New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-04


In case of war Great Britain will probably
have ample occasion to appreciate American
feelings in regard to the Alabama. We hope
and believe that the Government of tie
United States will in no respect fail in It's
duty. 1t will he honorable and manly for this
country, forgetting the injury done to our
commerce 10y Great Britain, to enforce It's
neutrality laws with great fidelity and care.
There is no reason 10 suppose that the Presi-
dent or Secretary Evarts will be inclined to
neglect any reasonable precaution, and public
opinion certainly would not sustain any
such neglect But after the Government
has done all that 1t can with reason do,
it is certain that British commerce will
suffer. Nothing can be more foolish than to
say that the Government of the United States
has power TO prevent the giving OF aid To
Russia. 1t is best to observe at the outset
that without change in the very nature OF
our Government, it will be impossible to pre-
vent the active participation OF individual
citizens of this country IN a war between
Russia and England, and tins for two especial
reasons which should in fairness be fully
taken into account by the English people. in
iudging of the conduct of our Government.
Our territory is very extensive, and its i'm
mense sea-coast line, rs countless bays and
harbors and navigabe streams, render 1t ut
terly impossible for such civil and naval fierce
as we possess to prevent entirely violations OF
neutrality where there is any strong tendency
in that direction. Vessels can even be htted
out. at many American ports, IN spite OF the
utmost vigilance of such officials rs we have,
without the slightest proof OF their hostile
intent or character. After they reach the
high seas, guns bought by Russian agents
without violation of law can be transferred
To them. The immense extent o. our coast
line, and the slender official and naval force
at command of our Government, will render
evasion of the laws incompaTably more easy
than it was in Great Britain during the War
of the Rebellion. Yet it must be frankly
admitted that, although Great Britain grossly
neglected its duty in some cases, i'll many other
instances the neutrality laws were completely
evaded without the connivance or fault OF OIL
Gals. If this was done repeatedly, III the
eight little island" thickly populated, and
with officers at every harbOr, it surely Will he
done. in spite of ali possible endeayOGs to pre-
vent it, in this country. Even If the fitting
ont of ships expressly for hostile service could
be prevented, it will be utterly impossible 10
prevent the purchase of fast vessels by secret
agents, and their transfer to Russian owner
shin after they leave our ports.
The other fact of vital importance Is one for
which England itself is largely responsible.
We have in this country a great number of
persons who would take part in hostilities
against England with peculiar zeal. There are
from Ire
land, not a few of whom are refugees, and
nearly all inspired by great bitterness OF
feeling. There are also thousands OF mer-
chants and shIp-owncgs who lost heavily
during the War Of the Rebellion by the
deprcdations of priyatccrs fitted out III
England. These individuals have not forgot
ten their losses. They are the very men by
whom ships could be most easily fitted out with
out detection, nomnally for commercial ven
tule but really for transfer TO Russian agents.
The temper Of Irish citizens Is well known. 1t
would not be difficult to raise thousands OF
good scamcn for any service hostile TO Eng
land, through the agency OF secret Irish organ
izations. Military operations. in Canada or on
the coast of Ireland, might possibly be COM
menced without the possibility Of interference
bv our Government but this would be much
more difficult. Moreover, such expeditions
would be comparatively frmtIcss. An hundred
men, manning one fast vessel, would do more
harm to Great Britain than thousands landed
on the Irish shore.
No undertakings Of this nature will be coun.
tcnanced By The Government, or By journals oi
character or influence. Everything that can
be done TO prevent them, and to maintain
absolutely the honor Of this country as neu-
trail, will doubtless be done. Yet 1t Is well TO
foresec that no possible efforts, however honest
and thorough, will wholly prevent aid to
Russia by citizens OF this country. Ii will not
be possible to watch every lrishman, to search
every vessel sent out on n mission pro-
fessedly commercial, or to guard every bay
or mouth or inlet. Not little vexation will
inevitably be caused in England, if d war
begins, by failure of the United States TO pre-
vent individual violations Of neutrality, and
it is desirable that the impOssibility of pre-
venting them wholly, in such a country as this,
should be appreciated at the outset.