The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-25

no said: sThs prolongstion Of the war may
be traced directly TO England. The Re-
bellion was originally encouraged by hope
OF support from England: IL was strength
ened at onoe by the concession OF belligerent
rights on the oc1An: Il was fed 70 the end by
British supplies: tt was quickened into ran
ito life with evory report from the British
pirates, and famed Ancw with every burn
ing Ship Summers conclusion was that
not weeks or months, but ~years-indeod
tho whole period Intervening between
Gettysburg and Appomattox-wcre added
In thks way 20 our war. 20 full OF costly saCrt-
fees. He then proceeded TO a rough cal
culation, The Rebellion was suppressed at
q cost OF moro than q. 900, O0o, 900. Through
British intervention the war was doubled
in duration. England 10 justly responsible
for the additional expenditure The com-
putation deducible from these premises In
SIS. OOO, 600 for individual losses; Sic. 200, 900
on account OF our merchant marine. and
q, 600, zoo, 900 on account OF the prolongation
OF the war. Our author justly says that,
OF all the outrageous claims which diplo-
matio annals afford, he can call to mind
none more e~xtravagant than this. Sumner.
Of course, never expected suoh o claim TO be
recognized and paid in cash. In a memo
randum, however, submitted to Secretary
Fish on January II, 1871, he suggested that
our claim might be met by q withdrawal
of the British flag from Canada and from
the whole American hemisphere, including
islands as well as provinces.
Il nay be recalled that the Joint High
Commission appointed by the Governments
Of Great Britain md the United States met
in Washington on February n, 1871, and
that on the following May 8 was signed the
Treaty OF Washington, which provided that
the Alabama claims should be referred to
a tribunal Of arbitration composed OF five
arbitrator. The sixth article of the treaty
laid down three rules, binding neutral
Governments In time OF war TO use due
diligence, such a., according TO the American
statement Of the facts, would have pre-
vented the escape OF the Florida and the
Alabama. The Government OF Great Brit
ain did not admit these rules TO hav been
In force during our civil war, but in order
TO evince its desire -of Strengthening the
friendly relations between the two Gun
tries, and Of making satisfactory provision
for the future agreed hat the srbitrators
should assume that il had undertaken 10
act upon the principles set forth in these
rules
It Is evident, as our author points out,
that by this article our case, which was
already very strong, was made absolutely
secure. Nevertheless, the Geneva arhitra-
ton came near proving a tiasco by reason
Of the position taken by our ngent, j. c.
Bancroft Davis, in the document entitled
The Case OF the United States In the
first chapter OF this document Mr.. Davis
harped on the concession OF belligerent
rights to the C~onfederacy, and alleged
that her Maiesty's Government was 40
tuated at the time by a conscious unfriendly
purpose toward the United States. Even
II this was true 10 was irrelevant, for We
certainly could not ask for money on the
ground that the leading members OF the
British Government and Of -the classes
were personally unfrendly to ms. IL was
in the sixtbschapter Of the document. how
ever, that Mr.. Bancroft Davis almost
wrecked the arbitration by reviving the
national or indirect claims which had first
been formulated by Sumner in his speech
on the Johnson Clarendon treaty and had
subsequently been expanded In the memo
randum sent TO Secretary Fish. MIR. Ban
croft Davis asked for damages FOR the
transfer Of the American commercial marine
to the British flag, In consequence OF the
acts OF the rebel cruisers" DIR. o sug-
gests that he might well rave added in
Summers words that this was only an item
in our BILL Mr.. Davis went on to say
that on the 4th day OF July, 1883, the ag-
gressive force on land OF the instruction
was crushed. From that day its only hope
lay in prolonging a defence until, by the
continuance of the permitted violations
of British neutrality by the insurgents. the
United States should become involved in q
wal with Great Britain. Thus he sub
mitted. the tribunal will see that, after the
battle OF Gettysburg, the offensive opera
lions Of the insurgents were conducted only
at sea through the cruisers, and, observing
that the war was prolonged for that pur-
pose, will be able To determine whether
Great Britain ought not in equity TO re-
imburse the United States for the expenses
Of the war after July 4, 1888"
This, of course, out-Sumnered Sumner.
and when England fully comprehended
the case Of the United States the excite
ment in the London press and in both houses
Of Parliament was intense. To allay the
agitation the British Government pro-
posed a supplemental article TO the treaty
which, on May II, 1872. the President sent
10 the Senate, which insisted on amending
It. Even as amended, however, III article
declared against claims for remote or
indirect losses by both Governments in
the future and said that the President and
Senate consented that the United States
should make no claim for indirect losses
before the tribunal Of arbitration at Geneva,
Mr.. Rhodes is OF the opinion that Sumner,
who eagerly desired the defeat of Grant
for reelection In 1872. could easily have
aroused the country against the Administra-
ton by a stirring appeal for in~sistence
on the national OF indirect damages, but.
despite his private griefs, he rem aimed
silent, though he voted mo" on the amended
article.
The author OF this narrative acclaims
Charles Francis Adams as the hero OF the
tribunal OF arbitration and bids us re-
member that the modern world had not
ND to that time seen a memorable example
Of settlement by peaceful process Of law
OF irritating questions, in approaching which
It was extremely difficult for either nation
to accept the others point OF view. "Ge-
pava ataid chamberlain of mighty ianuaS.