The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-21
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
Editorial Opinions of the Leading Journals
Upon Current TOpics-Compiled Every
nav for the Evening Telegraph.

GRANTS PROGRESSIVE NEUTRALITY.
From the NJ y. World
Tt ryas but few years ago when the Anne
rican Minister to the Court of st. James in
formed the London Foreign Office that
certain vessel then known as 29O, but after
wards notorious as the Alabama, was being
fitted out by the Messrs. Laird Brothers, of
Birkenhead, in behalf of the so-called Con-
federate Government, in order to cruise and
commit hostilities against the United States,
and as king that it be embargoed The
Foreign Office, declining to interfere with
property in a ship on the mere representation
of foreign minister, asked for evidence of
the ftting-out, ownership, and destination
Affidavits were furnished, laid before the law
officers of the crown, and pronounced INSULT
cient. 1t was admitted that 300 was building
for hostile, not peaceful, purposes but it was
denied that the affidavits were complete
enough as to ownership or destination,
Under no circumstances, however, would
England detain or control private property on
the mere application of a foreign minister
There must be proof The English ministry
refused to seize not only on that ground, but
because there had not been an offense COM
mitted under the Foreign Enlistment act.
The administration of Grant has lately set
England an example of very different sort
of neutrality.
The Minister of Peru represents to the De-
partment of State that certain gunboats are
being built in this city by Mr.. Deamater, in
behalf of Spain. in order to cruise and COM
nit hostilities against Peru. Thereupon no
exhibition of the evidence on which the Pc.
rryian Minister relies is asked; no eXamina-
ton into the facts is made by or for Grant;
but orders are straightway given to seize the
boats Here is contrast number one.
But this is not all. When Grants admins
tration is called on for defense of his conduct,
he admits that he has no idea that the seized
boats were ever intended to cruise or commit
hostilities against Peru but he believes they
may be taken to Cuba and there used so as
to release from service other war vessels,
which then might, could would or should
commit hostilities against Peru. Grant ad-
mits that his law-officer says that, under our
neutrality law, not one of these gunbOats can
be detained or forfeited unless upon evidence
that such gunboat mot some other gunboat)
is to cruise and commit hostilities against
Peru. But the advice of his law-officer makes
no impression ON Grant. He fights on his
own line, be it right or wrong He insists
that Spain, being at war-''a dormant war" it
is called-with Peru or Chill, or anybody
else, shall not increase her naval ornaments
by purchase in the United States if any of
those powers object to such increase, even
though there be no ascertainable proof that
either of such powers is to be injured thereby.
Here is contrast number two
Nor is this all. When the owners of these
seized gun-boats ask Grant to be good enough
to libel them in court, as is usual in such
cases, and there try the question whether the
boats have violated any law he replies by
ordering them from the custody of our rather
sensational Marshal Barlow to under the guns
of the navy, and refuses to have anything to
do with courts or the justice of even the
Federal courts, to say nothing of State tribu-
nails. Here is contrast number three
We call the attention of publicists and stu
dents of international law to the advances
this Government is now making in bellige-
rent rights nd neutral duties. Especially
let Lord Clarendon take note. Heretofore
it has been by us held lawful to sell ships and
arms to either beligerent as purely CONNER
cial business. So also has it been considered
proper for us to furnish men, transport-ships,
or arms, or troops. At the existing rate of
progress in neutrality, these will soon be
made unlawful.
Thus far, at least, we have gone. Grant
will embargo any vessel on the mere state
ment of a foreign minister that she increases
the naval armament of the power with which
his Government has (not an active butt a
''dormant war, and will refuse to such ship
an opportunity to purge herself by trial in
court.
We make no criticism. Facts are some
times STRONG enough TO stand alone