New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-15
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
rur BEHRING SEA CASE AND THE SUPREME
COURT.

t;cians are cackling with ecstasy over the motion
made by the British Minister in the Supreme
Court as a countersToke directed against the pol
;cv of Mr.. Blaine in the Behrins Sea controversy.
II is humiliating 10 think that there are many
neople in this country so narrow in their partisan
spite that they become disloyal and unpatriotic
IN order to crafty that spite. The little parti-
sans who shout the loudest over the so-called
strategy of the British Minister would doubtless
be indignant enough If they were called Anglo
maniacs. who exaggerate their friendship for a
country which tfcspises people who toady TO it
and confines its regard to those who have enough
Telf-respect TO stand up against Great Britain in
matters of legitimate dispute. In this Behrlng
Sea controversy there are only two views-the
American view and the English. The policy of
tie Administration in sustaining the American
view has been the policy Of preceding Adminstra-
TONS whether Republican or Democratic. There
should I've no politics in it. The British Minister
who doubtless congratuates himself upon the
fact Of having made brilliant move by attempt
ing 10 transfer this to the Supreme Court,
should not be in too much haste TO congratulate
himself. A prominent lawyer. who is familiar
with the practice of the Supreme Court and its
traditions, said TO me to-day:
Nothing but ignorance upon the part OF the
English Minister of our institutions would have
led him TO bring such suit. There is nothing
more permanently established in the traditions Of
our legal and legislative history than the separa
ton of the three branches which 60 to make up
our Government. The Legislative, the Executive
and the Judicial parts of the Government are
separate powers, and the separation has been, and
will DC, most jealousy guarded The question
involved in this is Of Executive action, and
you may be sure, it is Executive action under
international law, the Supreme Court will sternly
refuse TO interfere. 1t requires prophet to make
a prediction that this case so triumphantly pre-
sented a masterstIoke by the English Minister.
will be peremptOrlly thrown out by the Supreme
Court. The English Minister has made this move
10 conceal the of defeat at the hands OF Mr..
Blaine at" the State Department TO certain
extent, the attempt to try the case at another
tribunal is a confession of weakness The British
case presented at the Supreme Court, is nothing
more nor less than a case Of pettlfoggDg. Such
tactics would do very well before rural jury in
a provincial court but when they attempted
in such tribunal the Supreme Court
Iebuke will be administered which will not BY
any means strengthen the position of the English
Minister before the public. Ut is almost inconceiv
able that Lord Salisbury could have authorized
such stupid procedure, and, of course, it must
would not have presumed to present the
ease. The Supreme Court cannot 80 into the
case. 1t is wholly outside of its province. 1t is
one entirely for diplomatic negotiation.
Look over tho history of all international dis
putcs. and ycu will see that they ore settled in only
one way Imagine for one moment England rush
ing into a German court to try question of right
under diplomatic dispute. Their policy is thor
ouchly in accord with the prevailing idea that we
are a young and inexperienced people, and that We
can he humbug1cd by certain assumption Of
authority. II is continuance OF the traditional
rolicy Of Great Britain toward us. Il is policy
based on stupid Ignorance Of our affairs, of our
institutions and tie spirit of our people. This Is
further aggravated 10y contempt for our
lack OF mill airy am naval power. THIS traditional
policy Of Great Britain toward us has led 70 t"o
wars. II is rot among tie imposSlbiltics that
we shall have me day the third war Nobody on
either side wants it. but the combination Of stu
ridity, ignorance and arrogance displayed by the
British Foreign Office or all questions Of dispute
may some day make the requisite blunder when
viii produce the explosion. This Bchring Sea
controversy will undoubtedly 90 TO high court
of arbitration The British authorities see that,
with the magnificent presentation OF the American
side made by Mr. Blaine. they have no case, AMI
Uidl llt hcclSl'l Il"'b " "c"'''' '''N'-''
really that side which feaIs arbitration. This
attempt to plead almost a new Issue and to put
il in such form as 10 obtain possibly some sort
Of negative indolsement from the Supreme Court
is ONLY part Of the policy Of the British Foreign
Office TO bolster up a weak before the future
arhitrators II is stranAc that there should he
any one in this country either so weak-mindcd or
So unpatrictic rs 10 take pride in any so-calc1
strategy isllayed by tie BIitlsh Minister. have
no doubt that the supreme Court will al on early
day hand this case back 10 Sir Julian ana refer
him o. the SIT pc RI ment, here LORD SALISBURY
has been SO adroitly and ably dlscom!''cd.'
There are different theories published from
time 10 time in the country concerning American
manners Recently an English gentleman sent
10 The Tribune a long article, in which he mace
tie allegation that there was Il falling OIL IN the
centility Of our people, and he clted numerous
Illustrations in support o. his allegation. "lh-
ont attempting to- traverse any OF his decIaratois
would like to submit two cases showing thaU
in at least two Institutions of this country gOod
manners Of the very best sort are taught or AT
least encouraged These two cases Of genuinely
good manners are indicative Of the two separate
schools Of training known as the Harvard CEl-
versity and the Pennsylvania Railroad. y eraHu-
ate Of tie Pennsylvania Railroad school oil man
hers was conductor ON one OF the limited trains
between AeN-York and Washington the other
night When he entered the first coach he found
it crowded, and in one of the front seats upon
the left was young man-pcrhaps 1t would be
more correct 10 say young person O1 tnc
masculine gender. he WAS well, even elegantly
dressed In his hand he held a French novel.
Upon his small and ordinary countcnancc there
Sat tie naughty look of reserve Of the imitation
gentleman When the conductor entered and
called % the tickets, this youthful person affected
to be 81 absorbed in his book that tie conductor
passed him by, calling first upon the rest Of tHe
Passengers, even going clear through the Train
before he returned to disturb the naughty reaacr'
When the conductor came back, the young person
still ,o,,.oa o, v.,. any attention The conductor