Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-02-15

llCC EOOuS. w ntn Ilcp Nun anu
n poor man agree to respect each
others property, it IS easy to see
that the advantage rests with the
capitalist The trade Of England,
perhaps, exceeds tenfold that Of
France, and the same proposition
determines the comparative benefit
to be derived from the restriction OF
legal piracy. During the great war
French commerce offered but linz
tied temptation TO private adyentur-
0rs, who were almost as obnoxious
to the regular cruisers with whom
they competed as to the merchant
men whom they plundered. Tho
enemy on the other hand, excluded
from the markets OF the East and
the West, devoted his maritime enel-
gies in great measure to the em-
ploymcnt Of privatecrs. The narrow
seas and even the Straits Of Dover,
swarmed with corsairs, attracted by
the innumerable vessels which
sought the mouth OF the Thames.
The traveller with empty pockets
may sing in tho presence Of the high
wayman, but England cannot afford
to become the victim of robbery in
consideration Of an acknowledged
right TO rob in return"
So England reformed for her own
advantage for price, ready TO shift
again whenever her advantage lean
ed the other way Would you have
proof? Marcy was American Secre-
tary Of State, and replied to Eng
lands proposals by counter pro-
posals. Hear the Spectator March
IA, 1850 illuminate against them:
"Mr Marcy prepared q moose, and
VIC havc no guarantee that the Brit
ish Lion is not going to thrust his
head into It.. The fact was brought
out in the counters debate of Tues
day night. We need only to refer
our readers to our own columns for
the state oft he case. When the
resolution or the Paris conference,
that the goods Of a belligerent should
Sc safe in neutral vessels and the
goods of q neutral safe wheresoever,
was communicated to the United
states, MI Secretary Marcy respond
ed by a counter proposal going be-
yond the resolution Of conference,
for he suggested that all merchant
property ahoat should be free from
capture even in wartime"
men ZIG DRtCi1iOi DlONttNS "
argue that this change would be to
Americas advantage, not to Eng
lands and therefore should not be
admitted 1t goes on: IF England
were to attack them they could re-
taliate on British possessions. The
only field on which we could really
! meet them is that Of the ocean,
where we possess at once the great
est means OF offence and the largest
responsibilities. At present, there
fore, we are in the position to make
the attack most effective, while, from
our institutions and our liabilities,
we are the most likely to exercise a
prudential reserve. Exempt theil
mercantile marine, and the whole
reason for their reserve ceases.
Every warship will carry its own
commission to do what it chooses;
the responsibilities falling nowhere
else, even if it were to retaliate for
aggression by attacking the Union.
Tho Union as Lord John Russell
! said on Monday, could rctaliate in
return by marching an army across
tho frontier to Canada, or in other
I ways disturbing our tenure. MI
( Secretary Marcy proposes a bargain
1 all on ono side"
So it is clear that England means
by international law only that code
OF rules, which at any given time
/ yields her most advantage She viii
sign, and even ratify, any number Of
I Declarations ii they procure hci
/ profit for the time being, ready tc
disavow and disclaim them when
| over the balance Of profit lies the
! other way. All treaties are to hel
as the treaty of Limerick.
Let Americans, too, note carefully
that the capture OF the private
property or enemy states was re
tanned with a Wow to using 1t againb
the United Statos. Marcy seems tC
have made two proposals, to sigr
the last three articles oft he Declara
ton of Paris ignoring the first, t'
sign the first in consideration of th'
exemption of private property from
capture at sea. Both were rejected
England stood then for piracy linn
tied in such way that ii woulC
work to her advantage. Today
backed by her allies and with {
Lansing instead of a Marcy as Amer
lean Secretary OF State, she is TO
piracy unlimited. Perhaps some da,
we shall again have Secretary ant
President who will be for Amcrici
ITtref