New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-08

.rrounced their decision the Alabama clams-thas
treat britain should pay to the Government OF 'ne
tinted states the sum OF ~ 100000 In gold. to ~
Ivan IN citizens of the United States I'm payment oi
sosscs incurred by the depredaons of the Alabama
and other Anglo-C confederate cruisers. The qucsuol
a humary ON the Pacific coast was referred to The
~ %mner"r OF germany. who on October ~ 1872 de-
creed that the claim Of our Government that tne
boundary line between the territories Of Engla wv,
and thc United states should be drawn through the
Waw Channel most I'm accordance with the treaty
of 1916 This award confirmed the United states VI
their claim TO the important archipelago Of slanus
Wing between the continent and Vancouvers Island
Which for than tweniysix Great Britain ha
S SHt fmc +" Its history without question
NJ DISPUTED boundary between territory anu lnr
possessions OF Great Britain on MS continent, ,he
British troops were immediately withdrawn from me
island OF san Juan This reference to these matters
of historical importance VIII serve to recall mem
IstrafIOn and In the attainment OF these results py
peaceful methods Secretary Fish was guiding spIr,.
ills share In this by advice, counsel by the bencii'
Of his reason and prudence, and through his knowi'
edge of constitutional and International law. when
revealed In his tese and logical dispatches alone
serves 10 place him high upon the list Of eminent
diplomatists
VARIED DIPLOMATIC SERVICES.
Aside from the adjustment Of the difficulties with
Spain. OF the Alabama claims. Of the dispute in regard
10 the Northwestern boundary and the settlement OF
the questions arising OUT OF the Canadian Fisheries by
the Treaty OF Washington. the lmpoitan diplomatic
duties which devolvcd upon Secretary Fish during
Grants first Administration be briefly enuneralsd
At the outset Of the Franco PrrsSlan In July,
1870. Secretary Fish Willingly acceded TO The request
Of the North German Confederation for the prorec-
ton Of It's subjects In Paris by the United States
Lcgation-a request which approved of by tho
French Government On the announcement that
private property the high seas would be ex-
empt from seizure by PrssIan ships without regard 10
reciprocity, Mr.. Fish In note 10 Baron Gero ex-
pressed the qualification of the United saes. When
in, her hp
France, Minister Washbumc, under the instructions
Of Mr. Fish, the first to accord the new Govern
ment diplomatic recognition and support. Mr. Ilsh
soutly maintained the rights and privileges Of Iegs-
lions when the Germans, during the siege Of Paris, ie-
fused 10 allow the passage Of sealed diplomatic us
patches, and similar occasion arose for "A relnon-
STRANGE with the Government of Peru upon the de-
lenton of W. d. Farrand Adherence 10 The Burlin'
game treaty with China was announced. and MI
Fish secured a settlement Of a difficulty with C0rea.
secretary Fish devoted friend and almirer OF
General Grant. II Is Therefore. not surprising That
he found himself In sympathy with the scheme OF The
President for the annexation Of san Domingo 1t
is unnecessary here TO dwell upon the various
phases OF Mr.. Flsh's relations with the san Domingo
treaty and the sumner controversy. The matter was
reopened by Wendell Phillips IN his Newton lecture
In 1877, when he warmly defended Sumner and Mot
ley against statements made by General Grant, and
charged the State Department with falsehood Mr..
Phlllips's statement That secretary Fish urged sum-
ncr to take the English mission six months before
the recall of Motley, Mr.. Fish fatty denied. NJ
Fish also reiterated General Grants charges of neg
ligence and delay In the Foreign Affairs Committee
under Mr. Sumner, stating that drafts of treaties
from eight 10 eleven In number remained In the hands
Of the committee for several months, some Of them
for two years With Mr.. Fish IT was too often the
case that the enemies of President Grant were his
enemies, and that he with the Presidents eyes
Ia 1872 Mr.. Fish successfully negotiated three
treaties OF importance, one upon naturalization Win
the Austro. Hungarian Empire, a treaty respecting
Consuls and trademarks with the German Empire
and a treaty with Sweden aud Norway relating 10
naturalization.
