The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-19

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS,
United States Minister to Great Britain.
~tingency which involved n collision with Great
Britain If II could possibly be avoided. And
the more the affair was studied md discussed
the more obvious became tho true and neces-
eary course to BIO pursued " our Government,
and the stronger the conviction that we would
safely:emcrge from the difficulty not only with
honor but with tclat before the world by de-
privinE England Of one OF her cherished bellig-
erent rights on the high seas. Looking back
now. after reading the record. the only sur.
prise Is that there could have beeu any differ.
ence OF opinion at all as to the duty resting
upon Mr.. Itncoln's Administration
When Wilkes seized Mason and Slidell
from Off a neutral vessel, sailing out OF one
neutral port bound to another, he was unwit-
tinRiy acting exactly III conformity with the
view Of In ternationa law in relation to belllg-
erents and %neutrals on the high seas declared
and p~ractised by England for 200 years-the
right OF search and seizure; a right always op.
posed by the United states and the European
powers. and reluctantly yielded only to over
whelminR force. This country, in 1912. even
In its t%otter,ng infancy, actually went to war
with England rather than concede the right
which Wilkes asserted when he boarded the
Trent with an armed forco. Tie boarding of
tiAS Lhi slVhii@ III iitu
trail waters was n complete qualification Of
sound American doctrine, and getting square.
ly upon tho English version of the rights OF
belligerents on the sea.
And when England. suddenly nauseated with
a dose of her own medicine, without advise
ment demanded tho immediate restoration Of
Mason and Slidcll to British custody, and rep
aration in the way of an apology with war as
an alternative, she had abandoned English
ground and was constituting the rights OF neu-
trails In accordance with the American conten-
ton at tho beginning OF the century for the
largest liberty to neutral ships on the ocean.
and utterly denying tie right of search. In
asserting that Wilkes had transcribed inter-
national law, that Great Britain had been af-
fronted, and demanding satisfaction. Earl Rus
sell. TO the astonishment of the European
world, had made England the champion Of
~neutrals on the high sens against herself.
This coniun"ture was more than singular: it
was absolutely grotcsluc. The Continental
powers fully appreciated the extraordinary
contretemps into which the London Cabinet
had fallen through It's prccipitatr and Ill adj
vised demands urou the Washington Govern
mcnt. They all FASTENED to place the United
states IN the wrong. ana automatically to
umusc Earl Russell with their moral sup
port and pretentious encouragement to press
tho British claims. ANA while privately pro
testing friendship to us ut the same time siren
uonsly urged Mr.. Seward to yield. Earl Rus
sel officially stated that her MajcSty's Gov
ernmcnt have every reason to he satisfied with
the opinions an acts Of the European powsrs
in regard to the matter OF tho Trent" The
clear headed Lord Lyons mentions approvingiy
in IL lettor to Russell the great alacrity and
good will and excellent Judgment" displayed
by NJ. MERCER, the French Minister in Wash.
inEion' IN givi9g the mora! SUPPORT of France"
ment Yield under such singular circumstances
England could never again practice the danger
rus and obnoxious privileges on the seas so long
would have compelled II lust precedent which
must ever stand AS international law to estop
the tyrannies Of her meu'of wars men,:
No doubt AT this time Napoleon H., from
sinister motives aftorward developed In the
Invasion OF Mexico desired to see the Un!tgd
same time the people OF France bad no love
Wilkes's act as n clear breach Of international
law az eIponndel In Me past by the Amsri,
in urging the Washington government to NO
code TO Earl Rinsseil'a demands, tho French
ing future effects ~ our compliance and Of hui
initiating England than of any immediate in
tIinsi, Justice Evolved in making rep3Ta.ion to
be Impossible for our authorities to approve, o.
ciplos, upon which France and the United
states had always Heretofore agreed, leaves
terc.t. But the French FOREIGN Minister. VI,
ThouvGnel, intormed Mr., DAYTON; our Minis;
ter to i'% nds, tnH' I H. G"is G IN wa" Hrr france 9T wET,5
nor moral oHini,oiq must DO Ith EpglSnd'
And tho Fr rene attitude was thu, Of the rest
Ministers abroad at this time makes It certain
that tho Continental covers held but one view
verse to the intel States. not b"csuso they
were any great ,ticHlors for ,prinetples in inter,
T T"taH.sS they hatri and feared FINLAND more.
They made no secret Of the real reasons for