Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-03-03

Washington, Feb. 26.-In spite OF
the stories Of sensational developments
! in connection with the work of divers
in the Names hull, the administration
! remains firm in the statement that
there is no creditable evidence one way
or the other as to the cause Of the dis
aster; it holds that the one purposeis to
await the conclusion Of the inyestiga-
| ton. This position was emphasized
| in the cabinet meeting. Secretary
Long has gone away for few days
rest, leaving Roose Telt to manage the
| department. Just before the depart
ment closed Roosevelt had word OF
! the sailing Of the cruiser Montgomery
| from Tampa for Key West. The date
, Of her departure for Havana, if at all,
| is conjectural. The Castine, a second
! United States warship on the south
| Atlantic station, arrived yesterday at
! Barbados, where she was joined by
the Cincinnati. Secretary Long him
| self does not know when TO expect
report of the court of inquiry. There
are a number Of precedents which will
aid the authorities in shaping their
action as to indemnity demanded il
! facts are fully established. While
none of the cases show a fearful loss
! of life sustained by the Maine eXplo-
sion, they include many instances
! in which the United States has adopt
| ed energetic measures to redress the
killing of American citizens in for
eign countries. These methods Of
the reports include demands for i'll
demnity, procIamations excluding war
ships of offending nation from our
harbors, display of force, non-inter-
course, withdrawal of minister, repri-
sal of blockade Some of these
steps border closely on war,
although regarded as movements
just preliminary to actual
hostilities, amounting to threats that
force will follow if reparation is not
made. The cases of ships which
were fired on off Paraguay in 1855;
and the Chesapeake which was fired
on by the British ship Leopard dur
ing Madisons administration; and
'IIOlu0CuS1lo lI6u OI III CI6y COH IL
harbor are cited as possibly analogous
to the Maine trouble, if it be deter
mined that the Maine explosion is
not an accident. In none of these
cases was force resorted to to obtain
satisfaction. Displays Of force were
resorted to by the United States in
1852 against Japan; and in 1858
againts Java. The case of the Japan
! American sailors was severely
handled in the Japanese ports and
the courts failed to to give adequate
redress. A naval expedition was sent
to Japanese waters. This had the
effect of securing an apology and an
agreement by which protection was
guaranteed to American citizens and
property in Japan IN case the Java
secretary Of the navy sent a large
force to the waters of Java to de-
mand a native trial in the courts to
give protection to Americans The
expedition was successful. The prin-
ciple Of a money indemnity for the
killing OF foreigners was recognized in
several recent cases of the United
States. One was the killing of the
Italians at New Orleans by a mob
In that case, while the United States
did not admit the responsibility of
the federal government for the act
of the mob yet an indemnity was
paid as a matter of international
comfy, or equity. A similar action
was taken indemnifying China for
subjects killed at Rock Springs. In
the case Of the Virginius a large
money indemnity was paid