The New York herald., 1869-07-04

shepherd might, therefore, prove blessing.
| A Crusader Ahout-CuriOus Complications In
American Wstsrs.
The accounts We published yesterday, and
| agaln further to-day, q the proceedings of the
crusadng steamer TELEGRAPH On the coast Of
st. Domingo, will awaken the attention of all
the maritime Powers. While Secretary Fish is
coquettng with Spain and utterly ignoring the
unauthorized step Of the Spanish officials in
Cuba, in procaiming the closure OF mid
American waters, other audacious and ire
sponsible parties are following in the wake of
Dulce and putting their cruisers on the sea
for the purpose of effecting their revolutionary
purposes. The negro combatants in Hayti
have already three, if not four, armed ships
afoat, manned with American officers and he
terogeneous crews, and now come the discon-
tented of ST. Domingo, without a port or
flag, with ship sailing under American colors
from ST. Thomas, and hoisting any or none
during the fight necessary to consummate their
enterprise.
These recent orders and operations by
various petty governments in American
waters are not alone tending to annoy COM
merce generally, but especially to endanger the
interests of American shipping. The institution
of international law when framed was intended
to be adhered to, and therefore to act as pre-
ventive measure against such abuses. With
out presuming to the sovereignty of the Amer
ican waters, the government of the United
States can surely hold its own ground, and
place barrier to such irregular proceedings
on the part of unstable governments, who is
sue DEGREES upon DEGREES, thereby causing
American interests to be subjected to loss of
The absence of any defined policy on the part
of the present administration, and the won
drous manGuvres of the Secretary of State,
only encourage such acts, and accordingly we
find, first, General Dulce in the field decree
ing that all vessels shall be subjected to being
stopped and overhauled by the Spanish men
of-war, at their pleasure. The English COM
modore fired up at this despotc order and
made for headquarters, where he was informed
that, as matter of course, such order did not
apply to British vessels. If the vessels of
Great Britain are exempt from such extraor-
dinary orders, why should American bottoms
not enjoy the same privilege? A want ofrespect
towards the government of the United States
is generally complained of, and not alone in
the acts here recorded, but in others, allusion
to which has frequently been made through
the medium of the HERALD. The United States
have equal rights to all other nations in the
waters referred to, and it is the duty of the
government to cause its flag to be respected,
at moment so pregnant with po-
litical troubles on all sides and in such close
proximity.
The United States is strong enough to
maintain its own rights and can punish any
infringements attempted by other Powers and
the liberation of such acts as those mentioned
will cause all damages accruing to American
interests to reflect directly upon those whose
imperative duty it is, and who furthermore
have the power, to prevent them. Mr.. Fish
might find time to consider these very curious
complications which so seriously affect our
commercial interests. The placing of our
government in the high position ofhaving an ac-
knowledged and definite American policy, with
out the petty fear of European complications,
would go far to prevent these and other COM
plications which are fast rising to embarrass
the administration and the legitimate opera
tions of our citizens. Our moral influence
alone would suffice to repress all these disor-
ders on the part of colonial despotisms, negro |
rulers and independent revolutionists, if pro-
perly addressed and sustained. The admins |
tration, either through imbecility or fear is
losing the best occasion ever offered to advance
our national interests and policy.
InGAlIcp rInN --Wa inui4o