St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-11-21

the waters of the neutral or, after pur-
suit. on the high seas DIR. ooiseN
has also been interviewed regarding
This very case by the New Haven Press,
and comedies very closely with the at
titude taken by The Republican. 80
far as he understands the matter, there
i moi the slightest ground for war II
tba Virpinirts was on the high seas
when she was captured, the Tornado
was simply following precedent SET
by our own government III our recent
war. DR.. Woolsey's language Is eN-
blicit: .'If the capture was matte III
accordance with Spanish laws, II the
men were tried and executed i'll ac-
cor,Iancc with Spanish laws, and If the
Virrinius. though sailing under the
United States flag, was nevertheless
endeavoring to render aid to the lnSllr-
gents. was in short, engaged Ill traffic
prohibited by the law of nations, then
the United States government cannot
make the transaction any ground for
war. or. i'll fact, for complaint This
is precisely the position of The Repub-
Iican. which DIR. WoolSey further as
sumes by saving that it would settle
down to Il question of the inhumamty
of the transaction and the inability OF
Spain to govern the men and the colo
nv in whose hands she has placed muir
derOuS weapons.
There is one consideration of honor.
Christianity and cNpediency combined
which. after all, should determine this
matter. apart from all precedent and
th,. l.ttnt nt Intlrn:It
law. That consideration is expressed
briefly in the familiar old Latin term of
bona fdcs. Good faith" is the conSid-
Grafton that undcrlicS all law and its
administration. SO far as law dlSrr-
gaIds it or throws ii out, ;" far law
fails of securing justice, honor Is viola
ted, Christianity is not satisfied and "N-
pediency i'll the long run Is lost sight OF.
In this case. we have an international
police regulation, entitled the inViola-
biity of the neutral flag, di>rcgar,lcd :
hut it is liSregarlcd in order that the
higher and broader international police
regulation. that that flag must he bonG
idle neutral. may he enforced. Ii is not
difficult to see which is tine most vHlu
able regulation. in the eye of civilian
tion aud of Christianity. We have no
appreciation of that sense of national
honor. which toam> ut the mouth ut the
haulin" down of ON flag 10y u friendly
pOWc!. hut which for months prey IulI>
permits that flag to he pr">tItUtcd to
illegal USES and WaIlikr expeditions
against that same friendly power. 1t
* to Ice observed moreover that this
consideration of good faith generally
decides all contested questions of in
tcrHational law. 1t was nur ground
against Great Britain III the Alabama
ease. and is almost an aIl->uilicicmt
ground in any ease.
Nothing could better illustrate the
false prctcnScS of he Nirginiu> than the
attitude of commercial interests. The
New York merchants in the West Indies
trade. not having got their international
law from the youth who edit the New
York papers nor their sense of honor
from the NagIhnnd >cm"rc> ont of en-
ploNmcnt in the city. aIc entirely AT Il
loss To know the caII>r of such an up
roar. They say they aIc not afraid to
send their ships engaged III honest trade
int" Cuban waters. under the American
flag: they have no tr;l> hut that that
flag will he respected. especially if the
usual gumhnat, always considered Il safe
prccaulinm. return to the West Indian
station. A> merchants. they don't know
the Nn@imiu> and don't wish to SUITE!
for her assumption of 4 flag L" which
she had no hama f,ic claim.
Fortunately fuI the country. the in
rItia of the administration j. opposed
to the raNiug of the party madness.
Secretary Fin l. u man diplumIticalll
cold -hlo"drd. and President Grant. al
though he would enjoy the luxury ot
his >ympathic>. has >chonlcd them into
subsection to his slow mental Wulkim.
and his hahtual taciulnity. The view
of the administration are plain enough
from the inspired uttcIancc> of Wash
ingt"m papers. The president will not
uI>h into any action which Will not b,.
consistent with ON own prcccicnt>. "I
which might hc an uncomfortable pre-
ccdcnt for ourselves in the future. The
president nCllnc> To the opinion that
the lrglnlu> abused our hospitality "
and l. evidently little moved hN the
uproar of the New York Herald and
sun. and the uncertain utIrrtucr> of
other papers. which ought tu have been
the first 10 have moderated popular
violence with sound counsel. Lord Der
10y said. the other day. that the British
empire could not afford t" hold the
honor of the British flag 81 chcaply a>
To fancy il to he impcrilrd 10y every
little Squahhlc between the Fantcc> and
ASlantccS in West Africa. President
Grant may we'll ask this nation. day
if it can afford Ia take :I> an :iiInut the
capture of Il vessel admitted Ia hr Il
commercial paIiah. simply because she.
tIaudulcntly carried the stars and stripes
at her masthead. Springfield E'I"bH-