The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-12
n President Gis.nn1 Fulfilling His
Duties OF Neutrality:


dout Grants private sy mpathies in behalf of
tbe Cuban insurgents, and however desirous
he NAV he. on personal grounds, ot war with
Snsiu he Ia not st liberty, IN TINS case, 10
o6ey his individual impulses. he ls Puoilc
officer of the United States, sworn 10 lake
care that the laws be- taithluliy enecuseu.
Tha nsutrality laws may be very dlstastetul
a. Iirn. bnt thew are nevertheless laws, and he
III ne I'm his in augural that he would exc
"rsa ali laws whether he personally approved
shs,o or not thinking that the surest way to
make bad law odious and secure its repeal
IA by its strict enforcement. He has now
good opportunity to put this doctrine OF ms
In practice, II, as ID SUPPOSED ne "iSAAe' 'no
neutrality laws.
The reasons for supposipg that General
Grants anin1us in this Cuban disturbance is
not naoifo. are various. In the first place, 1t
- known. on credible testimony, that he was
strongly in favor of marching into Mexico and
driying out Macmillan immediately on the
olose of our OWL war-a fact that is very sig
ni6oant of the tone and temper of his mind.
In the next place, his strengthening our naval
and military forces on the Gulf for the pro-
taotion of our citizens, without at the same
time taking any steps for the suppression OF
sxpeditions from this country to aid the in
snToents. is clear indication that his feelings
are not neutral, but strongly BIASED in favor
of Cubsn independence. In the third place, he Is
a soldier, who won all the popularity he ever
possessed by his military successes; and war
with Spain is the resdiest method OF recupe-
rating his waning credit. In the fourth place,
he IA notoriously ignorant both of our own
laws and the laws OF nations, and cannot be
very deeply impressed with sense of neutral
duties. Il seems, therefore, the duty of the
press to do what 1t can to enlighten his mind,
and call his attention to the obligations which
rest upon him in the present oonjuncture.
The country does not want war; but we fear
the new President is managing In such way
that we may Drift into war with Spain with
out any justifsble cause.
The ostensible purpose Of concentrating
force in the Gulf is the protection Of American
citizens; q laudable object whenever their
rights are endangered, and perhaps impera-
tive necessity since the late offensive decree Of
the Captain General of Cuba. But the Presi-
dent of the United States is bound to consider
the duties of this country, as we'll as its rights;
especially in a case like the present, where
the exposure of our citizens to danger is the
direct consequence of their attempts to violate
our laws. Dulce threatens to shoot as pirates
all persons caught bearing aid to the insur-
gents. President Grant thereupon Immediately
Increases our naval force in the Cuban waters,
apparently to prevent or avenge the execution
of this threat. 1t was proper for him to do
this, but not this alone. II our neutrality laws
were faithfully executed, there would be no.
body in whom this Government is interested for
the threatened severity to act upon. Itisquite as
important that our citizens should not commit
crime which our own laws condemn and
punish, as that they should be protected from
excessive penalties at the hands of an injured
foreign Government. Our Government should
not be less solicitous to discharge its duties
than to maintain its dignity and rights. How
happens it that the Cuban waters are infested
init Nha Il ztxa1 zf afFy. - II L.
Captain General launches his barbarous de-
cree 1t is owing to the violation Of a law
which the President of the United States is
s0lemnly sworn to enforce. There is danger
that his exhibition OF vigor to shelter these
criminals from undue harshness will be con
strued by them as a token of his favor and
encouragement, unless it is accompanied by
an equal exhibition of vigor for the repression
OF their unlawful enterprises. We will quot,
single section OF the stringent neutrality
Law of 1885,
'If any person shall, within the territory or jurls
diction of the United States begin set on foot
provide or prepare the means for, any military expe
dlt0n or enterprise to be carried on from theme
against the territory or dominiOns of any foreig
prince or State, or Of any colony district or people
with whom the United States are at peace, ever
person so offending shall be deemed guilty of hig
misdemeanOr, and shall be fined not exceeding thre
years."
Now, what are the appropriate and Gu!
tomary means of enforcing law Of this cha
aoter The precsdents on this subject ar
so numerous and 80 uniform in their chsra
ter, as to spare President Grant any necessit
for thinking out the subject fdr himself, II
will only be at the pains to learn what hi
been done by his predecessors on similar occ
siops. No President before General Grant h'
stood back and left things to take their cours
when our citizens were exposed to the allure
ments of strong temptation to violate IL
neutrality laws. President Washington issue
q proclamation OF neutrality at the eutbres
of the war between England and France in Il
French Revolution; President Van Buren,
the time of the 'Patriot War" in Canad
President Fillmore at the time OF the Lop,
Secretary OF State at the time of the last, an
probably wrote the proclamation. Til
necessity of such proclamation
rests upon reasons of humanity as we
as upon the duty of executing the laws. I'll
enthusiastic, -blOoded citizens who en-
bark in such enterprises are generally ign
rant of the laws, and are often hurried un vi
tingly into crime by their generous impulse
1t Is the duty of the Government to enlights
their ignorance, to warn them against viola
ing the laws OF their country, and, If possibl
save them from penal consequences. Anoth
method of repression which former Presiden
nave thought il their duty to adopt in like O.
cumstances, is to issue special instructions
the district attorneys, marshals, and collecto
of customs, to exert the most active vigilan
for the detection, prevention, and punishme
of these unlawful enterprises. II was In 90
sequence of such instructions that Govern
Quitman, of Mississippi, was arrested and tri
for abetting the Lopez expedition against Cut
and resigned his Office in order that the digni
of the State might not suffer by his trial q