The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-19


| opinion on the stage which the negotiations had
reached II was Therefore arranged that the qaes-
isteral explanations should prove satisfactory the
Lords will separate, as originally intended, for the
Whitsuntide Recess, but II there should appear to
be tange requiring Parliamentary Intervention
the adjournment win be delayed until the Friday
following, SO as to admit OF n discussion on Thurs
DAY and the succeeding day.
1t cannot be denied that this remarkable CONVEX
sation produced certain sense of relief This was
the result OF many causes. Some were, perhaps,
pleased that difficult discussion had been for the
tune avoided, but ut there wa, was general
ON Monday next the end must at last
be reached. Ministers have seven days
more days for reflection. II the English and Ameri-
can Ministers do not agree by the end OF the cur
claims at Geneva shah be superseded by Joint
memorandum addressed to the arbitrators, Lord
Granville will have to promise on behalf of the
government that they will take no further step
in the arbitration until the indirect claims are
withdrawn, or to accept an address from the
Lords to the Crown praying that further pro-
ceedings may be suspended until the same end is
arrived at 1t must, indeed, be clearly understood
Washington to make up their minds what they win
do. President Grant and his Ministers may keep
their counsel till the l4h Of June, and II at that
time they withdraw the Indirect Claims, the Atbi-
tration will go on without interruption The effect
of Lord Russell's motion is simply to put record
aalrmea over and over again in and
out of the two Houses of Legislature
that that we cannot go on NTH the Arptration
damages is left open befor the arbitrators We look
upon this as so much a matter OF course that we
cannot but repeat what we have before said-that
we regret the government did not accept 1t fort
night since. The question is whether the Ministers
contemplate 1t as possible under any circumstances
that they should go to arbitration at Geneva with
the claims for consequent ia damages hanging over
the nation. If they regard it as impossible. why
did they not accept Lord Russell's motion or
still better-avod the necessity for Lord Rus
sells motion by voluntary pledge that they would
nnUn m a Hhnu gnnI1 hptfn
strengthened themselves by so doing they would
have treasured the nation, they would have en-
lghtened the Cabinet at Washington As it Is they
have perpleXed their friends and they have en-
couraged rather than discouraged dilatory policy
We are within view of the end OF this uncertainty
The nation has been these two three months past
like man walking through long railway tunnel
doubtful as his foot strikes now and then against
rail, whether he has got upon the line or is safe in
the six-foot way, and apprehensive that at any
moment train may come by with a rush and
scream and find him unprepared what to do; but
at length there is point OF light before him and he
We sincerely Hope Lord Granville win be able
to announce next Monday that the presentation
of indirect claims will be superseded by an agree
ment on the part of the American government
to instruct the Tribunal at Geneva to disregard
them. We are persuaded that the clearer defni-
conversation viii assist rather than impede this
wished for end. There is no concealment as to the
character of American opinion on the subject 1t ia
impossible to find any person in the States who does
not say that he never expected the arbitrator
would award single dollar for the indirect
clalms 1t Is rare to find any one who does not con-
denim their insertion in the case delivered at Ge-
neva A few offer an apology for having presented
them to the judgment OF the arbitrators, and
the great mass would have willingly retained them
on the record seeing that they have been presented
This can be easily understood. None OF us like to
withdraw from position we have assumed in
private matter, and there is, perhaps greater
difficulty in asserting to the propriety OF some
thing like national recantatiOn. But when 1t be-
comes question between superseding the
indirect claims and letting the, arbitration
come abortive the verdict of the Ameri-
can nation viii not, we believe, be uncertain.
1t Is not even now uncertain. The prepOnderance
Of opinion in the States cannot be misunderstood.
1t is, In fact only question how far the President
can risk his chance OF reelection by consenting to
the withdrawal of what has been imprudenty put
forward. This is openly acknowledged in the letter
from our Philadelphia correspondent in another
column, and the course taken by the Cincinnati
Convention since this letter was written must
tend to force General Grant to a decision. II he
insist upon maintaining the claims they stand
| but he will sacrifice himself. He will, in fact,
consent to make himself the scapegoat; for the
| thrown upon himself and his Cabinet II he decides
to drop the claims he will not escape censure for
| having allowed his government to be placed in q
false position but he will be held to have made the
wiser choice of disagreeable dilemma. survey
to believe that the American government will COM
pete what they have begun; but, while shall
jocc II this should prove to be correct estimate,
we must hold our position undisturbed by hopes or
fears and prepare for either fortune.
Is THE PLAY ENDED2
The tone Of Lord Granville's remarks last night
and the New York kilograms OF this morning have
given rise to the impression that the hope OF
successful issue to the negotiations had better be
given up; that, in fact the play is played out. The
Pau Mau Gazette in the following article, expresses
the general feeling on the present phase Of the
negotiations.
SIGNS OF THE END
There are many signs that our anxieties about
the American dispute are drawing to close,
though not In the way predicted so confidently a
few days ago. When Lord Granville and Mr.. Clad
stone addressed the Legislature on this subject
last week, they spoke In an obviously respondent
tone and there was no eXhilaratiOn in what Lord
Granville had TO say yesterday, while soliciting
Earl Russell to postpone his motion. Certainly he
had no such hopes to present to the Chamber he was
addressing as justified his proposal to throw over
all discussion of the matter till after the Whitsun
tide holidays, nor did he exercise his usual dis
erection In making such proposal. He might have
known that the government would not be allowed
to carry on for fortnight, during which no ques-
ton could be put to them, without some previous
declaration that would protect the country from
any addition 10 the antiquities and the shifts which
have done so much mischief already. Earl Russell
was right, we think, In postponing his motion. 1t
is only fair that the government should be allowed
all they can ask In such case without absolute
danger; and though we are OF opinion that
they would have better consulted their own dignity
and security as well as the wishes and the inter-
ests OF the country If they had already make known
their determination not to acknowledge the indi-
rect claims OF America in any shape or in any way,
there is yet time to proclaim such resolve with all
due politeness, and there will yet be time to do so
on Monday next. Lord Granville tried very hard to
obtain the free, unettered space of the holidays for
further negotiations; but, made conscious
that this was liberty that the House was indis
posed to allow, he consented to an under
standing by which he is to make a statement
present papers on Monday. the day Of adjournment,
the House then being free to choose whether it will
not continue its sittngs in order to deliberate upon
the matter so presented to them. IL IL obviously an
awkward agreement for If the Peers do not see the
correspondence that is TO be laid before them till
not easily decide on Monday upon the question OF
adjournment. If the papers cannot be distributed
till Tuesday, or even II they be expected to come
no consideration OF them on the last named day;
therefore the proper course now is to decide or
hand that the adjournment shall not take place till
Thursday Friday following
Meanwhile IL is to be observed that Lord Russell
did succeed largely in the main object OF his mo-
ton-namely, to pledge the government not to con-
sent to any form OF acknowledgement OF the claims
for consequential losses. This his ordship accom-