The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-06-21
nOunclng in terms, the causes, fact,
ENDS oP ITS BELLIGERENcY.

| without several exceptions, to the usual
course from the reign of Queen Eliza
beth to the reign of George III. Since
the peac of Paris in 1863 a formal dec
laratlon of war has been held TO be so
superluous as between belligerents that
the last time we made one was against
Spain in 1852. In l77S the earliest no
tice Of hostilities given by the British
Government to France was the recall OF
the British Ambassador from Paris,
and the seizure of all French shipping
in British ports Immediately upon the
announcement made by the French
Ambassador in London that France had
acknowledged the United States of
America, and entered into friendly re-
latiOns with them. 1t was in regard to
| these events that the French Govern
ment issued the celebrated "Expose des
Motifs" to which GibbOn replied on
the part Of the English Government in
the still more celebrated "Memoirs
Justi6catifs." But although formal
declaration Of war fell into disuse, sub
stitutes were found for them of an
equally public character. The diplO-
matte connection between the belliger-
ents being terminated by either the
withdrawal or dismissal of their envoys,
they severally announce in an official
manner to their respective subjects that
they are enemies to each other. In
England a royal proclamation is made
and published in the London Gazette,
of which the date settles for legal pur-
pose the commencement of hostility. In
the United States, it is not within the
province of the executive but of the
Legislature to make war, and the
REQUISITE ACT OF CONGRESS
is full and sufficient evidence of the in.
tentOn to do it, and that it is done.
Moreover the government which has
resource to arms prepares certain mani
festOes which are circulated among its
agents accredited to other and friendly
Governments, and are by them COM
municated to these. ManifestOes are to
be regarded, as Sir Travers Twiss says,
as appeals or protests addressed by in
iured nations to the community of ma
Uions; and their general nature may be
gathered from the rules which he gives
for the drawing of them up. A docu-
ment of this kind, ought, he observes,
to set forth in dignified language the
cause of complaint and the effort to OBJ
tain redress; it should speak with a
certain reserve of the injuries which
the nation has undergone and a certain
moderation of the satisfaction which
it seeks for such injuries. 1t ought to
state the facts without color or ami
mostly, and enunclate the principles
of public law upon which it relies to
maintain the justice of its cause. 1t
should speak with respect of its adver-
sary as its equal, and should avoid en-
bittering the dispute by offensive ex-
pressions. In word, it should avow
regret that ancient friends should be-
come temporary enemies, and express a
hope of sincere reconciliation after
the dispute has been adjusted. "The
Homeric heroes" adds Sir Travers
Twiss, citing Vattel, "called each
other dog and 'drunkard.' The EN-
perors and Popes of the middle ages
treated each other with as little deli
cacy. But we may congratulate our
age on the superior gentleness and
humanity of its manners, and not treat
as vain politeness those courtesies which
are productive of real and substantial
effects"
Such have been the
ORDINARY PRELIMINARIEs
to civilize warfare for more than hum
dred years. One singular exception,
however, is to be noticed. In 1870
France formally declared war against
Prussia, and it is possible that the ex-
ample thus set may be followed, and
that return to the old system, at any
rate in part, may be the result. The
ostensble provocation to the Franco
German war, it will be remembered,
was described by Lord Beaconsfield at
the time as ga breach of etiquette at a
watering place." which was followed
| by letter transmitted to Prince Bis
marck through NJ. lie Sourd, the French
Charge d'Affaires at Berlin. 1t is,
after all, matter of Indifference by
what formalities warsare commenced, 80
| long as there can be no doubt as to the
exact time of their commencement and
the inceptions Of the new relations i'm
piled by that fact, both as concerns
belligerents and neutrals. This object
seems to be fulfilled as adequately as
need be by the existing method of pro-
cedure, and in some places 1t has been
settled by treaties, although they are
not very important ones, what partic-
ular acts shall be accepted as indications
of condition of hostility between the
parties to them. Some publicists have
advocated the re-introduction of formal
declarations, to the end of securing a
period of grace to the subjects Of the
States involved or interested before war
is actually begun.
| -%O&---
The Best Room.
| -
The care with which the "best ROOM
was kept from use by our ancestors,
and indeed is now by some Of the good
country wives of the present genera
tion, was illustrated by good old lady
who in her last illness was visited by
her pastor. Being asked If she was re-
| H.