Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1891 — The Alabama Claims. [ARTICLE]

The Alabama Claims.

I am reminded of a glimpse of some inside diplomatic history that was given me by a well-posted Washingtonian, says a writer in the New York World. The Alabama matter was being talked over as having a bearing on the Itata affair, w hen he said: “We hear a great noise now and again about arbitration as a moans of settling difficulties between nations that might otherwise lead to war. I learned long years ago that the way to win arbitration is to pack the commission. It was Caleb Cushing’s shrewd Yankee wit that won us the Alabama case. Secretary Fish had picked ont names to submit to Great Britain as arbitrators, when Cushing, who was one of the attorneys in the case, said: ‘You will lose the case if that is to be the commission, Mr. Secretary.' When Mr. Fish asked for an explanation, Cushing told him that the gentlemen selected had nearly all expressed themselves in writing against the grounds that the United States would take before the commission in demanding damages. Mr. Fish asked Cushing to select a set of arbitrators, and the list Cushing drew up was submitted to England and accepted. Every name supplied by Cushing was that of a man whom he knew was in print with an opinion in keeping with the argument Cushing intended to make for the United States. There ha * always been more or less rivalrv among the friends of Cushing and William M. Evarts as to which won the arbitration case for the»United States. Cushing spoke in French, in which he was an apt and eloquent scholar. He was the only American lawyer who addressed the commissioners in a language common to them all—the language of diplomacy. He had the supreme advantage in addressing them of knowing that they Were friendly to his argument.” A BROAD BTMPED OO&t,, ft dotted TBit, Checked trousers, a red tie. A stove-pipe hat, ft colored shirt, A oollftr very high. A pair or patent-leather shoes— Ob. picturesque display I X thought Itv ta dummy, Till it slowly walked away. “Ladies, ” said Ihe old gray-headed teacher. “I’m sorry to confess it, but I’d rather have five young men from the high school than one of you.” “So would we, teacher.” was the general reply.