The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-26
AMERICAN BACKBONE
Instances Where Uncle Sam Com
manded Respect of Foreigners.
CASE OF wATERwITCH
AFFECT REDRESS MADE BY THE
PARAGUAYANS.
Case of the Chesapeake Fired On By
the British Ship Leopard-other
Precedents to Guide Us In De
manding Satisfaction From Spain
In Certain Contingencies.

FreceoentS TO Guide US In De
manding Satisfaction From Spain
In Certain Contingencies.
Washington, Feb. 25.-The case of the
Waterwitch is considered to be the
most analogous to that of the Maine
should it be established that the Maine
disaster was not the result of an acct
dent.
The Waterwitch was a United States
ship engaged in 1855 in surveying the
entrance to one of the rivers of Para
quay. Without warning and by orders
of President Lopez of Paraguay, a
force of troops opened fire on the
Waterwitch, killing the man at the
helm and wounding others. Intense
feeling was aroused in the United
States when the facts became known.
The president reported the facts TO con-
gress. and in his message asked au-
thority to make a demonstration of
force which would ensure suitable re-
dress. In response to this congress au-
thorized him ito use such force as is
necessary to secure ample reparation.
Accordingly an armed feet was has
tily assembled on a scale which was re-
garded as remarkable for those days.
The expedition included 10 armed ships,
% heavy guns and 1880 sailors and
marines. Accompanying this formida-
BILE outfit were civilian plenipotentiaries
prepared to make the demands of the
| government and then enforce them by
calling on the armed ships.
FORMIDABLE SHOWING.
The expedition made a formidable
showing in the South American waters,
and President Lopez's government was
awed into complete subsection by its
presence. The American commissioners
and naval officers were received at As
cension with much honor and every
reparation within the power of the re-
public was given. This included abject
apology, a sweeping disaVoWal, and
SIC, 600 for the sufferers from the out
rage AS the republic was willing TO
grant full PREPARATION, the naval expe-
dition did not exert the force it was
prepared to use in case refusal had
been offered. When the facts of the
expedition were reported to the Amer
lean congress, the president stated that
the dispatch of this formidable naval
fleet had had a salutary influence
throughout the world, and had con-
WINGED foreign nations that the United
States would protect the lives of its cit
liens with all the force at its command.
FIRING ON THE CHESAPEAKE.
The case of the firing on the United
States ship Chesapeake by the British
ship Leopard is another case affordlng
a precedent as to the government
mode Of action. The Chesapeake was
proceeding to sea when she was hailed
by the commander of the Leopard with
a demand that British deSerterS, said
to be in the hold of the Chesapeake, be
surrendered. The American commander
refused to comply, whereupon the Leop-
ard first fired a shot across the bows
of the Chesapeake, and followed this
with two broadsides. The American
commander was severely wounded,
three sailors were killed outright, and
many were wounded
Being unprepared for action, it being
a time of peace, the American COM
mander hauled down his colors and
surrendered. Tremendous excitement
prevailed in the United States over the
outrage President Madison speedily
issued a proclamation, excluding from
American ports all British warShips.
He also caused energetic protests and
demands to be presented at London.
The British authorities promptly dis
avowed The action, recalled the admiral
under whom the outrage had been per-
petrated, and without request rendered |
indemnity sufficient to support the |
wives and families of all those who had
been killed and wounded
THE GREYTOWN AFFAIR.
In a later case the American ship /
Prometheus was fired upon in the har-
clined to pay excessive port charges
imposed by the king of Mosquito, |
in control of the country under British |
protectorate. The king called upon /
the British warship Express to sustain |
his demands. and the Express prompt |
ly sent a broadside into the Prone /
theus There were no persons killed, [
but the United States made a prompt |
demand for reparation. The British .
government gave this in the fullest I
manner and without question. dis
avowing the act and condemning the
officer of the Express
JAPAN AND JAVA.
Displays of force were resorted to
by the United States in 1852 against
Japan, and in 1858 against Java. In
the case of Japan, American sailors
had been severely handled in Japanese
ports, and the native courts failed to
give adequate redress. a naval ex-
petition was sent to Japanese waters,
and this had the effect of securing the
fullest apology and also an agreement1
anteed to American citizens and prop
erty in Japan.
In the case of Java, the secretary of
the navy sent a large naval force to
the waters of Java to demand that
the native trial courts should give the
fullest protection to Americans The
expedition was successful in its purpose
and all the assurances desired were
given.
ANOTHER BRITISH OUTRAGE.
In 1915 seven Americans were killed
and about 60 were wounded while they
were being detained in the British Dris-
IN at Dartmoor. This was brought on
by clamor for rations. which was re-
sisted by the prison guard. The United
States demanded satisfactory and suit
lble reparation and the British govern
nent complied by an indemnity for the
support Of the families OF those killed
md wounded.
There are quite number of recent ]
asses, the latest being that of the Ger
nan occupation of Kiao Chou, over the
,utrages committed by Chinese on Ger
nan missionaries. In that case the
German government acquired an in {
lemnity of a large portion of Chinese
erritory, as well as one of the most
Taluable strategic ports of China. !,
MONEY INDEMNITY. !
The principle of money indemnity for