The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-13
WILKES AND THE TRENT.
A Precedent and n Maxim.

act or the German submarine IN at
lacking tho Lusitanla without warn
ing and needlessly destroying hundreds
of lives OF non-combatants men, wom-
en- and children. Hut there is very
significant precedent for the Indignation
and warlikc feeling that the incident
has aroused in our country. Ana as
the vital point of that precedent Is not
generally understood. in fact, Is gem
orally misunderstood. to our discrcdit,
ASK you to let me explain II.
The American civil war began In
April, 1861 From the first the ruling
classes in England we're unfriendly to
this republic, partly IL not wholly
from a fear that Napoleon spoke true
when he declared that In selling
Louisiana 10 US he had given England
a dangerous rival. In the autumn or
that year 1t was known that two well
known men OF the South. James NJ.
Mason and John Slidell, had eluded the
blockade. which as yet was not perfect
and reached a port in the West Indies.
whence they were to sail on some Brit
sh vessel to be representatives or the
Confederate Government at London and
Paris, where they would exert every
possible influence for n complete recog-
milton of tho COnfederacy. Captain
Charles Wilkes, L. S. N. the same that
made the great Antarctic exploration
twenty years before, commanding the
warship San Jaclnto, in November
stopped the British mail steamer Trent
took off the Confederate commissioners
and their secretaries, and then allowed
the Trent to proceed on her way. The
prisoners were placed In Fort warren.
Boston harbor, and the act was received
with reclamation throughout tho
Northern States. The Navy Department
commended Captain Wilkes, and he
received the thanks of Congress. This
furnished a good example of the danger
OF snap Judgments. There was no At
lantic cable then and no wireless
When the news reached England the
whole British nation, as one historian
expresses 1t. "hrstled up as one lion,
The act of Wilkes was denounced as q
violation OF British neutrality. and the
English Government demanded an
apology and release OF the prisoners.
Here was a serious dilemma-appar-
entity: for on the one hand those com
missioners were unquestlonably contra
band OF war while on the other hand
any armed conflict with England in
VOWED the success of the secession
movement which tho English authori-
| ties earnestly desired.
There was an amusing incident, by
the way. in this grave crisis. England
| at once sent to Canada a large body
/ Of troops, politely called IAN army OF
| observation" They were TO be placed
| along the border and do their observ-
! ing across the line. When they ar
rived on this side the commander found
| to his surprise. that the Canadian ports
were frozen up. and he was placed In
the hum!liatinE position Of being obliged
! TO ask permission to land his troops
/ (evidently intended to attack us) nj
/ Portland, Maine, apd march them across
| our territory 10 Canada. President
| Lincoln blandly told him he was vel
come, probably with twinkle of salts
/ faction In his eye,
There was abundance OF popular sen.
| tlment In favor Of holding the prisoners
at all hazards; but our Government
after calm del.beration. released then
/ and apolog.zed. Here is the point that
needs explanation. for almost everybody
. miSuiSerstands Il and almost every al
fusion to IL is misleading. The general
opinion Is that the commissioners were
. surrendered merely because We wer,
afraid ~ England's hostility. Nothing
| Of the kind. The explanation in brieI
Is that Captain Wilkes. out II kindly re-
gard for the innocent passengers. let the
| Trent go, thus technically Constitutlng
! himself Judge and jury as to the law
! fuluess Of his prize, when he should
have brought her into port for adjudica
ton i'm a prize court. Secretary Scwart
handled the case in a mastery man
ncr. and scored one OF tho greatest o.
diplomatic victories. In his reply to The
British demand he reviewed the whole
affair. showed that there were inuum
cradle British preceden's for thus over
hauling a suspected vessel. that Captain
Wilkes conducted the search In a prope
manner. that the commissioners wer
coutrahand OF war, and the commando
Of the Trent knew they were when h
took them on board. bu, admitted tina
Captain Wilkes had failed To comp,et
the transaction legally by bringing tn
ship into port for adjudication. In conclu
sion no wrote. III | declare this cas-
in favor Of my own Government.
mus; d'savow It's most cherished prin
cip!cs and reverse and forever aban
don It's most essential policy
We are asked ia do to the British ma
ton just what we have always insiste
all nations ought To- do to us Her
VAS peculiar sting carried in In
covert allusiou to the war of ISL.
which was fought to put a stop 70 tn
unlawful seizure and search OF America
vessels and which did put stop to :
The commissioners were released an
sailed for England; but the affair IA
! thwarted III" purpose OF their mission
1 Writers who had been loudest in ds
cliriug for detention and defiance praC
tically admitted that their eyes Ia
been opened by Secretary Seward
D answer.
, In considering the sorrowful affair {
the L.us.tauIa one naturally asks:
he German authorities really wlshe
!, to prevent Americans from sailing q
. that ship. why was the official warnin
. given ont only on the day Of sailing
= II could just as well have been issue