New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-09-05
Nv DEFENSIVE CONSUL.

There was q time when no Administration
in this country, Republican or Democratic
would have ventured to endure the least srs-
picion of foreign dictatiOn. The American
people will pardon many things; they VIII
hear long with domestic misrule and corrup-
tion but in their dealings with other nations
they have always demanded OF the Executive
o dgnifed and courageous bearing insisting
that we shall ask nothing but what Is right,
, and having once taken q position, shall STAND
by it firmly. Gen. Grant has changed all tna''
His behavior in respect to the Washington
Treaty il national modification which Doth
parties are striving to forget; one for the sake
of their candidate, the other for the sake Oh
the country. But it will be remembered When
the history Of this period comes to be written,
that the United States, from 1869 to 1873, OPP
messed the weak and truclled to the strong /;
overawed Hayti with men-of-war. gave mp at
the angry demand of Great Britain claim to
which the honor of the Executive had Deen
pledged, and submitted meekly to all manner
of insults from the Spaniards. Whhe tne
faults and merits of the Administration are IN
the balance, we ask our readers to call to
mind an instance now two or three years 0id,
in which Mr. Fish allowed the Spanish Govern
ment to dictate the removal of faithful Oil
Ger in our consular service for dong his duty'
In 1866 Capt. r. L. Farrell, U. S. Consul at
Cadiz, discovered enormous frauds In the snip
ment cf sherry wine to this country, by when
the revenue suffered to the amount OF at least
100000 year. We shall not recaDitulate the
details of these once famous cases; the frauds
| Cat in fba valu
invoices, and secondly IN the measurement of
the casks. A special agent of the Treasury
Department was seat to Cadiz on the COnsuls
report; large seizures were made at Boston
and New-York; and suit was commenced
against certain importers, who finally COM
promised by paying the Government over
100000 additional duty. Capt. FarrelPs course
was officially approved, and the Treasury De-
partment sent him money to continue his IN
vesigations. This was during the Admins
tlalion of Andrew Johnson, while Mr.. Seward
was Secretary of State
During the instruction of December, 1863,
at Cadiz Capt. Farrell highly distinguished
himself by protecting the British and Amer
lean residents, conveying them safely out OF
the city and finally bringing about an armis-
tice and definite cessation of hOStilties, con-
duct for which he was warmly praised on all
hands, and officially cOmplimcnted by MIR.
Seward. If his action in the wine cases had
not commended him TO favor at Washington,
his behavior in this emergency at least should
have done 80 yet Mr.. Fish was hardly warm
in Office before he summarily removed Capt.
Farrell at the request of the Spanish Minister
and for what Why, for using language
" offensive to respectable class of persons"
in his official letters to Secretary Seward about
the sherry wine cases In other words Mr..
Farrell charged certain importers with fraud
the fraud was proved and virtually admitted
and that, TO the mind of the Spanish Minis
ter. was offensive. The demand was made to
Mr.. Seward, and he refused to notice it. 1t
was repeated two-and-a-half years afterward
to Mr.. Fish, and, with characteristic pliancy,
that gentleman bowed to the ground, and in
stantly did Senior GOnis bidding.
American Consuls will please take notice
that until the 4th of March, 1873, they are not
TO make themselves Offensive" by exposing
frauds on the Customs, unless indeed they
happen to be President Grants relations, in
which case they may safely be as offensive as
they please.