The weekly standard., 1869-10-13
rhecaban Mas-of.war.

The Cuban steamer Hornet, now known
as the Cuba, has been seized Or rather de-
| tained, by the United States oficials at
| wilmington. The officers have done what
they believed 70 be right YET we can see no
good ground for OBTAINING the vessel
1t is the custom of nations to treat as
pirate any vessel that may sail under an un-
recognized flag, and it is upon this ground
that many papers believe that the Hornet
can be seized. Probably the Wilmington,
officials themselves acted upon this custom.
Six months ago their action would have
been correct, but at this time it is not ..is
The flag OF Cuba is no longer an unre-
cognized flag, since it has been recognized
by Peru and Mexico, The mere fact that
the United States has notyet recognized the
independence of Cuba does not make the
Hornet pirate, or subject her crew to
treatment as pirates.
She has as yet committed no overt act, or
anything that could be so construed by the
most rigid judges. She is evidently heavily
enough armed, equipped and manned to DO
service as man of war, but as yet she has
given no evidence of any intention to SO act
Any gentleman, or party of gentlemen, may
sail ship, no matter how strongly manned
or how heavily armed, and yet not be ac-
countable therefor to any government.
This is all that the Hornet has yet done, and,
although her purpose is known, she has
committed no act that would justify the
United States government in seizing her.
Furthermore, the Hornet is not a privateer
owned by one man or few men, but is the
regularly commissioned cruiser of the Gu
ban government. That Cuba is not yet
recognized by any Of the Great Powers is
true, but, having been recognized by two
independent nations, it is certain that flag
which is recognized in the ports of these
nations cannot be treated as piratical flag
in other ports. u h. ..s. -.4 .....s
Suppose, for instance, that Peru and Cuba
should form an alliance against Spain, and
should send out ships to prey upon her COM
merce, would the Peruvian ships be legal
men of war and the Cuban ships which aid
ed them pirates 1t is clear to any one that
such could not be the case. e.. f
i Then it is equally clear, that flag
which is the flag of an Independent nation
in the ports of two nations, cannot, to say
the least, be regarded as the flag of pirate
in the ports Of other nations.
Cuba has shown herself able to success
fully contend with Spain, and after over
year of war the Cubans have gained ground
until they now hold the largest portion of
the Island. The revolutionary government
is fully organized, and the Cubans are more
united than are the people of Spain.
The United States was prompt to recog-
nize the revolutionary government of Spain,
government that is no older than the revo-
lutionary government of Cuba; why should
it recognize the former and not the latter
Of the two governments, that of Cuba is by
far the most stable, and represents whole
people, while that of Spain represents mi
nority of the Spanish people, and bids fair
to be very short lived.
Some such thoughts as the above seemed
to have presented themselves to the minds
of the powers that be, for we were assured,
betore the news of the detention of the
Hornet, that the Government had no dispos-
ition to seize her. 1t now remains to be
seen whether or no this declaration will
hold good, now that the vessel is in the
Governments power.