New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-25


lision. nor why the Victoria sunk in fifteen
minutes. Nothing is yet said about the
weather, nothing about the circumstances in
which the disaster occurred. Some particulars
are expected to-day hut no particulars and no
explanation can much diminish the force of the
blow. IL is but fair to the In elish to say that
they regret the loss of 400 lives more than the
loss OF the great ship Yet the loss of such a
ship by collision in peaceful manoeuvrcs is
enough to humiliate as well as to distress the
people OF great naval Empire. Perhaps never
has public confidence in the Navy been so rudey
shaken.
Admiral Sir George Tryon. who commanded the
feet Of which the Victoria and Camperdown
formed part, was universally considered one Of
the best officers in the Navy. The eulogics be-
slowed on him at this moment are but the cx-
preston of an opinion long held by his brother
officers. The Victoria was his flagship The
Camperdown carried the flag Of his second in
command, Admiral Markham. Both ships
Of new type and in perfect order. Whom. then,
or what, we to believe in ? asks the British
public; under it's breath, but still audibly. The
shock and horror of such catastrophe do not
check criticism, still lcss will they sie inquiry.
II is most singular fact that a rnmor of dis
aster spread through London on Thursday even
ing. No telegram is known 10 have been re-
ceved till o'clock yesterday morning, when a
dispatch came, not at first TO the Admiralty, but
td the Foreign Office The Queens message the
countermanding of the State ball, the presence Of
Lord Salisbury in the House Of Lords to ask
question, and Of the First Lord Of the Admiralty
to answer it, the statement by Mr.. Gladstone in
the House of Commons-all these show how pro-
foundly public sentiment was affected and with
- 1,oo
This weeks performance in the French press
and the French Chamber ought to I've. but prob
ably will not be- lesson against the passion of
creduous hate which possesses a portion of the
French people. The documents which the :" Co
carde' announced and NJ. Millevoye read in the
Chamber were the stupidest Of forgerics, but
they were supposed TO incriminate certain men
who are detested. and were expected TO add some
thing to the notoriety, infamous but profitable.
of the gutter journal which boasted of stealing
them That was enough. Out came the scandal.
II Ia not clear that even the Ministry was not
at one moment disposed to consider these docu-
ments seriously, though to any man who had a
rudimentary acquaintance with English politics
they bore fraud. and the silliest of all possible
frauds, on the face of them.
An acquaintance with foreign affairs might be
expected Of foreign Minister, but NJ. Develle
seems to have hcsitated. However. in the end
right feeling and the honorable traditions Of the
Foreign Office prevailed, and the Ministers resolved
that they could have nothing TO do with the pa
pers alleged to hav<becn plfered from the British
Embassy. When read in the Chamber their true
character became evident. To hoot at NJ. Mile
voye was natural. II natural also, perhaps.
that NJ Clemenceau should recover some of his
former authority. because calumny had ex
ploded.
Mr. Phelps has at last been able TO begin his
closing argument for the United States before the
Behrng Sea Tribunal in Paris II may be inter |
estng to note that when these proceedings
opened, three months ago. they expected 10
end in week The inquiry took far wider
scope than had been anticipated. and the argu- |
ments developed into forensic ESSAYS. Mr.. Carter
was not exactly concise. and the English counsel
consumed month in dissertations. part Of which |
are from the American point Of view purely aca- |
demc, where they not calculated to create a |
prejudice in the minds Of the arbitrators against
America.
The English have had some help from America |
in the creation Of prejudice. Certain American
quasi-American journals have argued the Canadian
case with zeal which would be explicable if |
they hold brief and receive pay from Canadl |
culated in Europe. They have been supplied |
to the arbitrators. and the arbitrstors. who know
nothing of the insignifcance of the journals con-
cerned, invited to believe that it is American
opinion which flows from these poisoned sources |
The Canadians may or may not have suborned |
a New-York paper They have, beyond doubt, OBJ
tanned access in a peculiar way to English papers,
and the accounts from Paris. some Of them.
have been cooked in the Canadian interest. If,
however, the tribunal adopts Mr.. Phelps's view all
these intrigues and covert influences will avail |
little Mr.. Phelps has swept away at the start
q cloud of confusing issues lie has put before
the arbitratOrs two simple but broad questions:
First. have the Canadians and their renegade
American accompliccs the right 10 destroy the
seals? Second. if they have the legal right, what
regulations should the two Governments Of Eng
land and the United States impose to prevent de-
structon from becoming determination? An ar
eument conducted on that basis ought to have
some practical result
The Queens return TO Windsor releases Mr..
Bayard from his diplomatic quarantine. III was
introduced" in the solemn language of The
Court Circular" "to the Queens presence by
The Foreign Minister Thursday, and presented
MS credentials. Mrs. Bayard had a special au-
liencc and had the honor Of being presented to
Her Majesty by the Countess Of Antrim lady-in-
waiting Both drove from the station to the
Casth in "a scmi-statc carriage
The Queens amiability in all matters concern
ng America is unfailinx and her reception of
Mr. and Mrs Bayard was no exception to the rule
Down TO Thursday Mr. Bayard's position was
anomalous and even awkward. He had been in
london since June o. and the Queen had been
It Balmora lie was neither Ambassador nor 4
,rivate citizen lie was. until he could be re-
cived by the Queen, in a state of suspended
nmation. He could not attend public func-
ion nor accept a private invitation. 80 strict Is
Iinlomatic etiquette. II lie had gone to Lord
Foreign Office reception, or even to
ord Ilchcster's garden party at Holland House
N Wednesday afternoon. there would have been
Diplomatic scandal. lie has simply been
-..lAd ~. I'LL IL suited the Qneens convenience