The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-03-04
cITINa PREcEpENTs.

The blowing up of the Maine has
called forth c0nsidesat{e discussion as
to precedents and ghst the govern
ment should do in the case II the court
Of inquiry finds that the battieship
was destroyed By the Spanish.
It VIII be remembered that in the
opening years Of this century that
difficulty arose with the Barbary states
On account Of piratical practices. Yes
sells belonging to our navy we're cap
tured and destroyed and the sailors
sold into slavery. In about 1901 Com
mOdOre PrebIe and Decatur we're sent
to the Mediterranean with q feet and
they anchored of Tangier and bonn
barded them into submission.
The war Of 1912 vas caused by the
British searching American vessels
and impressing American sesmen.
That var lasted q little over two years
and vas decided mostly By naval en-
gagements. the United States coming
out Of it with eOlors flying.
In 1915 seven Americans we're killed
and about sixty wounded while they
were being detained In 6 British prison
at Dartmour The United Stated de-
handed an explanation and suitable
reparation, and the British govern
menent complied by an indemnity for
the supprt Of the families Of the killed
and wounded.
Under Madison's administration be-
fore the breaking out Of the war Of 1872
the Bri fish ship Leopard fired into the
American ship Chesapeake woundinR
the commander, killing three sailors
and wOunding many more. In retail
stion, the president issued a proclama-
ton excluding. British warships from
American ports. The British govern
ment promptly disavowed the act and
volunteered to pay-s suitable indemn-
ity for the support Of the families Of
the killed and wounded.
In a later case the American ship,
Prometheus, was fred upon in the
harbor Of Greytown. The ship had
declined to pay excessive port charges
imposed by the king Of the Mosquito
! country then Controlling that country
under a British prOtectorate. The
king called on the Warship Express to
sustain his demands and she promptly
sent a broadside into the Prometheus.
/ There we're no persons killed, but the
I United States made a prompt demand
/ for reparatiOn. The British govern
ment gave this in the fullest manner
and without question, disaVowing the
act and condemning the officer Of the
Express.
Display Of force was resorted to by
the United States in 1852 against Japan.
A naval expedition was sent to Japan
csc waters. American sailors had been
roughly handled in japanese ports and
the native courts failed to give ada
quate redress. The demonstration
had the effect Of securing the fullest
apology and also an agreement by
which every protection was guaranteed
American citizens and property in
japan.
In 1855, the United States ship, Wa
terwitch, was engaged in surveying the
entrance Of one Of the rivers Of Para
qua. Without warning and by orders
Of President Lopez, Of Paraguay, q
force Of troops opened fire on the
Waterwi5ch, killing the man at the
helm and Wounding others. President
Pierce reported the matter to con-
gress and in his message asked author
ity to make a demonstration which
would insure suitable redress. He wss
promptly authorized to use such force
as was necessary to secure ample rep
aration. Accordingly an armed feet
was hastily assembled on a scale which
was considered remarkable for those
days. The expedition included 10 arm
ed ships, . heavy guns and $500 sail
ors and marines. Accompanying this
formidable naval array we're civilian
plenipOtentiaries authorized to make
the demands Of the government and
then enforce them by calling on the
armed ships.
The expedition made q formidable
showing in South American waters
and President LOpez's government was
awed into complete subsection by its
presence. The American commission
ers and naval officers we're received at
AsUnciOn with much honor and every
reparatiOn within the power Of the re-
public was given. This included abiect
apology, q sweeping disavowal, and So
600 for the sufferers from the outrage.
In 1853 a display Of force was made
against Java. The secretary Of the
navy under President Buchanan, Isaac
TOucey, sent large naval force to the
waters Of Java to demand that the ma
tive trial courts should give the full
est protection to Americans. The ex-
petition was successful in its purposes
and the assurance desired was given.
/. In 1889 President Buchanan adopted
3 policy Of reprisal against Mexico. Il
is a measure just short Of war. Mex
leo was charged with consenting to, or
at least winking at. spoliation along