The herald., 1893-11-07
ANOTHER BALMAcEpA IMBRoGLIo.

The revolution in Brazil has reached
question whether the government of
Peixotto can successfully reprees it.
The president has undoubtedly the best
OF it on land, although the revolution
ists are very strong in some OF the prov
inces, and holds undisputed eway at
st. Catherine. Peixotto's only chance
to suppress the rebellion is in securing
nevy that can hold its own with that
which Admiral de Mello commands.
His agents are now openly purchasing
vessels and fitting them out for war
purposes in New York harbor. The
firm OF Flint & Co. have purchased
Ell Cid, a very formidable steamer,
which is being strengthened and
armed with heavy guns; and also the
Destroyer, built by Ericsson to dis
charge torpedoes at long range. The
purchase OF the latter vessel by our own
government was refused by the advice
of the navy department, but the opinion
is very general among naval officers
that the government made mistake,
for if she accomplishes what her in
ventor intended, she would be most
formidable vessel in the Gaze of an in
vasion. These two vessels are to be
made ready for sea by the middle OF this
month.
The question now arises. how far a
neutral government ought to go in fur
nishing such terrible engines of war to
another government that is beset by a
formidable revolution which it cannot
overcome without such aid? 1t ia true
that there is no well-defned rule by
which the people OF q nation at peace
with another may not sell &c that ma
tion arms of all kinds. But the ques-
tion arises, is it morally or logically
right for a government to throw in the
weight of it's power by the sale of war
ships to either one of the two belliger-
ents where they are 30 evenly matched
as the Peixotto government and the rev.
olutionists under de Mello? Practically
our government in permitting this be-
comes responsible for the preponder-
ance OF one of the belligerents over the
other, and possibly by its connivance in
this respect decides momentous ques-
tion which has been submitted to the
arbitrament of arms. 1t seems clear to
us that in doubtful revolution OF this
character the principle of strict neutral
ity should he observed.
We have alienated from our friend
ship one of the leading South American
republics by our interference. Suppose
that, after all, the revolutionists should
succeed in Brazil in overthrowing the
government of Peixotto as the revolu-
tionists in Chile succeeded in overthrow
ing that of Balmaceda, what will be the
effect of our present attitude in making
the port of New York a navy yard for
Peixotto? In that case we shall lose
the goodwill and friendship of the Bra
zilians, and the trade of that greatest
and richest OF all South American coun-
tries will be diverted from US. The few
dollars now spent in the United States
for ships and arms would in that event
be dearly paid for by US.
Whenever revolution shows itself
strong enough to claim belligerent rights
the principle of strict neutrality should
be enforced both in regard to the revo-
lutionists and the government which is
trying to overcome them. This should
especially be the rule with ns toward
our neighboring republics. Revolutions
are constantly arising in those states.
We know little or nothing of the merits
of these dieputes, and should neither
espouse the cause or aid either
of the hostile parties, and if we
apply the rule of international
law to them, and aid the de facto
governments by selling them arms, we
are sure to make enemies who will bear
US an undying hatred.