Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-16
Written for The Evening Star.

WE RECENT ESCAPE OF THE CHILEAN
u steamer Itata and the proposed attempt to
capture her on the seas win add another to the
many fruitless attempts That have been made
to prevent the fitting 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 30 loosely framed or an indis-
position to prosecute such az engage in these
attempts that I cannot recall an instance
where the prosecution resulted in conviction.
In 1850 the celebrated Lopez expedition to
Cuba was organized and resulted fatally to
many OF those engaged in it. The United States
arrested Gen. Quitmsn and Senator Henderson
OF Mississippi, John L. O'Sullivan, Col. John
1. Pickett, Col Tom Hawkins, Theodore
O'Hara, Gen. Robert Wheat and some others,
put the prosecution ended when they gave
pali. The Walker expedition escaped prosecu-
ton. The only survivor of that expedition
Know OF is Gen. Harry Worthington, who il q
resident Of Washington.
During the Crimean war the Russian govern
ment was supplied with powder and arms by
boston house, and the long-contested Perkins
claim, now before the Department of State, was
Tor the fulhllment 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 neu-
tral governments, try as they may, cannot pre-
vent 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 q scandal results.
When our government dismissed Sir John
CHAMPION for infringement of the laws govern
ing foreign enlistments during the Crimean
war the excitement in London was very great,
and the demand was made in parliament that
the passports Of Mr. Dallas, then our minister
to the court of st. James, should be sent him,
ana, at meeting OF privy council, it was de-
termlned to do 30. Madame de Weyer. as Mr..
Maunsel b. Field relates the daughter Of Mr..
Bates, one of the American bankers in London,
held very intimate relations with the queen,
and 1t was understood through her influence
the queen was induced to countermand the
proceedings of her council. Madame de Viewer
was the wife of the German ambassador. Mr..
Field, VINO was present in the house of parlia-
ment when Lord Palmerston rose to reply for
the government to the demands determined
on by the privy council, was received with
shouts and misses, which testified to the feeling
against she queen decision.
THE FIRM OF GRACE AND CHILL
There is very little doubt about the connec-
ton OF VIM. r. Grace and his brothers in the
war now being waged in Chill. This house has
immense interests in Peru and the destruction
OF the property of the Grace Brothers by Chill.
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 if
one-half Mr.. Hevener charges be true the
Graces can hardly be regarded as model Amer
lean citizens. There is no doubt, where
tho relations Of the Graces are known to
the Peruvian government, and the enmity
existing between them and Chill, that they are
backing that power from whom they expect
recognition Of the heavy claims against the
Gillian government, which has been refuses.
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 Sout, American af-
fairs. The treaties of neutrality between our
government and others have always been most
difficult to maintain. That representative of
the French republic whom the President DIS
missed, Citizen Genet. fitted out a priya-
teer, to prey on British commerce, and,
though the authorities interfered "The
Little Sarah" as he called her, set sail in
defiance of law and treaties and the red liberty
cap OF the French republic was hoisted from the
top OF the Tontine coffee house by committee
OF New York merchants. The course OF the
American people at that time can hardly be
believed now. Public dinners and receptions
were given this dismissed minister at which
the President, Washington, was defied.
COL. PETER FORCE AND HIS LIBRARY.
am reminded Of the omission Of the name
OF an eminent citizen of Washington, Col
Peter Force. whose famous collection of books
and pamphlets relating to American affairs
was purchased by Congress, and is now in
the Congressional Library. Col. Force was
of fha aarlx
came here as early as 1912 and for years pub
ished an influential journal. He was elected
mayor for several terms, and devoted nearly
his whole life to the collection Of books and
pamphlets relating to America from its dis
covery through its colonial period to the reyo-
lutionary war and the early history of the gov
erIment. The collection was a very large one
and was remarkably perfect Col. Force having
ransacked the libraries of Europe to complete
his wonderful collection. He had among other
rare pamphlets the Matthews Pamphlet. as it
was called, containing serious charges against
the father of his country. and the celebrated
letter Of Alexander Hamilton, exposing the
attempt to blackmail him while he was Secre-
tary OF the Treasury. There was no citizen of
Washington more widely known than Col.
Force, and in connection with this collection
he obtained a national fame.
THE LONG LIFE OF Books
Considering how perishabie are all human
works. it is surprising how long-lived are
books. They outlive empires and dynasties
and the very edifices erected for their protec-
ton. They are more enduring than marble or
bronze, and in the great collection formed by
James Lenox, now the Lenox library, are to be
seen a very wonderful collection of rare books
and manuscripts that have defied time. In the
matter Of American history it is the most
complete in this country. ALI books pub-
hshed ON America or pertaining to America
have been secured by Mr.. Lenox. ali
the various editions Of them in Span
ish, Portuguese, Dutch, italian, French
Latin and English. To secure these rare vol
umes Mr.. Lenox has displayed his knowledge
Of the books he purchased and which for wears
he was gathering. This collection is very rich
in Shakespearian literature. 1t contains a num-
Der of the earliest complete editions of the
dramatic works in the various forms in which
they were issued. II not all it has most of the
twenty plays published in Shakespeare's time,
from 1000 to 1920 The collection of Bibles
from the earliest edition, and indeed all the
rare editions are here, including the ..Maza-
rim Bible. copy OF which was
recently sold in England for $40, 900, Latin
Bible published in lat at Nuremburg. contain
ing commentaries, emendations and inter,inea-
tions by Melancthon in a very small hand, but
legible and beautifully written; q complete
set of every edition OF Millions Paradise Lost"
commencing with the first edition ever issued
up to the time of Mr.. Lenox' death. Mymem-
orandum of the rare and beautiful editions in
this library would fill column. superb VOL
ume had just been added to the library, which
is SO exquisite il will interest your readers The