The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-08-11
MIS- ELAN ECU S.
OUR SHAME AT GREYTOwN.

The Eagle has avenged itself upon the in
sect that dared to seek justice in spite of
Jove's bird. The elephant has healed his
honor that was wounded by writhng worm
by crushing its life out. The United States
Government has shown to the world that her
Ministers must not be insulted by any people
that have no, an army or navy, or ut least
one little sloop-of.war 10 defend itself. Her
insults must come from clustering nations or
people that put on airs. England may fire
into our steamers, and we accept of very
faint apologies indeed, Spain may pile up
her agressions til, their bold catalogue is a
big book, for Spanards weak as they are re-
puted TO be, are known to be desperate fight
ers when their cause is just. Even wooden
legged Mexico may lock up Consuis at Aca-
pulco and imprson American citizens for no
offence at Mazatlan, and settling it by selling
us worthless land at bargain The feeble
Republics of South America may assault our
northumberland umuse themselves by ex-
perimenlng upon ~ur forbearunce. But your
uuarmed aid undefended little towns "what
haven't no friends may as well he careful
how they trihe with First-Class Powers
Let the fate of Grryiown be a perpetual
mcmento to ull such.
In another column we publish well-li-
Eested account, from a correspondent, whose
late official residence near the spot well fits
linn to speak "with the understanding" of the
offence that Grcytown had committed and
which was too rank for our pure and brave
Administration to tolerate, without the
umplest and most prompt apology. In brief,
as he makes it, it was simply this: Mr.. Bor-
land, our Minister, stood between the police
Of that town and a fugitive criminal--not as
an American Ambassador should stand, in
teposing only the barriers Of international
law-but with rifle in his hand and bnlly's
threat on his lips. When he showed himself
on shore afterwards, he was detained there
for night. For this grave offence, which
readers at the time pronounced quite right
enough for him, the property of whole town
is fired, and the very place that knew the
offenders is left smoking ruin.
But men do not much interest themselves
in the history of the events tina! lead to such
disgracefu outrages as have brought this
odium upon our navy, and inflicted upon the
name of one Of its officers the i!..i,.savor of an
executioner. Had the sIence been such as
men at glance could perceive-ha United
States property been seized and American
lives lost, it would have been manly to have
taken the criminals and dealt summary justice
to them. But even then to lave fired the
stores and houses of the guilty and innocent
alike; to have driven women into the wilder.
ness and forced children to cry for bread; to
have consumed the goods of the offenders
but not touch hair Of their heads-it would
have been an act Of cowardce that history
wonld blush to record of any country having
pride enough to carry flag. But IN case
like this, where every item of history ag
,erayates the offence, it would have been al
honor to any naval officer to be court martial
ed and reprimanded for disobeying the bar
bsrous order. We suppose-hard as it is t
do so--that we must take it for granted tina
the act of the Cyane was the work of th'
Administration, until it is disowned. If SO
and if the Administration is seeking to pu
She cap.sheaf upon all the measures that ou
people have ever been forced to endorse TO
its blunderng, misplaced, and ambitious rul
ers. il need do no more. To die in the act o
,consummating noble victory has alway
been esteemed the crowning glory of heroes
Let the Administration die now, and its monu
ment will never be over toPPed.-N. Y. Times