Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-23
Country and the Flag Were Before
Party Politics.
BE Case OF MARTIN KOSZTA
Action Then Contrasted With Mr..
CIeveIand's Policy.
| NAVAL OFFICERS GRIT

to ascribe all adverse criticism of that
policy to political aims and prejudices.
They conceive it to be part Of the play
to restore the republican party to power.
and they therefore denounce such criticism
cs un-American and wanting in dignity and
patriotism. This is the principal note heard
at this time. when the acute stage Of the
Cuban matter, the unsettled state of the
VeneZu matter, and the approaching
revival Of the Hawaiian matter, all lend in
terest to the Presidents Forthcoming mes
sage.
All for Politics.
1t is, upon the whole, regarded as a very
strange note for the Presidents supporters
to be sounding. They seem ignorant Of the
fact that 1t is upon that very ground that
Mr.. Cleveland has been condemned. The
belief is, indeed, that it was politics. and
but very little else. that controlled him
in the one gigantic blunder which has cast
a shadow over his whole course in foreign
affairs. What would his course have been
If Benjamin Harrison and John w. Foster
had passed the Hawaiian complication
along to him without action? There is a
sort of friendship to him in the feeling
that his course would have been very diff
ferent from what 1t was. But those men
acted promptly, and left the American flag
flying where it had been raised. Mr.. Cleve-
land had it hauled down. and nine men
out of ten hold that he was Influenced in
that action largely, if not solely, because
OF desire to undo the work of his repub-
lican predecessor.
1t is noted to Mr.. Cleveland's disadvant-
age that such was not the old way in such
matters. Earlier occurrences show that
earlier American diplomacy was conducted
upon a different plan. The rule then was
to separate local politics from foreign
affairs, and for one party rs another TO
stand up, even at some disadvantage
abroad, to whatever had been done official
ly in the name of the whole country.
very striking instance of this IS quoted
from the record of the administration of
Franklin Pierce, when the spirit of a con-
tention which in its larger phase had been
raised by President Taylor was maintained
with emphasis and success by Gen. Pierce.
thus insuring a continuity of American pur-
pose and policy. President Taylor was a
wEig. President Pierce was a democrat.
But both had been soldiers. AMI when it
came to the flag and its full Significance no
difference -whateyer could be traced be-
tween the attitudes they assumed.
The Star last MONDAY recited the interest
manifested by President Taylor,and indors-
ed by President Fillmore in the struggle of
the Hungarians for freedom. The case row
in point was an animated variation on that
patriotic theme.
The Case of Kosztn.
Among the Hungarians banished with
Kossuth for defying Austria was a man
named Martin Koszta. who came to the
United States, and soon after declared his
intention of becoming an American citizen.
But before he had in fact become citizen
private business called him abroad, and
July. 1853, found him at Smyrna, in Turk
ish territory. While there he was recog-
niZed by the Austrian consul, was seized
by some toughs employed for the work by
this consul, and hurried aboard an Austrian
warship lying at anchor in the roads, and
there ironed. KosZ.a appealed % the
a
took up his case. The Austrian consul
held that Koszta was still subject of that
kingdom; that he had violated his promise
in returning from the United States, made,
1t was claimed, at the time of his expul-
sion from Austria, and that Austria's juris-
diction over him was complete. KosZta
not only insisted on his right to American
protection, but pointed out that he was not
while in Smyrna on Austrian soil, and that
moreover. he had not come from the United
States any political revolutionary
errand.
A Naval Officers Duty.
The American sloop-of-war St. Louis came
into the roads at Smyrna while the case
was up. Capt Ingraham, a South Caro-
linan Of courage and address, was in COM
mand, and the American consul invited
him in to the management of KosZta's case
Capt. Ingraham not only responded, but
espoused KoSztas cause with enthusiasm
and in company with the American consul
went aboard the Austrian vessel and joined
in the demand that Koszta be turned over
to the protection of the French consul at
Smyrna pending report home and thor
oush examination of the whole question.
But the Austrian commander and the Aus
tran consul held back, and after Capt In
graham had returned to his ship he got an
intima ton that koszta was to be smuggled
off that night into Austrian territory.
Capt. InErahnm's Grit.
The American commander met the emer-
,gency instantly and like man. He sent
word to the Austrian commander that
Koszta must be delivered on shore to the
French consul by o'clock. or he Qngra-
ham) would lay his ship alongside and take
him by force. Four o'clock came with no
response, when Capt Ingraham, true to his
word, drew up to the Austrian with his
guns Shotted and his decks cleared for ac-
ton, and Koszta was unironed and sent
ashore. The st. Louis was not at all formid-
able in herself. She probably would not
have lived an hour before the guns of the
other fellow. But the quiet but unmistak-
able air Of business about the transaction,
the American flag at the masthead and the
grit of the American sailor. who was sand
to the center, carried the day.
' His Action Sustained.
There was. Of course, great outcry by
Austria The same Mr.. Hulsenann, who had
appeared for Austria in the Dudley Mann
affair, appeared for her also in this affair,
and, characterizing Captain Ingraham's
action as tantamount to declaration of
war and an outrage. demanded that it be
disavowed by this government. William L.
Marcy the Secretary of State, replied in
long note-a model Of its kind-going over
the whole case, supporting kosZta upon his
bare declaration of an intention to become
an American citizen, and commencing
rather than disavowing the course of Cap
tain Ingraham. Even Congress took hand,
for it approved Of the conduct of the Ameri-
can commander by formal resolution and
presented a medal to him. In addition to
this. he was made chief of the bureau of
ordnance and hydrography of the Navy De-
Dartment, and enjoyed distinguished atten-
tion as long as he remained in the service
Times Have Changed.
Now all OF this was in the old times W len
men both af1oat and ashore stood up for
the country and worked together 70. its
glory AM; advancement. What would have
been Capt. Ingrahams fate had the condi-
tfons prevailing today have prevailed then?
Consider the case of Admiral Walker and
the snub he received after his visit to Hon.
elulu; the case of Admiral Meade, who