The San Francisco call., 1898-04-21
PART II.

all correspondence from or to the is- land. In October, 1852. the United States steamship Crescent City, from New York to New Orleans, touched at Havana. The captain general had be- come incensed at certain paragraphs that had appeared in the New York papers relative to Cuban affairs, which were charged to have been furnished by William Smith, the purser of the Crescent City. Notice was sent to Lieutenant Porter, the commander of the vessel, that the nurser must not attempt to land at Havana. Porter replied that he knew of nothing that would render Smiths presence on shore necessary, but that if he had duties which would call him into the city he would leave to the authorities the re- sponsibility of preventing his landing. The purSer did not go ashore and the steamer proceeded to New Orleans. on her return trip the vessel again touched at Havana and letters were sent on board and also on board the steamer Black Warrior, warning the officers that Smith could not land. Spanish po- lice officers were also sent on board the Crescent City, evidently to watch Smiths movements and to prevent ms landing. Lieutenant Porter at once 1n- formed those parties that if they were on board to arrest any one anSWerable to the Spanish authorities, or to pre- vent the embarkation of any person belonging to Havana, the ship was open to them, but if they were there to watch the officers of the ship 1t could not be permitted and they must go ashore. They accordingly left.
 Anticipating further trouble the lieu tenant addressed a letter to the author ities warning them against offering any indignity to the American flag. The vessel left the port without further molestation. The next time when the Crescent City visited Havana with the mails, on her way to New Orleans, she entered the harbor without molesta- tion. At sunrise the Captain of the Port came alongside and asked whether Smith was still on board, and being answered in the affirmative, an order was immediately given that the steam CT should have no communication what ever with the shore A cordOn of boats was stationed to watch the steamer and enforce the execution of the order. Lieutenant Porter requested permission to communicate with the American Consul, in order to present to the cap tain-general through him a protest against the treatment to which the steamer was subjected. After a barley on shore this request was denied for some time, but finally, after an lnef- fectual effort to ascertain the contents of the protest-Porter refusing to con- municate further on the subject eX- cept through the Consul, the latter off, cer was permitted to come alongside In a Government boat, in company with the Captain of the Port, to whom the protest was delivered, The American Consul, however, was not permitted to go on board the steamer, nor to write home by her. On his assurance that nothing could be done to change the position of affairs, the Crescent City proceeded to sea with the American flag flying at her masthead. This incl dent produced, In connection with other acts that were regarded as insulting to the United States Government, a deep feeling of resentment, and for a time it seemed as if serious trouble would result. In commenting on the matter the San Francisco Alta said:
 There are indications of hostilities to come between the United States and Spain. Since the famous filibustering expeditions to Cuba the Spanish au- thCrities, both in Cuba and elsewhere have manifested a disposition to take
 
 of our Government, and have done things which they would never have dared to think of doing had not the United States Government disclaimed the action of the filibusters. The Span iardS seem to mistake justice for weak ness on our part, and upon this false hypothesis have made demonstrations against our vessels and people which they will have occasion to repent ere long. Spain should bear in mind that, while the magnanimity and conscious power of the United States induce our Government to bear with her presump tuous impertinence, and prompts de- gree of leniency that would not be shown to a more powerful nation, we are under no obligation to overlook her acts when they become really trouble some to us. The madman may rave and buster at the laundering lOcomo- tive with impunity provided he keeps out of the way, but if he at. tempts to check the career of the subject of his abuse the So with Spain. She may illuminate as she will against the United States without exciting the resentment or even notice of the Americans, but when she so far forgets herself as to inter- fere with our peaceful and lawful vo- cations she puts herself ln a 1alr way of trouble.'
 The Crescent City affair was ad- justed by Judge Conkling, who had been appointed Minister to Mexico. and who touched at Havana on his way to Vera Cruz, and had conference with the captain-general at the request Of our Government. Purser Smith made an affidavit denying that he had ever written or published anything lnJurl- ous to the interests of Spain in Cuba, and that was accepted as satisfactory.
 Spain, however, continued to annoy American merchant vessels, and the taking of the steamer Black Warrior by the Cuban Custom-house officers was an incident that occurred during the administration of President Pierce that threatened to lead to hostilities.
 In May, 1854, the Warrior stopped at Havana on her way from New Orleans to New York. The port officers mo- ticed that she had cotton on board, al- though her manifest certified that she had no cargo, and. the cotton was de- clared confiscated on that account. The owners of the steamer urged that 1t was not usual for the manifest to men, | tion cotton not shipped to Havana; that all vessels touching at that port had uniformly made up their statement in the same way, and that no objection had been made before. If there was