Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-16
THE PRIZE SYSTEM.

|
between this country and Spain has
| created a growing sentiment against the
prize system by which the officers and
men of our navy have been allowed 10
| enrich themselves at the expense OF pri-
vate citizens. whose goods were under
the feeble protection of the Spanish flag.
Indeed the first stages OF our unequal
contest with the Dons opened the eyes Of
many who were shocked to note the
manner in which her merchant vessels
were captured and condemned. The whole
procedure savored Of selfishness and
patriotism, but Of injustice and avarice.
War had hardly been declared before
our ships secured the southern seas In
search OF their defenceless prey and
seized vessels and cargoes whose masters
were actually ignorant of the tendency
of bostilities. There was something UNI
speakaby unjust about it. for though
war at best must be cruel, 1t generally
has at least an actuating motive which
looks beyond mere earthly wealth. Had
the owners of the captured property been
actually responsible for the hostilities,
or had they even been transporting con-
traband goods, there would have been
some excuse for the zeal with which our
seamen sought their quarry, but subse-
quent developments showed that in most
cases they were absolutely innocent of
any connection with the great struggle.
And even granting that the captured
vessels were ministerng to our alien enc
mics and were supplying them with
arms and provisions wherewith to pro-
long their warfare, 1t certainly seems
inequitabe that the crews of their cap
tors should have been so largely reward
ed, while our soldiers got nothing but a
mere pittance for their noble services.
No one comedies that the seaman is the
superior of the soldier, but our recent
war made some prodigious distinctions.
When Shafter and his army took posses
sion of Santiago. they did not fall upon
the inhabitants of that section and
divest them of their property, nor did
they even hope TO receive a sanction for
such martial larceny from legally con-
stituted tribunals.
Their victory brought them no tangible |
rewards, nor could it's benefits be calcu-
lated at so many dollars per capita, as
was the case with our naval exploits. |
The mere suggestion of such a thing |
would have been repugnant to the civil |
lied instincts of our soldiery, but some of |
our 70 hox
entertained radically different views about |
their achievements.
At least, If the tenets of modern war
fare necessitate such procedure and de- |
1nand the confiscation Of all PROPERTY |
which falls by the irresistible force of |
ual servitors, should profit thereby
The press of the country is outspoken |
against the barbarity of the prize system. |
and calls upon Congress TO repeal the |
statute upon which it is based. The New |
York Chamber Of Commerce is seeking |
to secure an international conference
looking to an agreement whereby private
property on the sea may be made free
from capture during war.
Professor Woolsey, en- eminent writer
and lecturer on the subject of interna-
tlonal law, says the only specious pre-
texts for marine capture are these two
that the enemys commerce furnishes nim
with the means of war and that the cap
tured vessels are pledges for the repara-
ton of injuries. The former pretext will
amount to nothing if hostile trade can
be conducted in such way as to exempt
It from capture. The other would require
that ships and goods captured be re-
sarded, until peace settles all questions
between nations, as simply detained to be
restored or have an equivalent paid for
them, If necessary.
Whether such an agreement between
Ill Christian nations will ever be reached
5 a matter of doubt, but the United
States can well afford to make conces-
;ions along this line, and the national
conscience will at least be satisfied by
such generous step.