Year: 1869

Statesmen aud the Press.


The Alabama claims treaty, its rejection by
the Senate of the United States, the arrival
Of Minister Motley, his instructions, the prob
able result of his mission, the attitude of the
New YORK HERALD towards the whole ques-
tion-these, according to our latest advices by
cable, still constitute the themes of the lead
ing English statesmen and monopolze the
editorial columns of the leading English jour
nails. On Tuesday the Times the Neaos, the
Telegraph, the Star, the Pail NAL Gazette
had each editorials on the general question
with immediate reference to Mr.. Motley. With
the exception of the Pail Mall Gazette, which
is as usual snobbishly bumptious, the journals
are calm and peaceful in their tone and ten
dency. 1t is evidently the wish and hope Of
the British people that Mr.. Motley's instruc-
tions will enable him to open fresh negotia-
tions, by which final and satisfactory set
tlement Of the question may be reached.


In spite of what Mr.. Forster said some days
ago to his constituents at Bradford, when re-
viewing Mr.. Summers speech, we can and do
heartily echo the same wish and hope. In the
course of his speech Mr.. Forster, in alluding
to the attitude and influence of the press on
both sides of the Atlantic, made the following
statement There is a great newspaper in
England, the Times, and there Is great
newspaper in America, the New YORK
HERALD. There was a time in which the
Times seemed as If it would fan animosity
between England and the North. There
was and there Is time in which
the New YORK HERALD seems to do
the same. But we have this advantage, at
any. rate. Our great paper has seen the error
of its ways. Their great paper has not" In
spite of this charge, we repeat, we have no
desire to see the two greatest nations Of modern
times rushing into the arms of horrid war, and
by mutual crippling of each other retarding for
some generations the onward and triumphant
march Of modern civilization. Our desire is
to see the world advance. We know that the
hope of the world is centred in the great
Anglo-Saxon family and we are wishfll that
the two branches Of that family should 60
hand in hand, at the head of the nations, pre-
senting to all the world and through all time
the sublime spectacle Of perpetual rivalry aud
perpetual friendship. But friendship, to be
lasting, must be under the influence Of righteous
motives and characterized by fair dealing.
| There must be harmony Of mind and heart
unity Of purpose and desire. Two cannot walk
together unless they are agreed. Much,
therefore, as we admire the Anglo
| Saxon family, much as we desire to


be on terms OF friendship with England, we
can never afford to be Indifferent to the terms


on which the friendship is maintained. Perish


the hopes Of the world-perish all the advan-


tages OF peace, rather than that these should


be purchased at the cost Of national humlia-


ton and disgrace. II is our desire at all times


to identify ourselves with the great American


people, and to give expression TO the senti-


ments which Gil the national mind and heart.


That we have said severe things Of England we


admit. But We have done so because we felt


IL 10 be our duty. During a great crisis.


when our national existence was at stake.


when we struggled, so to speak, for sweet life,


she did not act the part of a friend She did


not only not help us--we did not want her
\ Htlp-Dut sue gave oVth oyhpa'hy SuCCOf


to the foe. We said So We say so still.


We said so strongly, and we cannot retract.


But now that England is coming to her senses--


now that she begins to see that she might have


done better, both by herself and us--now tha,


confession trembles on her lip, we are willing


to act in spirit of magnanmity, and we Car


with quite as good grace as the London


Times express our preference Of peace, al


though we cannot admit, even to crafty the


honorable member for Bradford, that we have
seen the error OF our ways.


What Mr.. Motlcys instructions are we know
not. IL is not our opinion, however, that he
has gone to London for the purpose of beard
i,ss the British lion Ia his den. Mr.. Motley is