The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-19
TIE 1o,fBARDMENr OF VALPARAISO.

TIE B0lfBARDMENT OF VALPARAISO.
If it we're right for Commodore Rodgers to pro-
pose Intervention to the British Admiral for the
protection of ncutrals at Valparaiso, it could not
havo been far wrong to have dono 80 .'on his
own hook" 1t would have been strain upon
international Law, but one in regard - which his
and other Governments would have boon chari-
table in their constructions. If Admiral Farragut
had been there with tho dear old Hartford" we
opine there would have been ''fring Oh both
Sides" as Sickles used to say in his show bills;
We infer 30 much from conversation we heard
between Admiral Farragut and the Russian Ad-
mira who wintorHd hero with his fleet in 1868
Admiral +. WAS complaining of tho American Off
Ger who did no. capture Confederato steamer in
it ?" asked the Russian. "Yes, sir" replied the
American. ''But," said the Russian, ''your Gov
ernment would have broken you" "of course it
would" replied Admiral F., "Bh 'ooutdnT have
had her ?"
The Russian Admiral laugbinsly inquired,
sat Valparaiso, in 1914 replied Admiral Farra-
gut, "where superior British force in violation
Of neutralit: laws, captured the United States
right, for had nearly destroyed British commerce
in the Pacific Ocean, and if he lot us escape, we
should have finished .T what was lsft There are
must act under higher law" I. W.
The above is from the New York Times,
and is, we suppose, from the pen of TuuRLow
WEED. The following clever comments upon
it are from our able contemporary, the Mo-
bile advertiser
"It is Of p:ece with tho comments of the
Northern press on the conduct of Commodore
RoDGERs during the recent bombardment Of Val
paraso, calculated to educate tho public mind to
sensational methods of viowing and treating tho
gravest questions Of international law and the
high obligations of international duty. Tho story
told of Admiral FARRAaUT may make him popular
before the sensational multitude as mighty,
dashing, and plucky officer, but it certainly shows
that he is not fit to command an American fleet
at long distance from his Government, and in
circumstances requiring Judgment, discretion and
knowledge. A fleet commander on foreign sta
tions often occupies position of the highest re-
sponsibility. Ho is, for the time the embodiment
Of his Government, represents it's honor and it's
interests, and often has the issues of peace or
war in his hands. He should not only be an able
naval commander, but be at fat in the knowl-
edge and duties Of pub!cist and dipiomatist. He
must BIO ss careful to guard the honor Of his
Government in the faithful performance or all it's
duties OF internationally, and in all thai respects
the rights Of other nations, he is quick to strike
in defence Of those OF his own.
"Imagine high public functionary like this
sefpoised in the dignity and responsibility Of his
position, advising the capture OF hostile "steam-
in neutral port, ohuokling at the idea of vio-
lating the rights OF neutrality, and being broken
for it, On the ground "that he would have lad
her." In other words, the end would have justi-
fed the meana, and the fruits Of prize would have
| been ample compensation for the crime against
tho rights Of a friendly neutral power. Our late
war has made our people too prone to take euch
lessons as these and to accept success at the
hands of brilliant dash in lieu Of tho solid advan-
I.1~ - Nj. - f,.kf I.
that Admiral FAnRAaur would have appreciated
his own joke had the British and French fleets at
tempted to play it on him when he WAS off Now
Orleans, Mobile, or Charleston, at q very recent
date. The Spsniards fred shell and shot at VAL
paraiso. for two hours and fifty minutes, after
offering reasonable terms Of q final peace, which
rejected by the Chilians. and then given four
days notice to remove women, children and neu-
| trails. Charleston endured a more murdcrous fire
| from fleets and swamp'angel batteries for largely
over year. And il we remember WELL General
BEAunEaARp compliance at the time that the fire
WAS opened tcithout notice. In the first case the
United States Commodore who failed to go to war
and intervene in this Spanish and Chilian gu ,rrel
Is too s'o,o for the sensational publicsts But l-t
fancy England and France protesting against the
barbarous and protracted bombardment OF
Charleston Admiral FARRAaUr would have been
the first to drop his jokes, the first to unlearn the
international law taught him at Valparaiso in 1914
and the frat to turn to the books on the laws of
Nations to prove that France aud England had no
manner Of business with the quarrel and no right
to interfere with it. As It Ia q bad rule that won't
work both ways, the safest method is to adhere
to established principles Of international rights
and obligations in all cases. Old commanders.
like Admiral FARRAdUT, ought not to be made to
talk like boys, and utter lawless sentiments which,
+. on board OF n weii-discipiined ahp, would bring
down rebuke on the most crack-brained midship.
| man.
WE NOTICE, in our Congressional news
that THADDEUs STEVENS, the leader of the
Republican party, its foremost representative
man, and the exponent of its best intelligence