The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-26
QUESTION OF INDEMNITY.
Precedents That May Be Followed II
Snnin Is Held Responsible.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Pending the re-
port of the naval court that is investigating
the loss of the battle ship Maine, and to
prepare for the reception of a report that
would show the disaster to be other than
the result of accident, there is rea-
son to believe that some of the officials OF
the admins tratioa have been looking up the
subject of indemnities, so as to lay the
foundation of a case in the event 1t should
be decided to resort to that method of set
tlement. There are large number of pre-
cedents which will aid the authorities in
shaping their action in this direction when
the facts are fully established. While none
of the cases show as fearful loss of life
as that caused by the Maine explosion, yet
they include many instances in which the
United States has adopted energetic meas
ures to redress the killing of American
citizens in foreign countries In general
way these methods of redress have included
demands for indemnity, proclamations ex-
cluding the war ships of the offending ma
ton from our harbors display of force,
nonintercourse, withdrawal of her minister,
reprisal and blockade. Some of these steps
border very closely on war, although they
are regarded as the movements just pre-
liminary to actual hostiities. and as
amounting to a threat that force will fol-
low If reparation is not made.
The case of the Water Witch is considered
to be the most analogous to that of the
Maine should it be established that the
Maine disaster was not the result of acci-
dent The Water Witch was a United
States ship engaged, in 1855. in surveying
the entrance to one of the rivers of Para
quay. Without warning and by orders of
President Lopez, of Paraguay, a force of
troops opened fire on the Water Witch,
killing the man at the helm and wounding
others. Intense feeling was aroused in
the United States when the facts became
known. The President reported the facts
to Congress, and in his message asked au-
thority to make demonstration of force
which would insure suitable redress. In
response to this Congress authorized him to
use such force as is necessary to secure
ample reparation. Accordingly, an armed
fleet was hastily assembled on a scale which
was regarded as remarkable for those days
The expedition included nineteen armed
ships, twenty-five heavy guns and $500
sailors and marines. Accompanying this
formidable outfit were civilian plenipoten-
tiaries prepared to make the demands of
this government and then enforce them by
calling on the armed ships
PROMPT PREPARATION.
The expedition made formidable show
ing in South American waters and Presi-
dent Lopez was awed into ample subjec-
tion by its presence. The American COM
missioners and naval officers were received
ut Ascencion with much honor and every
reparation within the power of the repub-
lie was given. This included an abiect
sweeping apology and $4,000 for the suffer-
ers from the outrage. AS the republic was
willing to grant full reparation, the naval
expedition did not exert the force il was
prepared to use in case a refusal had been
offered. When the facts of the expedition
were reported to the American Congress
the President stated that the dispatch of
this formal naval fleet had had a saIutary
influence throughout the world. and had
convinced foreign nations that the United
States would protect the lives of it's citi-
zents with ali the force at it's command
The case of the firing on the United
States ship Chesapeake by the British shin
Leopard is another case affording a prece-
dent as to the governments mode of action
The Chesapeake was proceeding to sea
when she was hailed by the commander Of
the Leopard with demand that British
deserters said to be in the hold of the
Chesapeake be surrendered The American
commander refused to comply, whereupon
the Leopard first fired Il shot across the
bow of the Chesapeake and followed this
with two broadsides. The American COM
mander was severely wounded, three sail
ors We're killed outright and many were
wounded. Being unprepared for action. il
being a time of peace the American com
mander hauled down his colors and sur
rendered. Tremendous excitement prevailed
in the United States over the outrage
President Madison speedily issued a procla-
nation excluding from American ports all
British war ships. lie also caused energetic
protests and Demands to be presented at
London. The British authorities promptly
disavowed the action, recalled the admiral
under whom the outrage had been per-
petTated and without request rendered in
demnity sufficient 10 support the wives ana
families of all those who had been killed
and wounded
In later case the American ship
Prometheus was fired on in the harbor OF
Greytown The ship had declined TO pay
excessive port charges imposed by the King
OF the Mosquito country, then controlling
the country under a British protectorate.
Continued on Fifth Pnge1