Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-11-18
TUE nnRAN QUESTION.


svmpathies from some cause, and In
tends to thwart the will of the people in
regard to avenging the Virginius out
rage. 1t is asserted as a fact that Caleb
Cushing and Benjamin F. Butler are re-
tanned to leok after the interests OF
Spain in this country at the comfortable
salary of $4,000 year in gold. This
may be legitimate business for them as
lawyers, although morally wrong. But
Mr.. Fish's motives for exercising such
undue caution about the intricate points
of international law when dealing with
a nation that knows no law except brute
force, is an unaccountable phenomenon
in the annals OF diplomacy. President
Grant seems ready to make square
issue with Spain and to vindicate the
honor of the American flag, and resent
the bloody insult offered the whole civ
ilzed world. He, too, is anxious TO
start out right and take position that
can be maintained before the world,
but he is actuated by different spirit
from Secretary Fish, who seems to court
nothing more than long correspon-
dence. in which he can eliminate what
he knows about the laws of nations. No
doubt he is well read on the subject, and
could turn to almost any authority or
treaty bearing upon this question, but
the people will not be satisfied with
mere red tape. Humanity has been
fearfully outraged, and gratuitous, pre-
meditated insult put upon an American
vessel, regularly cleared and flying the
national stars and stripes on the high
seas. The people of the whole country
black and white, Union soldiers and ex-
Confederates, are exasperated and de-
mand satisfaction commensurate with the
great crime which has been committed.
The Duke of Alva sent to subdue the
Netherlands by Philip II, who burned,
hung, shot and beheaded over $4,000 in
nocent men, women and children under
the Council of Blood" from 1867 to
1873, just three hundred years ago,
could not have murdered the victims
found on the Virginius in more sum
mary and blood-thirsty manner than the
worthless who committed these cruelties.
The time ought to be past when an
apology" would atone for assassina-
tons. What PREPARATION is it for the
Spanish Government, 5000 miles away,
to assure US OF friendly feelings after
this wholesale butchery2 The great
fault lies with our previous policy.
Spain has had her own way at
our very doors so long that they
have a contempt for the dignity as
well as power of this Government.
How differently they act toward Great
Britain, because that government has
fixed policy. The Deerhound case is
yet fresh in the public mind. That
vessel dnder the British flag and regular
papers had carried munitions Of war to
the Spanish insurgents She was seized
by Spanish man-of-war, but John Bull /
said, "Turn her loose. and it was done.
The case of Mr.. Kelly, a British sub
ject of Fenian proclivities, who went to
Cuba as a correspondent of the New
York Herald, and avowedly as such,
is recent occurrence in point, %
his return from the lines Of the Cuban
patriots to Santiago de Cuba he was
thrown into a vile cell, and as long as
he only claimed the protection Of the
American Government his life was
in imminent peril, .and his friends lis
tened every day to hear Of his execution;
but when he appealed to the British for
protection and claimed his citizenship,
that government promptly sent man
ofwar to the place, and he was released.
Spain only acts the bully when it can be
done with IMMUNITY, aud never fails to
show the spirit Of Duke de Alva toward
an American citizen when favorable
opportunity occurs. Ben Butler hung
an American citizen who, in spirit Of
what he conceived patriotic enthusiasm,
pulled down the stars and stripes at New
Orleans. The Government sustained
him. Now, the same flag has been
torn down on the public highway of
nations, the Spanish flag rus up IN its
place, the vessel made a prize, and
nearly all on board shot, irrespective Of
nationality. In 1912 our Government
made a solemn declaration to that Of
Great Britain Of the rule by which it
would thereafter be guided. That rule
announces. therefore, what viii hereafter
be the principle maintained by this Gov
eminent In every regularly docu-
menled American merchant vessel the
crew who navigate it viii and their pro-
lection 10 the flag that is over them
President Van Buren,. in his message
o. lSss. LAD said. This Government
can never concede 10 any foreign Gov
eminent the power OF invading ne terri
tory. either 70 arrest the person or de-
siroy ihe property % those who may
have violated the municipai lass of
such foreign Goverument. or have disrs-
garded their oblEafisus arising uater
che law Of uai.0ns Ne Webster .aii