The sun., 1891-06-18
Tho Civil War in Chill.

During the interval which must elapse be-
fore the arrival OF the Itata now on her way
from IquiQue to San Diego. President HAR-
RIsoN will have an opportunity to decide
both what to do with her, and what attitude
to take toward the Congress party In Chill,
to which she belongs.
Admiral MCCANN's reports to the Govern
ment show that the Itata did not receive
her cargo OF arms from the American
schooner Robert and Minnie off San Diego,
but OF San Clemente Island, which is
seventy miles from the coast. II the trans.
fer was made within a marine league OF
that island she took them on In American
waters; but it Is not asserted that this was
done. That she committed an offence
against the United States in breaking away
after being taken into custody. there is no
doubt. She was also an accessory In what
ever offence may have been committed by
the Robert and Minnie against the neutral
ity laws, although 1t may be hardly fair to
hold her equally liable with the latter on that
score. Indeed. the Itata, 1t may be said, was
: under orders which. SO far from directing her
to violate our neutrality laws, did not en-
power her to receive the arms purchased un-
, less the American authorities should give q
clearance to The Robert and Minnie and thus
impart prma facie legality to the act of
transshipment.
But II upon the trial OF the case 1t appears
that deception was practised on the United
Etates officers as to the consignment of the
arms and ammunition, and that the Itata
connived at this deception, which might be
fair presumption from her previous agree
ment to take on the arms In the open sea,
she will be very likely to share the Robert
and Ninnie's penalties.
There Is still, however, this difference, that
the Itata made no false statements, and DOS
sibly left the whole matter as to how the
arms should be got out OF tho harbor
of San Francisco to tho American con-
signors, acting only as a swift steam
transport substituted for a slow sailing
craft. The immediate and voluntary sur
render not only OF the vessel but of her car
20 to the United States authorities, when she
had arrived In waters where our vessels had
no Jurisdiction, and where at least the arms
and ammunition could have been carried Off
In safety. must be point In her favor. 1t
saved our Government trouble and cost,
and brought to prompt and successful con-
clusion difficult affair, which had attracted
the attention OF other nations.
This leads to the larger question how long
the Congress party should be required to
wait for the acknowledgment Of its belllg-
erent rights That is matter which each
foreign Government must settle for itself.
Such recognition could not have been &C.
corded at the outset Of the war. It
was always a grievance for our Govern
ment that In 1861 Great Britain ac-
knowledged the Confederacy as a war;
making power within a few weeks of
It's first operations. Yet had this been done
even few months later after q battle like
Bull Run had shown the war-making pow
ers OF the South. any disinterested observer
would have admitted its justice. In Chill
thus far our Government has felt under
obligations not to recognize the Congress
party, In spite OF its manifest strength and
its having the navy on its side, with large
part OF the country, including many ports. 1t
was not hastily to be assumed that this
party could hold Its own, nor could we enter
into the question Of the political rights In
volved. President BALMAcEDA complains
that the Gillian Congress refused TO grant
bA@ the customary supplies for running