The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-20
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THR LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPICs-CoMPILRD EVERY
DAT FOR THE EvBNINa TELEGRAPH.
THB DEMAND FOR BRPARATIoN FOR
SPANISH OUTRAGES.

From the M. y Herald. ,.t
Our telegtaphic advices from Washington
inform us that the Government Is disposed to
take proper and national view Of the out
RACES recently committed on the American
flag In the case of the brig Mary Lowell and
the boarding OF the schooner Lizzie Majors on
the high seas. The case Of the frst-named
vessel was an outrage of the most barefaced
character. II Is not denied that this vessel
was in possession OF the customs officer OF
the British Government, In British waters, and
with the seal Of the Crown upon her matches.
Yet she was taken possession Of by q Spanish
war steamer, carried to Havana, and there con-
demned as o legal prize. It is not asserted
that che had infringed any law, nor was she
engaged in any hostile act. Reparation is due
TO the British Government for the disrespect
TO its territory and flag; but not the less should
our Government protect the rights and pro-
perty of American citizens in this case.
Ths affair of the Lizzie Majors is an equally
palpabls case OF wrong on the part of the
Spanish cruisers. She was boarded on the
high seas, and two passengers taken from her
and carried back to Cuba, where, from aught
we yet know, they may have been already
shot, as were those taken from the British
schooner JEFF Davis. No crime was alleged
against them, and the utmost they could be
charged with was that they were fleeing to this
country to escape from the tyranny of the
Government and the murd6r0uS zeal OF the mad
Spanish volunteers. One of them was even a
minor, o young lad, and the pretext for their
seizure was that their names did not appear
upon the ships manifest. II Is due to our
own honor and the cause Of humanity and
civilization that we demand the immediate
Liberation Of these persons, that they be
safely placed again on their voyage to the
United States, and that due reparation be
made to our flag. We rejoice that Secretary
Fish is beginning to awake to the fact that fea +
is not the proper guardian of American honor.
II is well that the Government has taken
steps to increase our naval force in Southern
waters. The proclamation issued by General
Dulce on the 24th of last month openly as
sumes the right to search and seize vessels on
the high seas, and to try and condemn them il
il please his Excellency so to do. Had we
assumed this right during our late civil war
the Havana nest Of blockade-runners would
have been broken up, and it is not impossible
that the Spanish rule in Cuba might have
been broken up with it. But we respected the
freedom of the seas in one of the most fagrant
cases which could be presented-that of Mason
and Slidell-and shall not consent that Spain,
in the defense of an unjust cause and an
odious tyranny, shall do less. The fact that
the persons seized may be private citizens
and not public officers only makes such out
RACES the more fsgrant. II Spain persists il
them there is but one remedy-the annihila
tion of the remnant of Spanish power in the
New World.