Upon the Inauguration Of General Grant for the
second time as President, Mr. Fish requested 10
retain the portfolio Of state The question OF The
rights Of natulalIzed American citizens In Germany
again arose, and these ghts were stated by Mr. Fish
to be enjoyable only by bona hdc citizens and not by
those DESTROYS Of enjoying the rights and inn
munities of both countries and Of avoiding
the corresponding duties in either. But the
actual value Of the treaty with Germany IS shown by
Mr. BaucrOfts last Official letter 10 Mr.. tlsh upon
his resignation as Minister TO Berlin in 1874 lie
wrote: You In Washin gton hardly conceive the
degree of comfort secured 80 our German frio"clt
ens by the peaceful security which they obtain for
their visits ia Germany by the treaty Of naturallza
lion From 10000 10 1900 VI them come yearly 10
their mothercOuntIy now, without suffering the ehst
anxiety, where before many Of them In order 10 sec
their friends, obliged 10 remain Oh the DINER Sue
of the frontier. or come into Germany sleshily; RUIZ
ment OF Caleb Gushing a, Minister To spain IN FeDru-
airy, 1874, Mr.. Fish, in his Instructions; dwelt In
detail upon the disastrous strife then devastating
Cuba. He said: The state Of Cuba Is the one
great cause Of perpetual soictude In the forelgli
relations OF the United States. The President
cannot but regard Independence aud emanciPa-
ton of course as the only certain and even the
necessary solution Of the question OF tnba
II requires 10 be borne in mind that In
so far may contribute 10 the solution OF these
selfish interested motive The president does no,
mediate or desire the annexation Of Cuba % tne
United states but lis elevation into an independent
republic Of freedmen, In harmony with ourselves and
with the other republics OF Amerca IN d9
Ecuador. Peru and salvador tog'iher WIN treaty o.
commerce and navigation with Peru 1ne Of comn n
declaration was proclaimed with Russia with ref
erence 10 trade marks Several interesting POM
T Mere presented TO The se''e legality Of mar
riage celebrated at the Legation of the United States
sentcd I'm "a letter TO secretary Fish by W. Hoffman
secretary Of the Legation al Paris After referring 70
under The laws Of France and Of the United STATES
he presented the question as TO Their vaildly mde'
said that marriage solemnlled according to me Iaw,
Of the country IN which II Is celebrated would "
recognized under the laws of all other cViizel
and hence while II proper 10 extend IN, HOSPITALITY
Of the Legation To Americans for me performance %
the ceremony. that they should be Warren VI , ,r'
prudence Of complying In all respects WIN rue raw
Of the country in which the Legation was situated on,
IN regard 10 the assertion Of catc soNcitiShli wiz
Mr. Hoffman offered as supposaDe case Mt. il,,I
said If such an improbable case shonld arise II wouid
be only necessary TO reply that Federal oncer wa
not bound 10 execute Siae cOutrsci uheSN Iep"''ct
10 do so by act Of Congress. The diplomatic cor
respondencc Of the war with GERMANY deal, W.T. ni
these important questions Inc llrst' presshteu ny
bancroft Davis Minister at Berlin. related 10 III,
tayation there Mr. Davis divided the 10000 Amer
cans living permanently In Germany Into three
classes: those residing there Tor me
nmrunsa nf educatlon. those living In Ger
many for the purpose of business, ana thoN'
guilty. of evasvc naturalization In the 'nit'd stare,
and using their certificates 10 avoid dShglrch'it
obligations in the country Of their birth and residence
The view which Mr.. Fish took of their llabihv ,'
faxaton IS shown by extract from his reply 'o Mt
Davis'S presentation Of the status and complaints o
these Americans. He said ON the ground, lherr
fore that the parties complaining In these cases arr
all residents Of Germany and 80 long as the 'aN p1i
incomcs) is uniform In It's Operations ana can pe Ia,,s
deemed a fax and not a cuniscaiiOn or unfair linpo
sIton II IS not believed that any Nucre'sul or con
sistent representation can be made 10 me 'er,na,
(:overnmcnt I'm their behalf Another point wh'I
arose In this correspondence was In regard 10 r VA