The Advocate and news., 1898-04-27

III Is not so long out tnat many or as
can remember when forty days were re-
Quired for an ordinary merchant ship
to carry cargo from London to New
York. AT that time there were no great
ship canals, and railroads were few and
unimportant. A hundred years ago and
beyond that war between two nations
did not seriously affect the worlds COM
merce. But now the oCean-going clear
ances at the principal trade marts Is
about 70,0OO,000 tons annually, and that
Is only one-third OF the maritime trade
Of the world. The other two-thirds goes
out from the minor places along the coast
lines. This vast movement OF property
ON water requires the use Of about 1885,
600 vessels OF various sizes, with a total
carrying capacity OF 50,000,000 tons Ac-
cording to Mr.. Mulhall, more than 100,-
100000 persons, including women, are
engaged in this business
Ships now cost more than they did
formerly, they carry more and they
travel faster. There Is more involved
now in the starting and the stopping
of ship than ever before. In the de-
Velopment OF trade and In the spread OF
commerce every nation has, to greater
or less extent, been progressively In
terested, A thousand citizens may be
part owners In single ships cargo.
And so this question OF what is con-
traband Of war has come to be OF much
more general interest than when ocean
trade was small and but few people
comparatively were engaged In It, and
statesmen have come to take a practical
view Of the subject to the end that as Tar
as il Is possible to prevent the legitimate
trade Of the world shall not be imper-
illed by war.
According to Chief Justice Chase, OF
the United State Supreme court, contra
band goods may be divided into three
classes, OF these the first consists OF ar
ticles manufactured and primarily and
ordinarily used for military purposes in
time of war; the second, OF articles which
may be and are used for purposes OF war
or peace, according to circumstances;
and the third, Of articles exclusively used
for peaceful purposes.
Merchandise of the first class des-
tined to belligerent country, or places
occupied by the army or navy OF q bel
llgerent, Is always cOntTaband; mer-
chandise of the second class Is contra
band only when destined TO the military
or naval use Of a belligerent; while mer-
chandIse OF the third class Is not con-
traband at all, though liable to seizure
and condemnation for violation OF block
ade or seige."
During our civil war cotton was held
by the United States to be cOntraband
OF war, not because 1t ia ordinarily
war material, but because 1t was use
full as collateral security for loans me-
gotiated abroad by the Confederate
States, was sometimes sold for cash to
meet current expenses and to purchase
arms and munitions OF war. It's use for
such purposes was publicly proclaimed
by the COnfederacy, and It's sale inter-
dicted, except under negotiations estab-
Nshed by or contract with the COnfed-
crate government. Cotton was thus of
), flcially classed among war supplies, and
as such was liable to- be destroyed, when
found by the Federal troops, or turned
to any use which the exigencies OF war
might dictate. Cotton, In fact, was to
the Confederacy as much munitions OF
war as powder and ball, for 1t furnished
the chief means Of obtaining those In
dispensables Of warfare. In interna-
tlonal law there could be no question
as to the right of the Federal com
manders to seize it as contraband of
war, whether they found 1t on rebel ter
ritory or intercepted it on the way to
the parties who were to furnish in re-
turn material aid In the form OF the
sinews OF war, arms or general supplies"
Secretary Bayard to Mr.. Muruaga,
June 28, 1896.
In treaties between nations, sometimes,
certain articles are enumerated as con-
traband, but that, Of course, applies only
to the nations agreeing TO the stipula-
tion.
The status OF coal has been the sub
feet OF a great deal Of diplomatic cor