New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-11
THE GUNBOATS RELEASED.

THE GURBOATS RELEASED
Tho release of the Spanish gunboats yester-
day. on motion of the United States Attorney
will be unanimously ascribed to the strange
and sudden collapse of the professions maze
Inv Peru. All thoughts are ut this moment
turned upon the foreign minister who, though
his predecessor had repealed the Spanish charge
that his country was not at peace for all prac-
ticol iptepts yet assumed precisely oppo-
ate ground to prevent the thirty gum
heats from leaving these shores. Ills
assumption was sustained by repeated
declarations of Spain to the effect that war
did exist between the two countries, anything 10
the contrary being gratuitous, novel; ana
without foundation. His making suit was not
only to revenge Spanish opposition to the
sailing of the Peruvian monitors, but If it had
40 much as n left-handed virtue, availed
itself Of the legal continuance of state OF
war to help patriotic rebellion. Taking text
from the Spanish Minister'S avowals in 1868,
the Peruvans were masters OF the case.
How, then, came its abortive endingR Rumor
in several quarters is inquisitive as TO the sum
paid the representative of Peru for his COM
placent giving up of his claims almost before
he has come to make them in court. We
are not responsible for the question, but must
repeat it as part of the record of the case rs 1t
stands in the public mind. There will be other
ways of accounting for the release than that
of bribery and corruption administered with
that black art of diplomacy which the popular
imagination ascribes, but, perhaps, with TOO
much intellectual allowance, to Spain. III the
Regents ambassador made clean sur
render of the whole Of his predecessor
Goirs position, what could Peruvian
Minister doH If Minister Roberts was IN
structed TO make peace at once with
Peru, how could that power refusef These
will be inevitable questions. The utter sur
render of the old Spanish ground that war did
exist was desperate, even If an amusing and
rather abiect expedient. 1t is impossible III
diplomacy to kick ones antagonist down stairs
when he tells you that his whole house is at
your disposition. Spain surrendered what she
had no object in holding, namely, the ground
that she was at war with Peru. 1t was a meek
polite surrender, done with prOtractedly
courteous bending of the body; but the poor
mistress of the Antilles, sO-called, stoOps some
times to conquer Public sentiment Is not
altogether appcased, and will have it that II
Spain made n gcnutexion, there was no reason
for Peru to crook pregnant hinges IN order
that hitherto throat cutting and bloodthIsty
enemies should edify the world by embracing
each other on their knees. AS we have album
dainty illustrated at every stage of the present
case. there was ample material in it for u
long litigation, trying TO Spain, possibly
triumphant more or less TO Cuba and
her furtive supporter The gunbOats could
have been held, reasoned their enemies; the
allies of the Pacific wheeled into line in brist-
Ing support of Peru's neutral hostilities. and
Cuba's decided belgerency, no power daring
TO assail an attitude resting morally on the
great reserve and continental safeguard of the
United States. All this the emissary from
Madrid feared, and shrewdy recoilcd.
His Excellency of Peru has agreed with his
Spanish rival, that the war which n few days
ago existed between Spain and Peru now all
at once ceases to be. There was q long mis-
understanding the volcano ut first ailame and
then smouldering; but now it is suddenly
onenched as with deluge of peace and good
will. The olive-colored diplomatists looked
at eaCn Otllcr UcICclJ, EldopCu chNu
others hands desperately, and rushed
into each others arms violently. There
should be joy in Peru over this recon-
citation, useless though 1T appear to some, for
war has been saved a war to tho paper knife.
Friends to the death are these courageous
powers that pride has kept apart until such
time as was meet for them 10 humllate them
selves fraternally. For years and for forty
years before. did Spanish pride refuse to treat
with exultant rebels, although the busy world
laughed at times in its sleeve, sometimes at
Quixote, sometimes at 'Bobadil; but at last the
propitious honr came when the countryman of
the Cid might make peace to some purpose,
and kneel with an object The release of the
gunboats was in effect OH order of the Peruvian
Minister, the United States having no part in
the case except on his motion. Spain, of
course, moved the mover.
II is n ow said that the decision of the United
States Judge in the Hornet case does away
with the Cuban ground for the detention of
the gunboats, and settles tho case against the
claim that Cuba, as u province or colony, Is
entitled to the benefits Of the amended neu-
traIity act OF 1918. The Hornet decision does
not. we conceive. affect the case. inasInuch as