The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-11
UNCLE SAM HAS SALUTED
When His Sons Violate Inter-
national Laws He Does the
Proper Thing.
At Different Times He Has Saluted
tho Flags of Other Ma
tions.
Filibusterers cause the Most Trouble
Spain Brought to Time-Not u HUI
initiating Ceremony.

ElliDuSteferS cause tne NAOsG ArONOlo-
Spain Brought to Time-Not "a HUI
initiating Ceremony.
In accepting Chili's apology it has been
decided to forego the ceremony of salutlng
the flng, which is usual in the pacific settle
ment Of international disputes.
Saluting the flag of an offended country
is an international courtesy that the United
States itself has performed on more than
one occasion. There is nothing humiliat-
ing in this ceremony. and it is considered
the gracious complement of q diplomatic
apology.
The customary manner OF salutlnR the
flag consists in hosting it in som con-
spicuous place and then firing twenty-onc
guns from a government vessel or fort
while it remains aloft. 1t is simple but
impressive, and to a nation means much.
Filihusterers have been primarily respon-
sible for two of the most delicate and per-
ilous affairs in American annals. Iii 1851
a rebellion WAS raging in Cuba, having for
its object the freeing of the island from
the Spanish crown and its annexation to
the United States. Lopez. a young Cuban,
fitted out an expedition at New Orleans to
help in tho liberation undertaking. He
and his ship sailed safely out Of the Mis-
sissippi river, but were captured by q
Spanish cruiser off the Florida coast. Lo-
rez and the other principals of the expedi-
ton were hanged, and when the news
reached New Orleans the mob rose up in
arms and attacked the Spanish consulate.
They tore down the Spanish flag and drove
the consul, Senior Naraguez, into q hiding
place from which he did not emerge until
in disguise he took passage for Havana.
Mr.. Webster. who was then secretary of
state, took prompt steps for the reparatlon
OF the outrage. with the accord of President
Fillmore. A proper apology was sent to
the court at Madrid, and the frlgate Mace
DOMAIN was ordered to Havana to bring
Xaraguez back to New Orleans, where he
was landed and escorted to his official resi-
dence bv %oficsrs, marines and sailors, the
frieate firing a salute to the Spanish flag.
France was the next country with which
Sunday Journal. in 1853 Count CASTOR
Raoul de Rassonst Boulbon, a French sub
iect. was one among the horde of adven-
turers who iocked to the gold fields of Cali
fornia. Mining did not bring him any con-
spicuous reward, and he formed the project
OF ~OTpNnlZlOQ Ill army oA AllOuoUS4S w W.
scend upon Mexico. He collected a force
and actually seized the town of Hermosillo,
in Sonora, but his troops were soon sadly
depleted by assertions and sickness, and ne
returned to San Francisco for recruits.
General Santa Anna, then president OF
Mexico, was closely following MS move
ments, and ordered the Mexican consul at
San Francisco, Senior Del Vale, to counter
act them.
It 40 happened that Gen. Walker, of Mic
arapua fame, was at the same time making
ur a force in San Francisco for a descent
upon the Central American states. anu ne
and Del Vale came into colluslon. SIX
hundred men were enlisted by Rassonet
and were placed on board the ship Chal-
lenre. ostensibly to sail for a Mexican port
on the Pacific side. But at least 400 of the
600 were in the plot concooted By Walker
and Del Vale. The seizure Of the ship by
a United States cruiser quickly followed.
Del Vale was arrested for violation or the
neutrality laws, and the testimony of p.
Dillon, the French consul, was demanded
at the trial.
recent convention with France forbid
ding any compulsory citation. a polite re-
quest was made for his attendance. but
when he refused to appear the United States
marshals forcibly brought him into court.
whereupon he Indignantly struck mis- flag
and threw himself upon the protection OF
his government. The matter became q
subject of correspondence between the gov
ernments of France and the United States.
and concluded by an apology being ten
dered by this government and q salute tC
the French flag in the harhor Of San Fran
cisco.
In February, 1862, John Z. Mason and
John Slidell, ambassadors of the southern
confederacy respectively TIC the courts OF
England and France, ran tho blockade o,
the southern ports and, making their way
to Havana, took passage on the BRITISH
mail steamship Trent for Liverpool. OH
the Cuban const the Trent WAS oyerhaulec
by the United States frigate San Jacinto
under the command OF Captain Wilkes
who boarded the British vessel and by force
arrested Mason and slidell, whom NJ
brought to New York.
His bold action intensified the passion
e~ngendered by the war. England insistet
upon the immediate surrender of the
prisoners into her hands on the theor,
that the decks of any vessel over which
her flag 1oated were English ground, ant
she made preparations for war by strength
ening her fleets in the North Allan
tic and by reinforcing the garrlsolB a
Quebec and Montreal. On this side of TIL
ocean tempestuous fury reigned. The wa
party declared that than sooner give ny tn
captiyes we should dare England to a
armed conflict, while the confederates re
joiced IN the prospect of winning to them
selves so powerful an ally.
But amid all tho turnult President LIN
coin and his secretary of state, Mr.. sewarl
preserved their calm eauipoise. Mr.. sew
ard conducted a careful and judicious CO.
~respondence with Lord Palmerston; h
acknowledged tho indefersibility of the az
of Capt. Wilkes, and he finally agreed t
place Mason and Slidoll on board all Eng
fish steamship at New York bound fc
Liverpool. This enGad the Trent episoC
without any salutation to the British fla!
In the succeeding year the United State
had to face Brazil on q question of infring
ment of Brazil'B jurisdiction over her ow
territorial waters. The confederate cruis'
Florida was lying at anchor i'll the harbs
of Bahia, Brazil, when the United Stat,
gunboat Wachusett attacked and capture
her. A prize crew was put on board IL
Florida. with orders to set sail for Fortro
Monroe. Before she could reach that poi1
Brazil had entered her protest against ii
infringement of the Jurisdiction of
friendly nation over its own t~erritori
waters.
Ihe conduct. both OF the United Stat
consul who advised the seizure. and of ii
naval commander who was responsible fl
it, was aisavowed by Secretary Sewar
The commander was punished by con
martial, the consul was dismissed and
promise was made that the Florida shou
be taken back to Bahia and surrendered