OF
which all in the treaty that is valuable to the
United States win be saved, withoutthe sacri-
flee in the smallest degree OF the honor and
dignity of the nation. The new arrangement
win leave the arbitrators free to give the
United States every cent of pecuniary in
demnity that they would have given had the
treaty remained unmodified. The new prin-
ciples of international law for the first time
formally and authoritatiyely promulgated in
the original treaty will be saved to the inn
mense advantage not only OF the United
States but of the whole civilized world. The
government of Great Britain has taken much
pains to secure the cooperation of the Do
minion of Canada in carrying out those arti-
ces of the treaty which relate to the fisheries
and the use of canals. The assent of the
Dominion to these articles is necessary, and
in order to influence the provincial govern
ment England offers to guarantee ten MIL
lions of Dominion railroad bonds in
case its wishes are complied with. All,
therefore, that has tangible, substantial
value to this country will be submitted to the
Geneva board, or will be carried into effect
by the concurrent legislation of the two
countries and the dependencies of Great
Britain. a. l
This is a very pleasant prospect for every
body but the Democrats. They are terribly
disappointed. Indeed they are angry. For
many days they have eKultantly, brilliantly
proclaimed the failure of the treaty. Such
failure would, of course, be one of the most
disastrous events in history. 1t would, at
~ rate, prolong for many years our misun-
derstanding with Great Britain, and might
lead to war, which would leave this country
bankrupt. But never mind that, they said in
effect,-''it will hurt Grantv' Now we be-
hold them trying to relieve their dsappoint-
ment, by arguing with great volubility, that
the administration has disgraced itself and
Inundated the nation by the concessions it
has been obliged to make to save the treaty.
They are at as great pains to prove their
country in the wrong, and to exhibit its hui
initiation and shame to the world as if it
were an alien enemy, instead of their own
fatherland.
Consider for moment just what the gov
eminent has done in meeting the declaration
Of England that it would not submit to our
claim for indirect damages, contrast the facts
with she Democratic Interpretations, and
then see if party spirit ever exhibited itself in
q more disgusting form. As soon as the
American ease was laid before the British
public and it was found to contain demand
for indemnity for the prolongation of the war
after Gettysburg, a state of excitement was at
once developed which took the form of indig-
nation against the ministry that had negotiat-
ed the treaty. Mr.. Gladstone showed unmis-
taxable signs of alarm, and in reply to the
singing taunts of Disraeli in the House Of
Commons. pledged the government in the
most emphatic and most undiplomatic terms
to deny the right of the American govern
ment under the treaty to present these claims
and of the Geneva commission to. arbitrate
concerning them. He and Lord Granville
took the ground that it was distinctly under
stood by the Joint High Commission which
framed the treaty that the United States /
waived everything like the claims in question,
and that the personal honor of Secretary Fish
and his associates was pledged not to present
them. This country was accordingly notified
of the views of Great Britain, and in such
way as to leave no doubt that England would
abandon the entire treaty if we persisted
These extraordinary proceedings were met on
this side of the Atlantic with profound aston
ishment, but with no anger or excitement
whatever. Our government. accordingly,
was enabled to take a calm, deliberate view
of the situation, unembarrassed by popular
passion or clamor. 1t demonstrated with
Great Britain against the view it took of the
treaty, and in a firm, dignifed but friendly
maintained that there was nothing
either in the text or the treaty or in the de-
alterations of the Joint High Commission
precluding the presentation of the claims in
question. Afterwards, finding that no i'm
preston was made by these representations,
the British ministry being, in fact in SO criti-
cal situation and so beset by its enemies
that it was impossible for it to listen to rea- |
son, our government finally proposed to
the obnoxious claim on condition |
that Great Britain would solemnly agree new
er in the future to press such claims in its
own behalf under like circumstances. To this
Mr.. Gladstone would not at first agree, but
demanded that the claims should be uncon-
withdrawn, leaving the general
principle of international law to be settled
by negotiation afterwards. So the treaty
seemed in imminent danger again. But
Just as the opposition Journalists were tun-
ing their harps for another wild dithyramb of
exultation, the English government suddenly
proposed supplemental treaty embodying
the new principle that indirect damages were
not to be claimed, on the adoption of which
our government is to strike out from its
case" the claims that have caused so much
~-SOS'StNAA' ~ 10 oShONOo bhdo Oil dSlCCIiCht
will be reached ON this basis. The United
States government while stoutly maintaining
the propriety of its conduct, gives way on a
single point for good and valuable consider
alton. There is no Surrender" no
''back-down," no acknowledgement of
or bad faith. America
valves its rights in minor particular
'ut demands and receives concession in
'eturn. Yet Democratic papers protest
hat, in consenting to this adjustment, the I
American government confesses that it at
empted "a cute trick' of fraudulent nature
IN John Bull, and that on being detected it
withdrew from its position with humiliating
alacrity! But this is only the fruit OF dis
appointment that is richly deserved.
If those persons who are in the habit of |
looking upon Portland as decaying should
attempt to find mechanic to do any work
Tor them, they would become thoroughly
convinced that the mechanic arts are flour
shlng. Applicants for skilled laborers must
wait their turn, and the mechanic ia master
Of the situation. To be sure, MANY mecb.n-
cs have gone to Chicago tn bal, ro,>o; A.