Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-11-24
NAMES
OF
TOWNSHIPS.


he capture OF the Confederate privateer
Florida IN Brazilian port, is creating
great deal of discussion throughout the
world, and is likely to involve the Federal
government in more trouble than its party
supporters anticipated. Patriotism in these
States has become Il species of frenzy with
out a balance wheel Of sense or wisdom
and man protesting to be a patriot in the
sense in which the word is used by party
orators and presses, must be prepared to
enthusiastically indorse any and every act Of
the servants of the Government, whether
such acts are discreet and legal or otherwise.
In tbs case of the Florida, the facts and law
were both against the Federal Government,
yet the Administration press, surveying the
event through their inevitable partisan glas-
scs, Immediately commenced dcnouncing all
as traitors and cravcns who did not indorse
the victory of our navy, and assist in
liunizing Capt Collins. The facts in the
case are Lriefly as follows The rebel cruiser
Florida was lying in the port Of Bahia,
Brazil, where the U. S. steam frigatc Wa
chusett was also anchored. Capt Collins of
the latter vessel, after consultation with the
L. S. Consul, Thos. Wilson--who, by the
way, had given his pledge ofhonor that he
would not consent TO hostilitles between the
vessels in the Brazilian watcrs-decided to
''cut out the Florida and sink or capture
her The Florida's crew was on shore when
Capt. Collins rammed the vessel and declar-
ed the Florida his prize. The law in the
case is simply that Capt. Collins had no
right to do any such thing as he did 1t
was direct and fragrant insult to the Bra
lillian Government, which has during the
! war been conspcuously friendly to the
United States.
The Administration presses are, with then
usual clustering indiscreton, indorsing Cap
tain Collins breach of international law,
and declaring that he must be sustained,
thus making the course Of the Administra-
ton III its future negotiations on the subject
thrice difficult. If Brazil is disposed to
stand upon her clear and indisputabc rights,
the Federal Government will be compelled
to restore the Florida to the parties from
whom She was unawlully wrestcd, or declare
war against II friendly power in order to
sustain Il manifest wrong. The Abolition
organs in their zeal to sustain what they
conceive to be the Governmcnt are getting
up an intense public sentiment in opposition
to the restitution Of the vessel and because
this fictitious public sentiment demands it.
the Administration may decide to 90 to war
before making reparation orif the Admin
istration conclude to apologize to Brazil
these same presses will make Il simple act
of international justice appear like Il ma
tional humiliation. Unless the peculiar
organs Of the Administration speedily az
quirc little more sense and Il tritlc more
knowledge than they have yet displayed in
connection with this affair, it is reasonable
to expect that the United States will soon
be engaged in war with Brazil, or expert
cnce humiliation similar to the one Sew
ard inflicted upon us when he gave up Ma
son and Slidel, after all the windy organs OF
hi, party had loudly sworn they should not
be given up. When partisan interest, in
stead of national concerns, and party preiu-
dccs, instead of II wise discretion and sound
common sense, control the policy of IL Gov
ernmcnt, the people Of the same will have
little peace and less glory to ilatter thcil
vanity. 49, Statesman.