The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-08
.SALUTEDTHEREBELFLAG
ADMIRAL STANTON REMOVED
FORA BLUNDER AT BIO.

A Discourteous Act Toward the Bra.
lillian Government-The Demon-:
etration Promptly Repudiated by
This Captain Pick
Ing In Command Of our Squadron.
A despatch from Washington says secre-
tary Herbert learned to his great surprise
that Acting Rear Admiral Stanton, com
manding the United States feet in Brazilian
waters, had saluted the rebel Admiral. 4 For
this act Of discourtesy toward q friendly Ma
ton Secretary Heroert after consulting
with the President and Secretary Of State,
ordered Rear Admiral Stanton's detachment
Commodore Stanton is ordered to turn over
the command of his squadron to Captain
Picking, the next in rank.
The peremptory removal of Commodore
and Acting Rear Admiral Stanton from
the command OF the South Atlantic
surprises ever experienced In Washing
ton official life, and for time It almost
obscured the interest in the silver fight.
President Cleveland took action after
s long conference with the Secretaries Of State
and the Navy, and when put In possession OF
all the facts and also Of such further informa-
ton as Senator Mendonca, the Brazilian Min
lister in Washington, was able to furnish.
The official order was made public by 6ecre-
tary Herbert in the folio wing mernorandun.y
z In reply to @ telegram OF inquiry the .Nasy
Department learned by authority late to-
day, by telegram from Rear Admiral STAN
ton, In command OF the United States
naval forces at Rio de Janeiro, that this
officer had saluted the flag OF admiral
Mello, commanding the insurgent fleet
This salute was unauthorized by
any instructions the Admiral bad
received. It was an unfriendly act toward D.
friendly power, and the Secretary OF the
Navy, after consulting with the President and
the Secretary Of State, issued an order de.
taching Admiral Stanton from command 6f
his squadron and turning It over to Captain
Picking, the next officer In rank
Commodore Stanton had been specially se-s :
lected for this post Of duty, because he was
considered to possess In preemfnent degree
those qualff fcations OF cooiness and discre-
tion which fitted him to deal with the fsyo-
lutionary conditions prevailing In the yart-S
ous countries to which his assignment would
naturally call him. y3s:@tss. &
The relations Of the United States to ths
recognized Government OF Brazil were such
that Il was not believed possible that an ofd-2
Ger Of high rank and experience would go
out Of his way to give official salute and rsc-
ognltion to the commander OF naval force
ayowedly in insurrection against the Coy
ernment and actually engaged In bombard-
ing the National capital SO
Our friendly interest in the young republic
was 80 powerful factor In securing ity REQ
ognftion by other powers that in October
1890, Just three years ago, Brazil sent 81
squadron, consisting of the armcred cruiser
AauidRban and other vessels, to New York
Harbor ITO return the visit OF friendship and
congratulation made by the United States
Squadron Of Evolution in Bio Janeiro n June
and July preceding. isa. =
When. therefore, Secretary Herbert to-day
received through Secretary Gresham informa-
tion that the Brazilian Minister reported the
story Of Admiral Stanton 8 salute to the rebel
Admiral 8 flag to be correct, there was joint
consultation Of documents and precedenfs in
the diplomatic room, and the conclusion was
reached that Commod lore Stauton's act wasso
contrary to the requirements ofthe case as TO
call for prompt rebukeand reparation- With
this conclusion In mind Secretary Herbert, at
/ o'clock. went over to the White House 10
consult the President, VINO, on learning the
facts, Immediately coincided with the views
of the Secretary Of State and Mr.. Herbert au-:
thorizingthe issue OF the order Of suspension
Captain q. F. Picking, Of the Charleston,
who relieves Commodore Stanton, Is also an
officer OF experience he has with him the;
cruiser Newark, Captain Silas Casey, and In
three DAYS from now should be joined by tho
Detroit, Commander Willard II. sBrownson.
Naval officers who know Commodore Stan
ton are utterly at loss to understand how
he came to make so serious m1stake,m
such 1t can be called.
Secretary Gresham Is much concerned over
the trouble brought about by Admiral Stan-
toms conduct in committing the unheard.of
breach Of ssluting rebol flag, and thereby
giving recognition to the Brazilian insur-
gents. without authority from bis Govern
ment and In direct disooedience to mandari
tory orders to preserve strict neutrality
The flagship Newark, which sailed fer
South America In September, had JUST
arrived In Bio Harbor, and 1t was then that
Admiral stanton conmsted tne act %a,cn a
has called forth protest from Brain
through her Minister here. Secretary Gres-
ham has informed the Brazilian Minister
that this country will apologize for the
offence, and that 1t does not countenance
what Admiral Stanton did and deplores the
act. ...
Admiral Stanton showed still further his
friendlIness for the insurgents by paying an
official visit and receiving return call tron
Mello. This exchange OF civilities necessita-
ted further salutss
The fatal mistake Of all, though, Is con-
coded to have been his visit to Admiral
Mello. BY so doing the Admiral disre-
earded his instructions and placed his
Government In the position OF recog-.
nizinp the rebels. Had the same thing,
occurred In Chile, 1t was said by naval on-'
GERS. our ships would undoubtedly have been.
Aired on by the Government vessels, and war,
would have been the result. The coolneeS.
OF the Brazilisns, however, prevented any