The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-08

'EBRUARY 8, lS7Z.-TKlPl
The New DimeuIty with England About
the Alabama Claims.
It has been said truly that we know not
what day may bring forth. A few days ago
the relations between the United States and
England were most friendly. Since the Treaty
of Washington, concluded last May and rati-
fed and exchanged the 18th Of last June,
everything between these two great English
speaking nations has gone on tremendously.
There appeared to be a well-founded hope
that all the difficulties between them had been
settled and that the contamination Of perma-
nent peace and friendship depended merely
ON the fulalment of certain conditions pre-
scribed in the treaty. Whatever difference of
opinion there might have been as to the
merits Of the treaty, either in England
or the United States, scarcely any one
imagined it would not be carried out In good
faith, or that any question would be raised as
to its provisions or the meaning of them.
Never was treaty made with moro care yet
the ink was hardly dry when storm has been
raised in England over its meaning. There
had been no such excitement over any of the
difficulties which it was intended to remove.
There had been no such serious deadlock, If
we may use such term, in any effort before
to settle the difficulties between the two coun-
tries The Queen of England, in her address
to Parliament, says :-"In the case so sub
mitted by the United States large claims are
included which are understood on my part not
to be within the province of the arbitrators."
Both the Ministry and the opposition in Parla-
ment denounce in the strongest terms the
case of the United States as submitted to the
Geneva Conference, claiming consequential
damages from the acts of the Alabama and
her fellow corsairs. The Queen said, further,
that she had caused friendly communication
to be made to the government of the United
States on this subject, which, it is understood,
amounts to request that our claim for con-
sequential damages he withdrawn. On the
other side, we learn from Washington that the
President firmly declines to accede to the re-
quest of the British government, but will leave
the case as it stands for the decision of the
Geneva arbitrators. There is no reason to
doubt that Congress will sustain the President,
and as little doubt that the people generally
will approve the action of the government.
We believe it was Daniel O'Connell who
said there was no act of Parliament that he
could not drive coach and six through.
That seems to be pretty much the idea English
men have of treaties, or, at least, that appears
to be their idea of the Treaty of Washington.
BY Englishmen we do not mean the mass of
the people, who are honest and kindly disposed
to this country, and who have little to say in
public affairs, but the governing class and
those who control the press. The great body
of the people are not we'll informed on inter-
national questions and generally are influenced
by their rulers and the press, though at times
their strong common sense revolts at the
political sophistry of their leaders. This
instinct of right was seen during
our civil war, and in the very
conduct of the British government which led
to the Alabama claims, when the ruling class
acted in opposition to enlightened public sem
timent. The British people, though deceived
for time by those who assume to control
public sentiment, are friendly to the United
States. Only the aristocracy and those who
follow it are inimical to the growth, influence
and welfare of this republic. Still, all Eng
lishmen are particularly sensitive on any
question touching their pockets, and their
political leaders may now succeed in creating
alarm at the possible prospect of large
indemnity to the United States in
the settlement Of the Alabama claims.
But there are two sides to this
question, and however public opinion may be
manufactured in England, or whatever the
consequences may be, our government could
not recede with honor, and, as we under
stand, will not recede from the position it has
taken. If the British government, then, has
resolved to drive through the treaty, or, in
other words, refuses to admit the discussion
or arbitration Of the case of the United States
as submitted to the Geneva Conference what
will be the consequence? Is the treaty to be
abrogated9 Are all the difficulties existing
before it was made to remain as they we're /?
Or can some middle ground of compromise be
found?
The abrogation of the treaty need not lead
to war, though it would leave the old causes
of irritation unsettled and might add fresh
one. In fact, with this carefully made treaty,
and that, as we said, almost before the ink is
dry, there has arisen more irritation than
existed previously. What, then, is the value
of such solemn instrument? If England re-
fuses to abide by it in the matter Of the arbitra-
ton of the Alabama claims, in advance
of the action of the arbitrators, may
she not pretend to find some loophole
to break other provisions of it when
hor