Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-09-21

| our Minister TO England, the late Rovcrdy
johnson. negotiated the treaty designed
To settle Alabama claims. 1t was nego
tiated with Lord Clarendon, Foreign
| Secretary OF England. and is known as
the johnson Clarendon treaty. Ii was
| communicated To the Senate just before
the expiration of JOhnson's term and the
Senate had il under consideration when
| President Grant was inaugursted. Ii
was rejected with emphasis and indigna.
ton Just as the Senate has now rejected
the fisheries treaty A few months later
President Grant sent 10 Congress com.
municatiOn on the whole subject of the
Alabama claims. Referring To the John.
son Clarendon treaty he used these
weighty words. which | beg 10 read to
you: believing that the treaty thus
misconstrued in its scope and inadequate
in its provisions would not have produced
hearty. cordial sentiment on the pend
ing questions which alone is consistent
with the relations which | desire 10 have
firmly established between the United
States and Great Britain. | regard the
action OF the Senate in the rejection OF
the treaty 10 have been wisely taken in
the interest Of peace. and u airy step
in the direction OF cordial friendship be-
tween the two countries. Sensitive peo-
pie conscious Of their power. are more
at ease while under a great wrong, wholly
Gpdeserved. than under the restraint of "A
settlement which satisfies neither their
ideas OF justice nor gives the sense of the
grievance which they have sustained. In
his next communication President Grant
recommended 10 Congress to author
the appointment Of commission TO take
proof Of the amount and ownership of
several Alabama claims on notice TO the
representative OF her maiesty's govern
ment at Washington. and that authority
be given for settlement of those claims by
the United States so that the government
have ownership of private claims as well
a the responsible control of all demands
against Great Britain. The result, you
know, was that the British government
proposed joint commission TO settle all
claims between countries; that President
Grant. unlike President Cleveland secur.
ed the assent Of the Senate before APP
pointing the Commissioners; in return
the Joint Commission made a settlement
which on the whole WAS satisfactory to
both parties. A great historic case in
point is familiar TO all who have studied
our history for sixty ycars-since the
Democratic party was first organized.
From the Administration Of Mr. Jeffer.
son. onward, there was dispute between
the two countries as TO the rights Of each,
bordering on the Pacific ocean. and the
question was adjusted from time to time
by our earlier Presidents. and lastly by
the treaty made by Mr. Clay while he was
Secretary of State under Mr.. Adams, pro.
viding for a joint occupation of the
country for an indefinite period. neither
party losing their rights. but from pure
demagogsm Democrats raised the cry in
the National election Of 1874 that the
whole Of what now constitutes the British
Columbia, up 20 latitude of - degrees
and 40 minutes belonged unquestionably
TO the United States. 4 pretense was
put forth rs blind, in order to show
that they were as Jealous To secure the
Northern Territory As they were bent on
acquiring the Southern Territory. The
Democratic National Convention affirmed
our right to "a 40 President Polk made
his campaign on it, They were ready 10
do anything to secure it. and they pre- sed
it 81 far that as soon rs Mr.. Polk was
inaugurateG the Democratic Congress
asked that notice be given to England
for terminating treaty Of joint Occupa.
ton. The next thing the country heard
WAS that Mr. Polk : administration was
compelled TO surrender the whole terri.
tory 10 Great Britain confessing that they
had made preten>iuns which they were
unable To MAINTAIN or defend Had they
not raised their demagogic cry and thus
forced the question to a settlement of the
Joint occupation which had C me down
from jefferson 10 that hour would have
peacefully continued and with our acqui.
sition of California two years afterwards,
and the immediate discovery Of gold.
thousands Of American citizens who
swsrmed TO the Pacific coast would have
occupied British Columbia and the def
mite settlement would doubtless have been
in favor Of those who were in actual pos
session and but for the laundering diplJ-
macy OF the Democratic party, which
prematurely and without any reason
forced the issue, we should to-day see
our flag floating over the Pacific front
from the Calf Of California 10 Behring's
strait President Cleveland Is exactly
following the Presidents Of his party IN
his negotiations with Great Britain. An
alienation Of bushes and surrender both
of which are equally inconsistent with
the dignity Of a Nation conscious OF its
great power. We certainly do not desire
a continuance Of diplomacy which, after
studying the subject for three years, can
change the position of the National Ad
between Wednesday after
noon an Thursday morning On Wedne,-
day the President was still urging the
Senate through the entire body of Demo
cratic Senators u surrender all our rights
in the fisheries by going into the treaty.
and on Thursday he put those Senators to
shame by directly reversing the position
he had strenuously held II three proceed.
ing years DO not believe The American
people will submit 10 such triliug with
the great question. believe rather that
they will commit the government ~ a
great party, which from the first day OF
Lincoln's administration TO the last hour
of President Arthurs has maintlInei
force and prestige and righ, Of the Union
against rebellion at home and aggre,si n
from abroad, and did it without bravado
or buster on the one hand and without
surrender on the other.
Things 10 Think o..
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