Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-02-25
MONARCHS
UNCLE SANS NAVAL COMMANDERS AND fHE
POWERS THEY POSSESS

Th,y Cruise About IN Forirsssss Which Are Bits
Of United States Territory Aaoat-Ihs Max
ing Of History.
Whether Capt. Wiltse did or did not
upset the monarchy in the Hawaiian
Islands, it Is certain that our naval
chieftains are privileged TO exercise
amazing powers. The commanding Off
Ger OF snip OF war is, on a smrll scale,
an absolute monarch. lie cruises aooht
in a steel-clad fortress which is a bit OF
United States territory ahoat, welding
q desDotic authority over small army
OF men. When Il seems good TO him,
he is privileged 20 commit acts or open
war upon his own responsibility. For
whatever he does, the government may
be held TO account, inasmuch as he IS
ouasi-diplomat, as well as military
agent. representing the flag and credit
Of his country wherever his ship may
be. What he says is law. Ha has
power OF life and death over every one
on board his vessel. II has been said
that he can do anything except boil a
midshipman in the coppers.
MUST ACT QUICK.
The commander Of ship Of war oc-
casiopallv finds himself 10 position
where Whatever he does is sure TO get
him into trouble. Nevertheless, be
must act, and with bOldness. II he
fails to do so, be will be held guilty OF
timidity, which is the worst fault OF
which he can be accused. he may even
be driven TO infringe the laws OF ma
tions. During the late civil war, in the
harbor of Bahia, Brazil, Capt. Collins
of the United States Ship Wachusett,
forcibly violated that neutral port by
selling the Confederate steamer Florida.
Our government apolOgiZed FOR the OF
Tense and acquiesced 10 BraziPs demand
that the vessel be given up But, to
avoid the necessity OF doing this,
transport ran Der down and sunk her
in Hampton Roads, quite By accident.
Collins was publicly reprimanded, pri-
vately patted on the back, and soon re-
ceived a better command. The mis-
chief done by the Florida and the des-
perate state Of the nations affairs were
considered to warrant his action.
MUST ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY
There are times when q naval COM
mander must assume responsibilities
not laid down in the law books. II he
hesitates TO take risks, he Is likely to
find himself in trouble. In the harbor
Of Ferrol, Spain, Capt. Craven Of the
United States Steam Snip Niagara, had
an opportunity to attack the Confeder-
sse ironclad Stonewall, which had been
fitted out in q French port. He failed
20 do so, and for his non-actlOn he was
afterwards tried by court martial.
Though acquitted, he was practically
shelved and never got another impor-
tant command. OF course it is possible
for a commander to go too far. Capt.
Wilkes did so when he took Mason and
Slideu, the Confederate commissioners,
off the British mail steamer Trent,
while on the way TO England, and car
ried them to Boston. OF course, the
prisoners were promptly demanded by
Great Britain, and Secretary Seward
gave them up. Though Wilkes was
reprimanded for his fragrant breach Of
International law, ne soon got another
command.
Jefferson Davis once said: 1.-THE
American people are tolerant of the
offense OF fighting too much" In July,
1853, Martin Kozta, who had been mill
tary secretary TO KOssuth, was confined
in irons on board Of the Austrian brig
Hussar in the harbor of Smyrna. He
had been seized on Turkish soil. Next
day the United States ship st. Louis,
commanded by Capt Duncan N. Ingra-
ham, arrived. The latter demanded
the person Of Kozta, on the ground
that be had declared his intention to be-
come an American citizen. The Aus
trians, who had, besides the
eighteen-gun brig, q twelve gun
schooner and three armed merchant
vessels, refused. But Ingraham meant
business and cleared his deck for action.
Hostiltes were only prevented by the
Welding up of the prisoner. a fight
would have meant war with Austria
On the voyage home the ST. Louis fell
in with the United States sloOp-of-war
Levant, the commander OF which as the
ships passed yelled through his
trumpet: "Ingraham, you have ruined
yoursef" Nevertheless, In the diplo-
matte dispute which followed our gov
eminent sustained Ingraham, and Con-
gress gave him gold medal.
A DIFFERENT FOREIGN POLICY.
Those we're DAYS when we used to
have foreign policy. Il is different
now. Not very .ong ago there was
trouble between the United States aud
Portugal respecting an American citi-
zee Of Dutch birth, who had farm on
the east African coast which the POrtu-
guese claimed. A special agent Of the
Department of State was sent out on a
war vessel to settle the difficulty.
BE satisfied himself by III
Yestlgation on the spot that
the Drtch-American was in the
right, but the Portuguese admiral, with
three men-of-War, was determined to
have his own way, and finally he gave
notice to the Dutchman that be would
shell his place if be did not get out by
o, N. the next day. 10 his behalf the
United States agent appealed to the
commander OF the American ship, but
the latter pulled out his instructions
from the Navy Department and showed
that he had orders TO give only "mOral
support" TO our side OF the question.
Said the agent: you pull up anchor
and go home; for am going to do some
thing that will make you feel real mort
fled"
Thereupon tie agent went to the
British Consul in the port and stated
the case to him. That official repled:
"Oh, I will manage that for you with
pleasure. He ordered a signal TO be
run up on the flagstaff over his Office,