The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-07-05
AS TO PRIVATEERING
A Peculiar Mode of Warfare Equal
TO Piracy.
II Is Carried On by ships Manned by
N~m WHO belong to the Bra
tai and Lawiess Eie-
menf-

The report current that number of
Spaniards are anxious to engage in pr
watering against the United States
makes that peculiar mode of warfare
d matter of interest to many people
BY most Of the civilized nations Of the
world privateering has been declared
equal to piracy. II is absolutely pro-
bibited in Europe by countries that are
carrying on war against each other
This, however, is not part of the gen
eraI code Of international law, but the
result of a special agreement reached
by the powers at a conference held in
Pas at the close of the Crimean war
in 1856.
Simple and unequiyocal terms express
the new rule then adopted. -Privateer-
ing Is and remains abolished" il said
and, while it was binding only upon
those who accepted it, and only in their
dealings with each other, it soon came
to be accepted by all the civilized ma
tions, and they al now come under its
provision
Great Britain, France, Russia, Prus-
STA, Austria. Sardinia and Turkey were
the original parties to the agreement of
1856, but at present about 40 powers
are included. The United States, Spain
and Mexico were the only important ex-
cePtions at the present writing until
Uncle Sam disavcwed all intention OF
privateering in the present war
When the Establishment of this lar
barrie relic Of medieval times wss dis
cusssd the United Gates was invited
to join, but decline. Mr. Marcy was
( then secretary OF state, and he took 1hs
+ ground that this country had not as
/ large a naval force as the powers who
: formulated and adopted the rule, hencs
il was decidedly favorable to them, bu
! exceedingly unfavorabIe to these whs
had small naval forces and few ships
But there came time when th'
] United States would have been glad t.
see the law work in its favor That wa
during the civil war. Mr. Sewar,
thought it wise to reopen negotiation
for the purpose Of putting the ccnfed
crate priFateers under the ban by &C
ceding to the agreement
The powers, however, declared tina
such an Interpretation was retrospect
i've, and they would not permit it S
the matter was again dropped, and moth
ing has been done since to do away wit
the rather isolated custom With III
exception of the present war the Unite
States stands in line with Mexico an
Spain, and at variance with the rest G
the family of the great nations o
earth.
While an adherence TO this barbarou
principle is characteristic of Spain an
: her dominions, it Is decidedly agains
. the humane and liberal policy sui
, scribed to by the United States.
Although privateer obtains a ee-
: tain commission from his goyernmen
called a letter of marque. his prime oil
: ject is understanding more than
5 war of plunder-waged against the il
, recent commerce of warning nation
: In this respect it is equivalent to Pirac.
? Privateering cannot be carried Q
: without methods that are dangerous
: piratical. The prize money. under II
: sanction of the law, is aPportious
!. dA1OuE AAc CNcN eLNcI tAc uAI1LcE
buccaneers who parcel out their boot,
/. Moreover, privateering crews are cor
e monty made up OF men who belong
v the brutal and lawless element of
E community or country. They are nj
under the command of military Office
T who are responsible to the governmel
Z for their actions, and discipline, tn
Q ought to be of the most rigid kind {
i board a privateering vessel, is apt to
extremely lax
: While priyateers are not entitled
/ the full rights which the comfy of n
= tions extends to public ships of va
: they usually take more than they a
e entitled TO. and some of the mo
bloody battles were fought on vesss
S thus commissioned against innoce
PARTIES
The act Of congress OF June 50. Isl
e sets forth that all public ships with
g signaling distance are entitled to sha
r in the proceeds of the capture of pr
vessel. and it can be easily seen til
P. this construction. where it interior
% with the love of plumber by the priv
4 teer, can lead 10 desperate actions
!, the part of Inscriptions owners
n these vessels.-St. Louis Republic