The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-30

Of the mines Of South America. some-
times fell q rich prey to daring men.
not always sworn enemies of Spain. and
again went with all their rich cargoes
to Davy Jones locker, where IL tradi-
tion is to be believed. many lie un-
eclaimed to this day. What tcmpta-
tion there Is now for men to risk their
chips and their lives in guerrilla war
Care on the ocean Is a moot question
and must remain so until fleet Of
prizes has been taken and sized up az to
value. One thing Is sure-privateering
has been out OF fashion for third OF
a century. abolished by consensus OF
opinion among the nations. Probably II
would have died out anyway for lack
OF Incentive, since modern commercial
methods have brought about safer
modes Of transporting great treasures.
and the growth of great navies and
commercial fleets cruising the uttermost
parts of the sea have given nations
common purpose in establishing safety
~ the suppression of the reign OF force.
The prevailing international code
with respect to privateering has been In
vogue since 1t was established at con-
gress OF nations called to conclude the
Crimean war at Paris I'm 1856. The par
ties 20 that agreement were Great Brit
ain, France, Prussia. Russia, Sardinia
and Turkey. Four articles Of the treaty
relate to questions involved in priva-
teering. These are the terms:
!. Privateering is and remains abolished.
.. Neutral flag covers enemys goods,
with the exception OF contraband Of war
contraband q ' war. are re- not lot, liable to cap
.ure under the enemy's nag.
I. Bockades In order to be binding must
Ao fr 20 <faiv, nod l.xt
a force suficient really to prevent access
70 the coast OF the enemy.
States not represented In the con-
gress at Paris. among them the United
States, were invited 10 accede to this
,ode. The United States declined and
defended privateering. Goods contra
band of war; are goods which by conn
mon consent are held to be cids to bel
igerency.
The fourth article is commonly said
to abolish paper blockades." such rs
Napoleon attempted to establish in
1906 when he decreed that any vessels
belonging to neutrals trading with Brit
ish ports were liable to seizure by
French cruisers on the high seas. The
Southern confederacy long held that
the United States blockade was a paper
one only. because II did not effectually
close southern ports.
In the case OF the south during the
first year OF the civil war Il to be found
the last spasm Of genuine privateering
since the treaty OF Paris. In the wars
OF the Revolution and also In 1912 the
United States had engaged quite ex-
tensively in this mode OF naval warfare
and with good results. Naturally the
south, being in like desperate straits as
10 naval armament caught at IT, The
phase was Of short duration, but lasted
long enough to send through the world
n thrill OF expectancy. Visions of the
BLACK flag" Of walking the plank"
and OF "the lurid glare by night OF burn
ing prizes stirred the blood OF imag-
NATIVE youth, who rejoiced that the
lays OF buccaneers and pirates had
come again to bring flood OF novels In
the wornout vein Of Captain Marryat
and Mayne, Reid. While the news of
Sumter and Lincoln's call for volunteers
was ringing through the streets OF the
northern seacoast cities there was n
still more startling CRY heard on the lips
OF the newsboys. shouting; "Ho. the
extra, JEFF Davis proclamation to is-
sue letters OF marouei" Only the initi-
ated knew exactly what the term let
ters OF marcue" really meant, but in
that hour whatever seemed menacing
was looked upon ss piratical.
The following actual letter or marouc.
being No. from the pen Of the Confed-
srate president and the type OF hum