The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-24
THE SPANISH GUNBOATS.

From the N. I. Times.
Events soon pass from the public recollec-
ton in these days, but probably our readers
have not quite forgotten the Spanish gun
boats, about which there has been so much
controversy whole fleet was being fitted
out in different yards, and it was only natural
to suppose that some part of it was intended
for use against the insurgents In Cuba, or for
the defense of the island against attacks from
outside sources. The Government was placed
in troublesome position. On the one hand
it was beset with applications for interference
in the interest of the Cuban independence
party. The popular sympathies were, and
doubtless are, on this side. ''Why," it was
urged, ''should you lend your aid to crush
out an attempt to drive Spain from Cuba? If
you will not assist people in their effort to
achieve their liberation from foreign and
despotic rule, at least do not go out of your
way to ruin them. If you cannot help them,
do not help their enemies.
This was a fair expression of the public
feeling, but unfortunately public feeling was
not based upon study of the law, or con-
sideration of the question how far our Gov
ernment would be justified in seizing these
gunboats. Suppose they were intended for
Cuba, could we lawfully detain them? T? Every
competent authority would answer no. In
| the present state of affairs Spain may build
| as many vessels as she pleases in our yards,
| provided they are not intended for use
| against any power with which we are at peace.
| Now we have no knowledge of Cuba as an in
dependent power We only know it as a
| Spanish dependency.
| But at this juncture the seizure of the boats
was demanded by Peru 1t was alleged that
| the feet was intended, indirectly, for use
| against that Government; and the boats are
| still held upon that complaint, under the neu-
| trality laws. But it is obvious that the Gov
| ernment cannot continue to hold them with
| out regard to the demand of Spain for resti-
tuition. We have reason to believe that the
time is at hand when the administration will
feel itself compelled to have the case decided,
one way or the other, by the properly consti-
tuted judicial authorities.
A contemporary, anticipating this neces-
sity, said some time ago that if, when the
Spanish Minister demanded the release of the
boats, ''the independence party be repre-
sented by a government and an army, 1T
would he quite feasible to concede to the in
surgents belligerent rights. But we are asking
now, as we were a year ago, where IS the
government of Cuba 2" Here, however, is
the Spanish Minister, and he claims the gun
boats. He alleges that they could not possibly
be used against Peru, and that, moreover,
Spain does not occupy a position towards
Peru which renders the use of gunboats
against her at all probable. What, then, can
the Government do There is but one course
before it. 1t will undoubtedly send the case
before the proper tribunal, and the Peruvian
government viii be required to make good Its
claim. If it cannot do this the boats must
go free, or be detained only by virtue OF some
step on the part of tho Government for when
it has given no sign that it is prepared.