with a breach of the neutrality laws. This action is somewhat startling; but when we consider that Secretary Seward has but recently visited Cuba, and "hobbed and nobbed" with the Captain General, we are not surprised at the action of the State Department even of the free and enlightened United States. Secretary Seward, it is well known, has a penchant for "royalty," and that may give us the key, possibly, to many of his anomalous and strange proceedings that damp the ardor of his friends, while they offer to his enemies so fruitful a theme for vituperation. In a land where the "Monroe Doctrine" is supposed to have such a vast hold, Señor Mackenna's breach of the neutrality laws should be scarcely of any moment when placed in the scale against the preservation of republican freedom on this continent. But when the great principle is repudiated in the case of Mexico, it is not to be wondered at that a similar, or even harsher course is adopted toward a distant sister republic like Chili. This arrest was made at the instance of Spaniards and Spanish agents-not United States citizens-and it remains to be seen how the American people receive it. In contradistinction to the above case, we submit the following: "Within the last fortnight, at the dead of night, in the city of New York, a policeman stopped a suspicious-looking individual in a by-street, driving a wagon loaded with boxes. The driver's answers were unsatisfactory, he was arrested, and the matter brought to the notice of the Superintendent of Police, inasmuch as the load consisted of military accoutrements and clothing. Was this, too, a Chilian enterprise? By no means. Col. O'Mahony, President of the Irish Republic, just dropped a bit of a note' to the official guardians of the peace, stating that the goods were his property, and presto, they were released from seizure." The hope has been for a long time held out to Chili that assistance would be rendered her in her present trying difficulties, and instead thereof, we see her agent arrested like a criminal, while every encouragement and immunity are extended to a lot of hot-headed, crack-brained Irishmen engaged in a mad and hopeless undertaking. In sober seriousness, what is the meaning of this harsh, unusual proceeding? What does it forebode ? "Coming events cast their shadows before," and we look upon the arrest of Señor Mackenna as an evil omen for Chili. But how has this sudden change come about? Is Cuba to be the price paid to the United States by Spain for "lending her a hand" in her present desperate efforts to crush the South American Republics? Who knows! "There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, |