The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-08
The Opposition Assail the Ministry-Its
Lawyers only NOvices.
The American Commissioners had
Achieved a Triumph.
Granville's Despatch Conciliatory.
THE SITUATION CONSIDERED Ex-
TREMELY GRAVE.
RESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER.

LONDON, Feb. I'm the Commons yesterday
Speaker Dennison announced that in conse.
quence of ill health he was compelled to tender
his resignation. In a voice MARI ed with emo
ton he referred to the years he had occupied
the seat he was now about to leave. He ex-
pressed profound gratitude for the considera-
ton he had ever received, and babe the mem
| bers farewell
the Right Honorable gentleman who had pre-
sided SO long and well over the deliberations of
the House, and proceeded to deliver glowing
eniogy He closed by announcing that he should
giving the thanks of the House to the presiding
omcer, and the other praying the Queen to be
pleased to bestow some mark of royal favor on
an able and faithful public servant.
Sir John Darlington, in the absence of Dis
raeli, expressed the unfeigned regret of the OPP
position members at the resignation of Mr.
| praise. r-I-t
| The Treaty of Washington and the claims of
the American government for indirect dam
ages was again before the Commons to-day and
gave rise to another exciting discussion. Ralph
Osborne, member for Waterford city, addressed
the House at length. In the course of his re-
marks he said that the Alabama question was
the most momentous England had been called
10 pass upon within century. He compared
the astute lawyers who composed the American
Commission with the novices who represented
England, and said the latter had been COM
Pie1ely ou'witteu. II, SAID Me- lawyers mad
planned the English case, we could escape with
the payment of e6,OOO0OO sterling. The Amer
lean Commissioners had served their country
well and achieved a triumph. Mr.. Osborne
continuing, said the trouble lay at home. The
government had armies which could not march
and ships which were unseaworthy, and now
they had treaty which they could not stand
upon. rr4
ArthurJ. Otway, formerly Under-Secretary
OF Foreign Affairs, blamed the government for
yUhi ot had haa IL
thought, however, that the American govern
ment would recede from its extreme demands,
but said that in case it did not. England, hav-
ing admitted the principle of indirect claims it
must be prepared to meet the enormous de-
mands of the United States. -,.-
MI. Gladstone and several other members de-
Tended the action of the Commissioners and of
the government, and said that they hoped the
American claim for indirect damages would be
IN. Y. Tribune Special Earl Granvlle's
despatch contains no threats to withdraw from
the arbitration, nor makes either demand or
proposal. 1t simply calls attention, in temper
England attaches to the Treaty. MI. Glad,
stones speeches yesterday and to-day are wide
~ criticised as mischievous, offensive and need
lessly irritating 1t is believed that several
members of the Cabinet and the people are
unanimous for abandoning the arbitration I'M
less the American claims are modified. There
is no intention TO offer any affront to America.
The situation is regarded in the highest Eng
llsh and American quarters as extremely grave
but not hopeless
Hon. Charles Francis Adams goes home on
Saturday. ,-
DOMINION OF CANADA.
THE PROVINCE PAPERS ON THE CRISIS.
TORONTO, Feb 1.-THE papers throughout
the Dominion contain articles on the Alabama
treaty. The general tone is moderate, although
the American terms are considered inadmissi-
BILE. No serious difficulty is apprehended.
ii5-b MORE TROOPS FOR CUBA.
MADRID, Feb. THE 1000 troops asked for
by Captain General Valmazeda have sailed
from Cadiz for Cuba.
SOUTH AMERICA.
GOVERNMENT VICTORY.
LAGUAYRA, VENEZUELA, Jan. 22.-President
GuZman Blanco, with 5000 men, attacked the
stronghold Of the revolutionists and compelled
them to abandon it. The revolutionists lost 300
men, including their leader. The celebrated
Gen. Olives opinion is that general war has
ceased. ~ III
81 CUBA.
THE CAPTURED BRITISH BARK.
HAVANA, Feb THE British schooner Lark,
captured and towed into Manzanilla, belongs
to Montego Bay, Jamaica She was on her
way to Coymans when the storm drove her ON
the Cuban coast where she was seized on sus-
picion of being blockade runner. The cap
tain and crew were placed in Jail but released
on bail at the instance of the British Consul.
The Spanish Admiral is convinced the Lark is
VARIOUS MATTERS.
1t is announced that the Grand Duke Alexis
will arrive here about the 18th.
The Cuban Gen. Casanova was killed by guer-
rillas near Ciego DAvila. ri. -.l..i "a
Irregular weather retards and shortens the
sugar crop.