INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 209 
late themselves upon the success with which they have endeavored 
to bring about friendly relations between the United States and 
Great Britain.’ 
People here ask how he could congratulate the British govern- 
ment if he knew all the while that their construction of the treaty, 
which was to cement the friendship of the two countries, fatally 
differed from the construction put upon it by the government at 
Washington. 
I have not given my own but the English view of the matter. 
When such momentous issues are at stake—when a false move on 
the diplomatic board may endanger the peace of two kindred 
nations—it is absolutely necessary that our people should know 
what is the English side in this controversy. The first duty of a 
loyal American citizen is to ascertain the whole truth, and not by 
ignorance or obstinacy to commit himself to a wrong course. 
Many hard words have been lately spoken and written about 
Mr. Gladstone. I therefore feel it incumbent upon me to bear my 
testimony to the large and statesmanlike view of American af- 
fairs which he has taken for several years past, and to the cordial 
good feeling he has shown towards our country since he has been 
at the head of the present government. In spite of temporary 
misunderstanding, I will continue to hope that the Treaty of 
Washington will bear the fruit which he anticipated; that, to 
quote his own eloquent words in the House of Commons on the 
4th of August, that treaty will do much ‘towards the accomplish- 
ment of the great work of uniting the two countries in the ties of 
affection where they are already bound by the ties of interest, of 
kindred, of race, and of language, thereby promoting that strong 
and lasting union between them which is in itself one of the main 
guarantees for the peace of the civilized world.’ 
With great respect I remain, 
My dear Mr. Colfax, 
Very truly your friend, 
Cyrus W. Field. 
At this time a court of arbitration was sitting at Geneva to 
decide what damages England must pay the United States in 
accordance with the Treaty of Washington. The meetings 
were protracted, and much anxiety was felt over national 
embarrassments as to the blame and the wrongs in the long 
