Year: 1870

Of conducting diplomatic dialogue between the
United States and England. We can hardly
congratulate General Schenck on his promo.
ton, for under all the circumstances of the
case the honor Of representing this country
Just now at what diplomatists call the Court oi
st. James is of such doubtful advantage that
appointment to it has an unpleasant look Of
being kicked up stairs. The relations between
the republic and Great Britain have got into a
sort of deadlock, in which the department oi
both countries is extremely fine, but which is
not quite conducive to the settlement Of any
thing except the question of the capacity Of
statesmen on both sides of the Atlantic. In
fact, everybody's carriage" stops the way /;
and the attitude of the two countries is very
much like that Of the two gentlemen who went
out once upon time to fight duel, but who
could not get further than throwing themselves
into ''position" -


The Earl Of Chatham, with sword drawn.


Stood waiting for Sir Richard Strahan;


Sir Richard, longing to be at 'em,


Stood waiting for the Earl OF Chatham.


That duel. five remember Alright, ended amid
MuCu h0AtiuCAt oAu WitN COplOuo AOWl uk Ol
champagne instead of blood. We hail the
omen. Only, considering ourselves to be very
much in the right, we most particularly insis
upon having our own way before the laughter
and the champagne are ordered up. There
will be no objection to the receipt by General
Schenck of any amount of good dinners from
plethoric British aristocrats. Let them feed
him up as much as they did Mr.. Reverdy john
son if they like, provided only the thing is
done after our little bill is duly footed with re-
ceipt; or, if it Is done before, please let there
not be so much fuss and talk about it; other
wise it may chance that these ever hospitable
lords and gentlemen will feed not only General
Schenck, but our ancient and justifiable grudge
too; and that, we beg to say, is quite old
enough and fat enough to be killed off in a
proper diplomatic way.


To speak quite seriously, we are of opinion
that Great Britain has trifled quite long enough
with us and her own fortunes in the matter of
relations with the United States, and it is
high time that some solution should be
arrived at which is Ineligible and dignifed
to both parties. The present conjuncture
is, we conceive, most propitious for such o
conclusion. Great Britain has the Eastern
question on her hands, and will soon have to
face the question of fighting Russia, with pro-
badly no other ally than Turkey for Austria,
according to the published dispatches of Count
Beust, endorses the justice of Russia's
demands deploring only the mode of advancing
them. It is not, therefore, very probable
that she will fight. We observe that some Of
the principal organs of the English press talk
with blank horror of the prospect of having to
fight both Russia and America. If there is
anything which could make us believe that
England really is destined now to experience
q Gravelotte and Sedan it would be to witness
signs Of such faulty. The difficulty with the
United States is one which can be settled so
easily, with little exercise of j,i@tice, good
temper, and good sense, on the part Of the
British government, that any Englishman who
talks of war must be as obstinate as q
rhinoceros and as wise as a badger. We
apprehead no such catastrophe. Foreign
affairs in England just now mean Lord Gran
vile; and he is statesman who will know how
to do the right and sensible thing when driven
into a corner. Indeed, he, for his own part,
would know how to do it before; but he
represents nation SO naughty and so blind to
facts that he must be squeezed right up into the
uttermost angle Of the apartment before he can
make his people understand that the time for
chatter is past, and that the awful quarter Of
an hour of Rabelais has come at last when
that bill must really be discharged.


But there is more than the mere pay
ment of bill in this question. America,
in point of fact, does not want money,
God be praised; and she does want to
establish such relations with Great Britain
as will lead to permanent and abiding
good understanding. No statesman in either
country can believe that this is possible as
long as Canada remains possession of the
British crown; and there is an overwhelming
mass Of argument to show that there is nc
arrangement just now so important to England
herself as to be rid of the obligation to defend
Canada. Not that Canada is going to be at
tackled that we know of; but there is now nc
fitness, no prudence, no prspriety in retaining
q territory which must in the nature of things
so soon be absorbed by the Union. If Eng
land wishes to put her house in order fol
European and Eastern questions she is bound
to part with Canada as speedily as possible
Certainly the present Prime Minister must b.
alive to such considerations, for it is not to b
overlooked, though our press has not sufficient.
noticed it, that, not long ago, at public dinner
he congratulated the United States on having
cou ntry and constitution that "knew how t.
unite continent under single government.
Mr.. Gladstone, in his position, could not sa.
in SO many words, eve want you to hav'
Canada as soon as possible" but next t.
those words he could use none more signifi
cant of his desire to part with 80 dangerous