The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-05-16
is pR1vArEER1NG PROBABLE?
lDetroit Free Press j

There is good deal of significance in
the rumors which are circulated on both
sides of the Atlantic concerning the fit
ting out of privateers in this country to
prey upon English commerce in the
event of war between Great Britain and
Russia. Upon this side there are great
many of the adventurous class, no
doubt, who would rejoice exceedingly at
the glorious opportunities which such a
business would present, and whose con-
sciences would not be troubled for a mo-
mentiby any reflection as to its piratical
character. There are others, too, who
without caring to engage in the business
would regard it as perfectly justifable,
and in a certain sense patriotic, mas
much as it would be a retaliation upon
Great Britain for the losses inflicted
through her connivance on American
commerce during the late civil war.
In Russia, and by Russian sympathiz-
ers, the business would also. be favorably
regarded. While Russia as a nation is
bound by the treaty of Paris, which
solemnly abrogated privateering SO far
as the parties to it were concerned, she
would have little scruple iabout violat-
ing the treaty so far as Great Britain is
concerned, in case of war with that
power. Of course she would be respon-
sible to the other treaty powers for the
violation. But if she should be success
full in her conflict with Great Britain
she would have little difficulty in set
tling the claims of the rest of Europe,
and if defeated the claims of the other
powers would add little to her punish
ment. .---
Looking at the matter in this light it is
not remarkable that privateering should
be taken for granted as an inevitable
consequence of war. There is one fact,
however, that has not been fully consid-
cred in reaching this conclusion. That
fact is that the United States is bonud
in the strongest possible manner not to
permit any preying upon British COM
1herce to be initiated here. Moreover
the price of violating the obligation has
been fixed so high that the government
is not likely to be tempted to connive
either openly or secretly at any such
violation. Under the treaty OF Wash.
ingtona it is laid down as rule that 8
neutral government is DOunu 10 use que
diligence to prevent the fitting out, arm
ing or equipping, within its jurisdiction
of any vessel it has reasonable ground te
believe is intended to cruise or to carry
on war against power with which it ii
at peace, and to use like diligence to pre-
vent the departure from its jurisdiction
of any vessel intended to so cruise o.
carry on war if the vessel has beer
specially adapted to warlike use within
such jurisdiction. To the observanc,
of this rule the United States is bound
and whether Russia, not being part.
to the treaty, could avail herself of it
provisions or not, England certainl.
could, For violating this rule, thougl
then not solemnly Incorporated in
treaty, Great Britain paid, it will be re
membered, fifteen million dollars
Counting reasons at the low price of I
dollar apiece there are, therefore, fifteel
million reasons why there ought not t
be and probably will not be any sue
privateering as the rumor makers pre
dict.