The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-09
Letters of Marque.
~ NE Of yesterdays dispatches I'M
- der Madrid date announced that

~ der Madrid date that
IN offers had been made to
the ministry of ships In SPANS mer-
chant marine. and that several zap
tains were asking the government to
issue to them letters of marque. so that
they might hurry to sea and begin a
career of plumber o N American ships.
Some of the Standards readers may
care to learn Just what letters OF
marque are.
Time out OF mind II has been a part
OF naval warfare to use not alone the
governments regular war vessels. but
also to have i'm service vessels which
are not a normal part of the navy. A
private armed vessel or privateer is a
vessel armed and differed by private
persons. but acting under a commission
from the state, usually called letters OF
marque. The latter word signifed
mark. border or boundary line; the let
tiers OF marque are a license by a gov
ernmen to go across the boundary and
make reprisals. The fact that letters
Of marque thus referred originally to
land expeditions is noticed i'm Woolsey's
International Law, from which author
ity what the Standard says on the SUBJ
ject Of letters of marque this morning
is directly drawn.
The constitution OF the United States
says that congress shall have power ito
declare war. grant letters of marque
n reprisal and make rules concern
ing captures on land and water" The
popular theory Is that the privateer is
commissioned not SO much to fight an
enemy's warship. to which II would be
unequal. as To plumber his commerce.
Always the right to employ this kin OF
extraordinary naval force has been un-
questioned, yet much has been done In
modern times to place privateering un-
der the ban. as a style OF warfare thai
is dangerously liable to abuse. and h
has for its object not fame or chivalric
purpose. but plumber and profit.
Eminent American authority has de-
clared vigorously against privateering
-Woolsey quotes DIR. Franklin, DIR.
Wheadon. Chancellor Kent and others.
The fact remains. however. that when
an opportunity presented itself to the
United States. more than forty years
ago. TO go on record officially against
the practice. our government declined,
and the rather singular fact is that
Spain. too. declined. The event may
shortly prove hat in this our govern
ment erred seriously.
The most important modern step to-
ward the entire abolition OF privateer-
ing was taken when, In 1856. in the
treaty OF Paris, the powers thereto
united In a declaration. by the first ar
ticle of which "privateering is. and re-
mains. abolished" other states were
invited to adopt this declaration: the
United States government was asked
to concur In II. At that time Mr.. Marcy
was secretary of state. Although the
declaration secured precisely what this
country had been wishing-the greater
freedom OF neutral vessels. Mr.. Marcy
declined. The reluctance to adopt the
principles of the declaration was due
privateering would be a gain to nations
having a strong navy. but not to the
United States. which was not main
tanning a powerful naval force.
When u civil war broke out the
situation was found to be awkward.
Secretary Seward directed our ambas-
sadors in Great Britain and France TO
negotiate conventions. with the object
OF acceding to the declarations Of the
treaty OF Paris" His plan was to in
ciude the confederate states In the rom
v~ention. and thus to prevent their is
suing letters of marque against the
commerce OF the North. But these two
European government had already rec
ognized the beligerency OF the confed-
eracy. England and France offered to
sign a convention. IL this action
should have mo bearing on the internal
differences then prevailing in the Unit