National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-06-14
BLOcRADE asa MEANS OF WAR,

The rule of efficiency rs to bloCkadcs,
under the Declaration of Paris, is one con-
ceruing which there il liable to he great di-
vcrsity Of opinion. While in the past the
courts of the world have always insisted
that mere paper blockade is not sufficient
TO authorize the condemnation rs prize of
property taken by chance when attempting
TO enter n forbidden fort or touch u forbid
lien coast under notice Of blockade, still
there has been no such rigid doctrine en-
forced anywhere us would require absolute
imposIibility Of entry in consequence of the
presence of adequate force even to prevent
It, Such rule would render any notice 10
other nations Of tho existence OF blockade
unnecessary and superiluous, for if nothing
short of perfect efficiency is to he declared
available rs blockade against the traffic Of
those nations with the hclligcrcnt whose
coast IL blockaded, then they are ut liberty
TO continue such traffic without reference TO
any notice of embargo, and with entire dis
regard Of il il served, until. ut their own
cost, they learn it's character by contact
with its scntrics. SO, although nation he
notified of the blockade oil amy coast by
rightful authority, and its citizens I've adj
vised officially Of the fact, they may still ut
their peril proceed to run such blockade,
and finding il insufficient 10 resist their adj
vanCcS, may continue their trade with the
enemy of the blockades Power at will, and
without any violation OF the blockade, he
cause. by the new rule il they succeed in
| eVading vessels on duty and gain tho coast,
there il no blockade whose existence will lie
respected by the prize courts and consc-
qucutly no forfeiture.
This doctrine, while entirely fair, if sub
SCribrd by the civilized nations, will OBJ
viOuSly have the effect to discourage any
attempt at blockade in many instances, and
thus have a tendency 10 retire the pructice
as u means of war; for if no condemnation
were to follow capture, where it he shown
that the same or other vessels have con.
stantly eludcd the vigilance Of the blockad'
ing squadron and communicated with the
coast, there would he really no inducemcni
to undertake such Il line Of attack. The
maintenance OF blockade is a very costly
policy, although frequently the most effect
| i've means of aggression; and II the disburse'
ments necessarily incurred art to be rem
dcrcd 80 liable TO waste in consequence %
the possible incfiiciency of the Gordon ther,
| will be small encouragement for the appro
priat0ns required TO sustain it in cases o
war between nations Of extended coast line
and distant centres of population.
Whether there Is any special gain to man
kind to he secured by the adoption OF thin
clause OF the Declaration OF Paris is
question which admits of much discussion
with the prcponderonce of reason doubtful
# ii he adopted, nations at war with eacl
other will bc supplied with the nccesSarie
OF life and the means of war about as frrel,
as il ut peace and while it would thu
save much suffering TO humanity in on
way, il would iniliCt more in another b!
pIOlonging the contests. In our judgment
there is nothing TO be gained by it. An,
system that tends TO prOlong war and iamil
inrIe the nations with its horrors and hard
ships so rs TO make them forget its wicked
ness, is certainly 10 he deprecated. 1t wer
far better that when issues between Power
result in war the struggle should be ende'
by the most decisive means OF conquest no
in violation OF natural justice, nor involving
any ingredient OF barharism.