Evening journal., 1898-01-19
MP vANDEGRIFTs COURSE.

During the entire progress Of the liti-
cation brought about by the alleged
breaches Of the neutrality laws Of this
country by the steamship Laurada and
her owners and officers and crew.
United States District Attorney Lewis
c. Vandegrift has made valiant fight
in behalf OF the government and its
bounden duty to prevent, 80 far as lies
within it's power, any overt act upon
the part OF any citizen OF the United
States to hamper the Spanish Govern
ment in suppressing the revolution at
present in progress on the island OF
Cuba.
Unfortunately for Mr. Vandegrift, he
has had the unpopular side Of the con-
troversy to uphold. Despite this, he
has proceeded in the conscientious dis
charge Of the duties Of his Office, with
full knowledge that public sentiment
is against him, and, perhaps, at the
sacrifice Of his Cwn personal sentiment,
for who knows what his personal feel
ings may be in the matter?
IL requires a bold man to run coun
ter to public sentiment. 1t requires a
strictly honest one to come out Of such
a race with the admiration of those
who would like to see him pursue a
different course for the mere sake OF
sentiment and regardless Of the mer-
its and legal status of the question in
volved- Knowing thisand relying upon
the public properly interpreting his
zeal in the matter of the conhscation
of the Laurada and the punishment OF
her owners and officers, he has pur-
sued an unvarying and consistent
course, and is deserving OF all the more
credit for his high regard for the duties
Of the responsible Office which he
holds, and TO which he was appointed
because President Cleveland believed
him to be q man who would be swayed
by his official responsibility rather
than by his personal feeling and by
the sentimental position occupied by
his friends and neighbors.
Mr. Vandegrift will suffer in no re-
spect in public estimation because his
oath OF Office compels him to do dis
agreeable things for the government
A state prosecutor frequently has to
plead with a jury to take the life of a
man or woman on trial for q capital
felony. No one would dream of char
acterizing him as a blood-thirsty man.
He is performing psblic duty, and so
it is with Mr. Vandegrift in this Lau-
rada case, which has elected so much
interest and in which he has displayed
such great skill as a lawyer, standing
single-handed against some of the
ablest attorneys practicing at the New
Castle county bar, backed by an abund-
ance of money and upheld by public
sentiment as wide as the civilized
world. Even the most radical friend
OF free Cuba must admit that the entire
course Of Mr.. Vandegrift has been
marked by absolute fairness to all con-
corned Many Of his best friends have
hoped all along 20 see him lose his
cause not because Of any feeling against
him for so closely adhering to and
performing his official duties, but be-
cause OF an overpowering sympathy
for the struggling Cubans. and by rea-
son Of an admiration for all who ar,
willing TO sacrifice liberty and propert,
in the work OF carrying to those who
are so valiantly fighting for libert!
those things essential to the prosecu
tion OF a successful campaign agains
the spaniards This feeling is preya
lent. not because the people love Mr.
Vandegrift the less. but because they
love Cuba and her active supporter
the more. They forget entirely tina
the Laurada was commissioned to per
form certain things for 50 muCl
money. The dangerous character Of Tn
enterprise outweighs all that. It i
sufficient for the public 10 know tina
officers and men and craft took grea
risks to deliver TO the struggling pa
triots munitions Of war Of which the
were sadly in need
The cause OF Cuta is materially ai
focted by every judicial decision whic
is recorded in this country against tn
shipment Of arms to the patriC
forces. II hampers the transpOrtatio
of munitions Of war, increases the ris
and expense. and renders it more diff
cult Tor the Cuban Junta 10 induce Oh
owners CT vessel property to ris
their vessels and the personal liberi
of themselves and of their officers an
men.
The lawyers for the owner and OFF
GERS of the Laurada have all along bee
comforted by the assurance that pui
lie sentiment was with them, and th
they could depend upon its influence
sway the jury in its deliberations. NJ
Vandegrift has not only had to ng'
his side of the great legal controve1l
upon its merits, but also tc exert
legal acumen and eloquence TO eve
come that public sentiment which
so prejudicial 10 a fair and imparti
consideration of the cause which
advocates, because his cath of oni
comnplo him IN do 81 NVhiia rrro q