The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-05-19
THE Escape OF THE lTATA

THE ESCAPE OF THE ITATA
Recalls some history : Connections OF
Americans whit the Chilean Revolution.
BdsAington Star.
The recent escape Of the Chilean
steamer Itata and the proposed attempt
to capture her on the seas will add
another to the many fruitless attempts
that have been made to prevent the fit
ting out or supply of warlike materials
to insurgents or to combatants. The
opportunity OF making money and the
spirit of adventure is SO rife in this
country that there has always been
enough of the element needed ready to
enlist for such enterprises. The law is
either SO loosely framed or an indisposi-
ton to prosecute those engaged in these
attempts that Icannotrecall aninstance
where the prosecution resulted in con
viction. In 1850 the celebrated Lopez
expedition to Cuba was organized and
resulted fatally to many Of those en-
gagged in it. The United States arrested
General Quitman and Senator Hender-
son, OF Mississippi, John L. 0'Sullivan,
Colonel John L. Pickett, Colonel Tom
Hawkins, Theodore 0'Hmu, General
Wheat and some others, but the prose-
cution ended when they gave bail. The
only survivor OF that expedition |
know of is General Harry Worthington,
who is resident OF Washington.
During the Crimean war the Russian
Government was supplied with powder
and arms by Boston house, and the
long-contested Perkins claim, now be-
fore the Department of State, was for
the fulfllment of contract made by the
agents of the Russian Government with
Mr.. Perkins for supplying powder.
Wherever there has been war between
two countries the neutral governments,
try as they may, cannot prevent the
purchase OF arms and munitions OF war
BY the contending parties. OF course,
it is done with all secrecy, but as in the
case Of the French arms case u scandal
results.
When our Government dismissed Sir
John Champion for infringement OF the
laws governing foreign enlistments dur
ing the Crimean war, the excitement in
London was very great, and the demand
was made in Parliament that the pass
ports of Mr.. Dallas, then our Minister
to the court OF st. James, should be sent
him, and, at a meeting of privy council,
it was determined to do so. Madame
de Viewer, us Mr.. Maunsel j. Field re-
lates, the daughter OF MIR. Bates, one Of
the American bankers in London, held
very intimate relations with the Queen,
and it was understood through her in
fIuence the Queen was induced to coun-
termand the proceedings OF her council.
Madame de Meyer was the wife OF the
German ambassador. Mr.. Field, who
was present at the House OF Parliament
when Lord Palmerston rose to reply for
the Government to the demands de-
termined on by the privy council, was
received with shouts and Kisses, which
testified to the feeling against the
Queens decision.
There is very little doubt about the,
connection Of Wm. r. Grace and his
brothers in the war now being waged in
Chile. This house has immense inter-
ests in Peru, and the destruction of the
property OF the Grace Brothers by
Chile, when the troops entered Peru,
would naturally lead to retaliation.
Some months ago an old resident OF
Washington, Mr.. Peter Heyener, who
has resided in Peru for many years, en-
gagged in railroad and other enterprises,
issued pamphlet giving the history OF
the house OF Grace with the government
OF Peru, and ii one-half Mr.. Hevener
charges be true the Graces can hardly
be regarded as model American citizens:
There is no doubt, where the relations
OF the Graces are known to the Peruv-
ian government, and the en-
nifty existing between them and
Chile. that they are backing
that power from whom they expect
recognition of the heavy claims against
the Chilean Government, which has
been refused by the present executive.
The Department of State has stacks OF
testimony, furnished by almost every
American claimant who has claims
against Peru, setting forth the condition
OF the Grace influence in South Amerl-
can affairs. The treaties OF neutrality
between our Government and others
have always been most, difficult tomain-
tain, That representative Of the French
republic whom the President dismissed,
Citizen Genet, fitted out a priyateer to
prey on British commerce, and, though
the authorities interfered, 1.-THE Little
Sarah" as he called her, set sail in def
ance Of law and treaties and the red lib
ertv cap Of the French republic was
hoi. tel from the top OF the Iontine cot
fee house by committee of New York
merchants. The course OF the A An r.
can people Mt that time can hardly be
believed now. Public dinners and re-
ceptions were given this dismissed min
lister, at which the President, Washing
ton, was defed.
THE FUEREsT BIsNIARCK's FEAT.
How All Previous Records We're Broken by
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