The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-05-14

" fasten on to her and tow her back to
San Diego
The actual status of the Itata is not
that of a pirate. but an authorized ship
upon the seas. She has no flag. no
clearance, no charter. Any ship of any
nation can seize her. and if she resiSts
she becomes at once pirate.
The position in which the United
States is placed by the escaping of the
ltata is a peculiar one, bearing in mind
the forcible argument which Mr.. Evarts
and other able representatives of the
United States laid before the tribunal at
Geneva in respect to the escape of the
500" afterward the rebel cruiser Alaba-
ma. upon which arguments Great Britain
was mulcted in heavy damages. In that
case it will be remembered the suspected
vessel got away before the British au-
thorities had received sufficient in
form alton, as they claimed, to war.
rant them in seizing her. In the
case of the Itata the el was ahso
lntely in the possession of the United
States Marshal, and the responsibility
for her escape can not tie evadcd. Ii
may be question between the Depart,
ment of Justice and the United States
Marshal as to whether proper precau
ttUtlS were tdhen 10 insure tHS
of the vessel. but as between the United
States and the recognized thilian Gov.
ernment should Balmaceda be successful
in the fnternecine warfare now in pro
gress, there can be no manner of dispute
as to the complete liability of the United
States Government for whatever dam
ages the Itata uncapturcd may be able
to inflict There is quite feveriSh all
of expectancy round the Navy Depart
meut as to the Developments Of the in.
cident, and many of the officers on shore
are enSying the opportunities which the
Charleston and other Vessels are likely
to have of brisk service aioat
The question of the right of the United
States to take the Itata on the high seas
is not alto .,ethcr settled. The State De.
partmcnt people have searched theil
authorities and have scrutnized the
facts in the Gaze, and are inclined ts
doubt the right The whole question
arises from dispute as to the character
of the vessel We're she 4 pirate,
ship in the service of an
enemy to this country, and Nesse,
of American register engaged in acts
in violation OF treaty stipnlations, the
case would be a simple one But she is
merely a Chilian vessel, engaged in the
transportation of a suspected cargo. 3
cargo that may possibly he contraband
in the light of the treaty, and there j.
a very great risk involved. No one
doubts the right of the United States to
arrest the vessel in our waters for the
purpose of examination, and her deten
ton was in accordance with this belief.
But now that she has landed the deputy
marshal and sailed along on her busines.
she may prove hornet that will sting
in after years
involved it would seem as though the
State Department is not in entire accord
with the rest of the administration, fol
both Attorney General Miller and Secre.
tary Tracy lean to the belief that the
vessel Itata is legitimate prey.
A report has come from San Francisco
| to the effect that Richard Trumbull, a
member Of the Chilan revolutionary
Congress, has been arrested there. No
knowledge of such an act has reached
| the Department of Justice. 1t is stated
there that it would be an easy matter
for any one to cause the arrest of Trum
bull on the charge of violating the neu.
trality laws. The marshal is bound &c
recognize an order to this effect con.
| tanned in an information" or complaint
sworn to by any citizen. In case there
| is mistake and false arrest, there is
redress only in the form of suit at Law
| against the informant The marshal is
not responsible.