Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-21
BLOCKADE OF CRETE.
Ut Is IN VIOLATION or THE LAW
OF NATIONS.
MAT SHALL We Do ABOUT IT?
Why should We Not Decline to
Recognize lts-A Dcath-BIow to
Turf-Betting I'm EngIand-Hus-
band-PotsoninE.

fuse 10 recognize the blockade OF Crete?
The terms OF the Official notice OF the
blockade. which was issued by the
British Government in London to-day.
are in direct violation OF the law Of ma
tons. The notice directs:
Tho ships Of the six neutral Powers
may enter into the ports occupied by the
Powers and land their merchandise: but
only II It Is not for the Greek troops on
the island. These ships may be visited
by other ships Of the international
fleets"
II any ship or officer OF the blockading
feet undertakes 10 enforce these 1egula-
tons against a vessel carrying the Amer
lean flag. II viii be an act Of war against
the United States There can be .ittle
doubt about the correctness Of this view.
Sir Walter Fillmore. who is strong
authority upon international law, thus
puts the case Of the rights, even Of
British citizens: zone should know
whether the government has consulted
its legal advisers as to certain eventu-
anties, which are not unlikely to follow
upon this so-called blockade Of Crete.
Supposing that a British ship. seeing
chance Of doing a good trade in provi-
sions sails for a port I'm Crete. She will
be perfectly in her legal rights. and it
viii be Illegal TO stop her. We are not
at war with Greece or Crete so 1t will
not DO a case Of trading with an enem.',
and nothing short Of an act of Parlia-
ment can take away the right of any
British subject TO 80 to or trade with
Crete. Suppose this ship was stopped
and turned back. There VIII be an ir-
resistble claim for damages, at the suit
OF the sufferers. against the captain OF
the British man-Of-war Suppose the
frigate sinks her The damages will be
greater Suppose one OF her crew is
drowned. ] see no defence TO an indict-
ment for murder"
The rights of an American vessel
would, Of course. be stronger. Score
tary Sherman will receive to-day from
Mr.. Pauncefote. or through the Ameri
can embassy here, a formal notice Of
the blockade from Lord Salisbury.
Every American in London is anxious
to know what his answer will be. 1t
Is not only "a splendid opportunity to
make use Of the tremendous influence
which a declaration Of the American
view of the eastern policy Of the great
Powers would carry, but it is Of genu-
ne practical Importance as well. 1t is
The avOwed purpose Of tie six Powers
10 starve out the Greek troops In Crete.
No account IS made Of the incidental
starvation Of the native population. There
rs food enough now in the interior
Of the island to last several weeks II
Is entirely within the rights of the peo-
pie Of New York. for instance 10 send
a cargo Of supplies TO the beleagured
inhabitants Is the administration at
Washington ready TO enforce that HghtY
BLOW TO TURF BETTING.
A subject which has disturbed a large
sass Of Englishmen this week much
moro than the crisis In the East is
iecision Of the fun court Of the Queens
Bench. TO the effect that a betting-ring
Al a race-track is "a place" within the
meaning of the anti-gambling law Of
So This is really a serious matter,
compared with which such trfes as the
blockade Of Crete, or the impending war
between Greece and Turkey, are not to
be considered Nearly all the news
papers of England condemn the mon
Ftrous decision of the appeal court or,
rather the law under which IL is made.
Il means a death blow to turf-betting IN
England. and az this is one of the most
sacred institutions Of this country the
great popular uprising Of the past few
days ia by no means surprising.
il must be admitted that the court had
no choice in the matter. It's decision was
pronounced by Sir Henry Hawkins, who
is one of the leading spirits Of the Jockey
club and who is often described as the
"snorting Judge" II would have been
absurd as he himself reluctantly de-
clared from the bench. TO rule that bet
ting enclosure at race-track was not
Co inc q L
most as one voice in the matter Inc
PaU-Mau Gazette, I'm a patriotic soul
stirring leader on the subject, points out
the dreadful consequences OF the courts
action 1.-THE bookmakers and their
clients" IL says. "are TO be deprived OF
the guarantee implied by deposits and
acknowledgements and are to be reduced TO
betting on the nod, with all its temptation
10 population and evasion of settlement.
II is the old story Of legislation attempt
ing ana signally failing, 10 regulate mo-
raitv The law, as declared by the de-
cision. IS dowr right nonsense. 1t must
OF course. be amended
There is no doubt about the public re-
Spouse TO this appeal England may be
indifferent 10 the slaughter Of few thou
sand Armenians, or 10 the Smelling OF
Christians by British ships, but a
grievance such as this last must and viii
test Is so great that il has frightened the
Auu-Gambling League. which was the
plaintiff i'm the case which caused the de-
cision. Its secretary has FASTENED 10
avert the threatened doom Of himself
and his associates by writing to the PAIL
Mall Gazette that the editor sis quite
mistaken in suppOsing that any legal or
legislative aim Of ours has ever been 10
sweep away betting altogether All we
ever dreamed Of attempting was the sup
preston Of betting as a trade. 10 when
nine tonths az the evils Of betting are
traceable" There is little doubt that some
amendment Of the act of 1853, which VIII
enable Euglishmen once more 20 bet on
The Derby without running the risk OF the
losers regulating his losses viii be
speedily introduced in Parliament Per
hape II will be allowed to pass by unan-
nous consent.
SOME MEAN MEN.
Some very mean men have got TO Work
n connection with Queen Victoria Ioi'h-
coming so-called diamond jubilee, ana
hey are having a very good time, desplte
he denuncatiOns Of people VINO thihh
hey have Il monopoly Of all the virtues
The sinners on this occasion are the own
irs Of house property IA the poorer quar-
.ers along the route of the Royal process
zion on June 22d This class of property IS
invariably let on weekly or monthly ten
Incios. but the common people oblvlous
n their frau tenure, have been letting
heir windows at prices which IN every
Ease would more than pay the rent tor
Whole year. This has exceedingly BfleNeu
he owners, who. fearing the poor tenants
Fll De permanently harmen by such
I'D .nrNa ne al