South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-11-21
More Horrible Butcheries in
Cuba.

CuDa.
Ii the last sdviees from The "avsr faith
fui Isle IT Cub, 30 na; srou C The govern
meut Of he United States 10 decisive ac-
iioo IA The interests OF civilization snd hui
marty, we need NOT wrndcr il brutal aud
wholesale mas,scres shall continue to be tho
common node hereafter, az heretofore, OF
the dealings of the Cuban rulers with nil
who resist their authority, and fail into
their hands. We frat bear of four pssseu- :
gers o! the Virgiuius being shot within n
few days of their capture then of eighty
rebel prisoners taken 10 battle on tho is
land being killed, and the tidiues now come
that the captain and thiriy-six Of the crew
OF the Virginius were executed at Santiago
de Cuba on the Tth instant, aud ON the next
day that twelve more of the Cuban volun-
teers were 70 be shot. Ii il also reported
that several passengers, both men and wo-
meu, by the steamer, City OF New YORK,
which has arrived in Havana, had been ar.
rested on landing, being accused of compile
i,y with the insurrectiou. Whether there
is any foundation or not 70, this rumor, the
wholesale slaughter of the men of the Vir-
ginius ought to elicit some decided action
on the part of this government The is
land of Cuba only retains it's adhesion to
Spain by American sufferance. Its rulors
seem disposed to experiment upon the for
bearance of our people. The ultimate exc.
cutlon OF some of the passengers of the Vir.
ginus might possibly, in technical sense,
have come to be deemed justifiablo after due
calm examination aud trial but our ground
OF complaint now is its indecent aud feroci-
Gus haste, it's wholesale character, and the
irresponsible military mobocracy by which
1t vas perpetrated. Whatever NAV be the
merits of the case in law, there is but one
side to THIS question so far as the great
cause of humanity is concerned. Moreov.
er, there Is prevailing impression here
that the unfortunate prisoners were shot as
much in hatred and defiance of this country
as from any other motive, and IL the Virgin
Jus had been British ship with British
crew the action of the Spanish authorities
would have been different. It is reported
that tho Spanish government sent orders to
delay the first execution until the facts of
the case could be learned at Madrid, but
the orders are said to have come too late.
1t they had come earlier it probably would
have made no difference. The volunteers,
as they arc called, know that they are
practically independent of the existing gov
eminent IN Spain that they are tho real
irresponsible masters Of the island Tee-
graphic communication was interrupted be-
tween Havana and Santiago OF very con-
Venient period to prevent interference, even
II 1T could have been of any effect. /, seems
then that the Spanish government can not
control the piratica volunteers Who have
taken possession of the Island of Cuba, any
more than they can control the communis.
tic pirates who have taken possession of
some OF their ships in the harbors Of Spain.
Under this state Of sffairs, the United
States ought TO intcrpose it's power against
tho common enemies of mankind. Cuba.
under Spanish rule, has become bloody
stencil in our nostrils 1t is worse than q
human slaughter house on our borders
Nothing but decided policy will abate this
nuisance, aud put stop to the horrors it
engeoders. There must be reparation for
tho past aud security tor the future. What
this government In former days would have
done under like circumstances none can
doubt. When tlis country was compara-
lively an Insignificant power, Gen. jackson
dealt with the English and Spaaiards 10
Florida with a successful boldness and eDer.
~ which mightserve az model for Amer
ican officials ever after. With a reputed
great general at the head Of the government.
we Look tor something Of the patriotism and
decision Of o d Hickory.
Tne high atrocities Of the Span.
l-h officials are regarded abroad as well as
here as likely to demand redress Capital,
with iis usual sensIliveness, indicates thai
there ia apprehension Of serious conpIica-
tious from tho Spanish massocres, and that
they ougnt not to be passed over without
dsetatvn action mn