The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-08

Jury must be an outrage and . hlsehood or
the Commissioners are unworthy to hold their
positions and should DC -emoved
M The Geneva Arbitration.
The motion of Lord Russell in reference to
the Geneva arbitration does not seem to have
made much impression upon the House of
Lords. If this were simply the opinion Of Lord
Russell we should pass it by as the whim Of
an old man, his mind weighted and darkensd
by the burden Of years. But we note that
the London Standard which is the organ Of
the Disraei government, commends Lord
Russell for defending the honor of England,
and behind the London Standard there is an
active public opinion taking the same view.
There was hardly tory speech made during
the last election canvass in England that did
not ring the changes upon the dishonor of
England at Geneva These election legends
were to the effect that Mr.. Gladstone, in a
moment of weakness, had consented to the
arbitration Of all questions arising out Of the
Alabama claims that he had gone to Geneva
in spirit of the utmost Cancellation that
he was there encountered by furious
American representative in the person
of Bancroft Davis, assisted by three
inscriptions Yankee lawyers - Gushing,
Waite and Evarts-who hesitated at no trick
to carry their point and hoodwink the English
representatives. Furthermore, the Court Of
Arbitration was unfortunate in it's construc-
ton. The only judge who knew anything
was Sir Alexander Cockburn, the Lord Chief
Justice Of England The other judges were
little more than fgureheads or tools in the
hands of Mr.. Davis and his sharp colleagues.
Instead, therefore, Of having fair trial. the
whole matter was prejudged. England, which
never did any harm to the United States, was
compelled to pay large sum Of money as q
penalty for simply doing her duty in the pre-
servation of an armed neutrality.
This, we say, is the legend which was elab-
Grated to the English public during the last
canvass, and Lord RUSSELL supported by the
organ Of the Disraei government, comes for
ward to champion it. Well, as q nation, we
can stand our share Of detraction and misrep-
resentation; but this Geneva business is be-
coming monotonous, and we do not choose to
be constantly summoned before an English
Parliament as having in some way taken an
advantage Of England. The truth is that the
arbitration at Geneva was not sought by the
United States Sir Edward Thornton gave
the intimation that an effort to arbitrate would
be welcome to the British government before
Mr.. Fish made the offer. A distinguished
Englishman of high social rank and influence
in America as well as England came to this
country to encourage the negotiation, and was
created o baronet for his trouble. The treaty
was made to satisfy the English government.
The one point about which England was
anxious was this:-In the event of war be-
tween Great Britain and another maritime
Power would the United States have the same
| right to make an indirect war upon the COM
MERGE of England that England practically
waged upon American commerce during the
| rebelion2 In other words, England, having
thoroughly destroyed American commerce,
was only too anxious to prevent America from
| retaliating at o future time. Mr.. Gladstone saw
| plainly that unless q treaty was secured max
| ing every nation responsible for the acts Of
privateers that escaped from its ports hun
dred Alabamas would issue from American
ports to assail the British Gag as soon as the
first gun was fred in . maritime war against
that flag. .aos sGeA ses,ab s.e aeW-N
So the treaty was made, in that spirit OF
peace which always animates the United
States in dealing with foreign Powers. Once
the rules were adopted which made it impossi-
BILE for us to allow an Alabama to leave our
ports, England had gained her point All
through the negotiations she craved the treaty.
| But the moment the arbitration was opened
her opposition began. The English journals
here, who represent British interests with af-
fecionate and patriotic fidelity, began an at
tack upon the American case This attack
was continued in England The press of the
Continent and the public opinion of neutral
nations united in saying that our case was a
just one, in no way exaggerated, and that we had
right to stand up before the Geneva Court
and ask judgment upon it But the case was
maligned, misrepresented, assailed and finally
destroyed, rather than break the treaty.
America, for reasons appealing to her SELF
respect, would have been justified in walking
out Of Court, but the spirit Of peace prevailed.
Having won this advantage, the English fought
every new point in the course of the arbitration.
Lord Cockburn, who went to Geneva, as was
supposed judge, avowed himself q partisan.
His manner throughout the deliberations was
angry, severe and unjust. He discussed every
question with passionate vehemence. Tow
ARDS NJ. staempM, the Swiss arbitrator, he
behaved with singular brutality. When the
verdict WIS rendered he left behind him O
volume Of reasons for dissenting, marked
with bitter feeling towards the United Sta6Na
and illustrated with eulogies ON Lord Russell
and Stonewall Jackson. The whole manner