The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-16

panied with acts of superciliousness and petty
tyranny unworthy of their position, deroga-
tory to our national character, and subversive
of that efficiency in the naval service which
can only spring from harmony aud proper
respect on all occasions"
AS instances of this il is mentioned that
when demonstrated with by Mr.. Kirk, our
Minister to the Argentine Republic, against
paying visit to General Urquiza, the former
President, which might have been construed
by the existing administration in an un-
friendly light, Admiral Godon answered
'that he (Kirk) would find he scarcely
needed a dry nurse" and, in speaking of
Minister Washburn, he made use of an ex-
preston rejecting on the maternal relative
of that parsonage such as no gentleman would
use. To one of his officers he sneeringly
said "You seem to think minister is of
great importance" and at another time he
said, ''These ministers we're the mere repre-
sentatives of political friends" Mr.. Wash
burn testified that Admiral Godon wanted it
impressed upon everybody that he
was the representative of the great
republic, and that nobody else was of any
importance whatever; that he always spoke
with the utmost contempt of all ministers of
the United States; said that he was not re-
sponsible to them, and did not care anything
for them; that they were political humbugs
and worn-out politicians, who were sent out
there to get rid of them; that he was an
admiral, etc. ETC. Minister Webb, who had
no part in the difficulty and no controversy
whatever with the Admiral, in despatch to
the State Department said:-'It is impossi-
BILE for me to shut my eyes to the fact that
the difficulties which have taken place and
now exist on this coast between the Admiral
and the officers of the State Department,
and which are widely known and discredita-
BILE to our country, are mainly attributable to
the Admiral's meddling with what does not
concern him"
Rear-Admiral Davis, when he took COM
mand of the squadron, appeared to adopt
pretty much the sanae line of policy, aud
when applied to for assistance by Mr.. Wash
burn he disregarded the application and did
not move until such time as suited his own
convenience and regard for the dignity of a
Rear Admiral. When at last he did act,
Minister Washburn was rescued, but two of
his suite, Bliss and Masterman, were left in the
hands of Lopez. Admiral Davis, on irving
at Augostura, in December, 1868, wrote a
dignifed letter to Lopez demanding their
release. Lopez, instead of delivering them
came on board the flagship and induced the
withdrawal of the note. AS substitute, Ad-
miral Davis sent an humble request that the
two men might be delivered into his keeping,
subject to the order of the Government of
the United States, and declining to define or
even consider their status. Even this eating
of humble-pie was not sufficient for Lopez
who would not consent to deliver the men
until the request was made Sin O manner
more in conformity with the fact of their
being accomplices of Mr.. Washburn." and
Admiral Davis actually detailed two of his
officers to attend pretended court of justice
and listen to the enforced confession of Bliss
and Masterman of their completely in a con-
spiracy against Lopez. After the men were
given up they were placed under the charge
of a sentry on board the ship, and otherwise
treated with the utmost indignity until their
arrival in the United States.
These facts indicate very plainly that It'll is
high time some measures were taken to teach
naval officers what their duties are in foreign
waters, and what are the courtesies they owe
to our diplomatic representatives. The con-
duct of these two Rear-Admrals cannot be
pronounced other than scandalous in the
highest degree, and their exalted rank ought
not to shield them from the public reprimand
they deserve. In spite of the opinion to the
contrary advanced few days ago in our
columns bys prominent naval officer, it is
evident that some members of the naval SER
vice at least need to be taught that the
dignity of Rear-Admirals' is not the only
thing to be considered, or the only thing for
which the navy is permitted to exist.