New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-14
THE ALLIANC4 AFFAIR.

Secretary Gresham's earliest comments upon
the Alliance affair were tmorous and indis
Greet His remark that Captain CrosSlnan
ought 70 have permitted the Spanish gunboat
10 make such inquiries as were necessary. ana
then to have presented to the state Department
q case for redress and damages for detention. is
characteristic Of Secretary OF State whose IN
competence and want of American feeling nave
been disclosed in every important diplomatic
affair during his administration He Will re-
verse his Judgment as soon rs he has leisure 10
examine the rccorls OF the department. ana ne
will file in due time with the Spanish Minister
a protest which will bring the customary apollo
gies from Madrid and Havana. His premature
discussion of the affair is only Significant as Il
proof of lack of American instinct lha' Is Il
very serious matter, for the primary quahhca-
ton Of a Secretary Of State is American fccllils'
Secretary Evarts following Fish, Marcy,
Webster and other illustrious predecessors, has
summed up this matter i'll a mastery way In
protesting against outrages analogous To the
Alliance affair he has said: This Government
never has recognized. and never Will recognize
"any pretenoe or exercise Of sovereignty on the
part Of Spain beyond the belt Of a lcagn" from
the Cuban coast over the commerce OF ms
Country in time Of peace This rule Of the law
"of nations we consider too firmly established
ito be drawn into debate. and any dominion
cover the sea outside of this limit will be re
SISTED with the same firmncSs as II such do
"minion were asserted in midocean.' III needs
no argument" he has added, 'to show that the
exercise Of any such asserted right upon com
"mercial vessels, on the high seas. in time of
peace is inconsistent with the maintenance or
"even the most ordinary scmblance OF friendly
relations between the nation which thus con
ducts itself and those whose merchant vessels
"are exposed TO systematic detention and search
'by armed forces" Secretary Evarts had not
only mastered the principles OF international
law. but he was also an American in every in
stinct.
The Spanish gunboat had no right to fire upon
an American merchantmen on the high seas
The outrage would not have been more Migrant
If it had entered the harbor Of New-iork ana
bombarded the City Hall. The flag on the
high seas carries the sovereignty OF the nation
with It. Every vessel over which 1t floats Is
exempted from the indignities Of detention ana
search and from the risks OF gunfre and the
outrage Of sudden and unprovoked attack
These principles are recognized by all civilized
nations. and have been repeatedly defined with
positiyeness and emphasis in the correspondence
Of the State Department with the Spanish Gov
eminent There Is not Spanish naval or Gus
toms official in Cuban waters who IL Ignorant
either Of the law OF the case or OF the attitude
Of the United States Government In the past
toward these outragcs. In these circumstances
the repetition Of these hghhandcd acts when
ever there are revolutionary outbreaks In Cuba
IS an intolerable menace to the honor OF the
Nation That Is what Secretary Gresham ought
TO say 10 the Madrid Government as soon as he
has pulled himself together and found out what
his predecessors have said in analogous cases.
Several American cruisers ought TO be sent
10 Cuban waters without delay. With vessel
Of-war at each Of the ports OF Guantanamo,
Santiago Cienfegos and Havana. the security
Of merchantmen flying the American nag Will
be promoted The revolutionary movement Is
evidently more serious than the earliest dis
patches indicated. Otherwise the large rein
forccmcnts OF troops about 10 be sent out from
Spain would have been kept At home. The
commercial! relations Of the island with the
United States are close that American IN
tcrcsts need 10 be protected in the present cmcr-
gcncy by strong fleet. Behind that fleet there
should be the moral force Of enlightened and
patriotic diplomacy in Washington.