Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-20

prepared to protect the American Tag and
citizens al all hazards, and if war became
necessary, the United States would be
found better prepared than people supposed,
having large body of well-disciplined
men, ready to be called into service, with
the necessary arms and ammunition"
Important News from Madrid.
Special to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1S.-The cable dis
patch from Madrid to-day, in reference to
the position of the Spanish Cabinet, is re-
| garded as of great Importance, and as put
! ing more serious aspect on the situation
than has been heretofore presented. The
| Spanish Cabinet is said to be unanimous
| ly in favor of satisfactory and honorable
| settlement of the Virginius difficulty, but
| regard the maintenance of the integrity of
| Spanish territory as essential. The con-
| struction put upon this announcement
| is that the Spanish Government is
not disposed to pursue straight
| forward course but designs to resort
| to the devious and tortuous ways or diplo-
| matte procrastinatiOn. By such action the
settlement of the difficulty may be delayed
for months, and finally the whole thing
fritter away in meaningless phrases. By
this time our Government andpeople would
probably get tired and disguised with the
matter, or be too much absorbed in some
new excitement to do anything more about
it. 1t is the opinion in diplomatic circles
that, however we'll disposed Senior CASTELAR,
may be towards the United States, he will
not doom his administration to certain
downfall by any appearance of cOnciliatiOn.
Many of those who have heretofore
been of the impression that the diff
fculty was susceptible of an amicable
settlement are now coming gtothe conclusion
that we shall either have to pocket the in
suit put upon us, or resort speedily to eX-
treme measures. This was for Congress to
decide, and it may be that, following the
example of Great Britain in such cases, it
will 90 to war first and conduct the diplO-
matte correspondence afterwards. There is
authority for the statement that neither the
President nor the Secretary of State are at
all satisfied with the attitude of the Caste
lar administration; and if Congress does
authorize the institution of the most Wig
orous measures, it will meet with the ap-
proval of the President.
Views of Ex-President JohnsOn-Cuba
should be Annexed.
Frem the New YORK Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.-Ex-President
johnson, on being asked for an expression
of his opinion concerning the Spanish out
rage, manifested a hesitancy in allowing
them to be made public, for the reason, he
said, that he might be deemed Officious,
especially by expressing his views concern
ing the proper policy of the Government in
reference to the subject. He said there
were two parties interested in involving
the United States in a war with Spain-one
anxious that the navy should be increased,
the other desirous of enlarging the army.
Mr.. johnson said if the navy was inefficient,
the proper and usual course should be taken
| to strengthen it; but not under the preteXt
of going to war with Spain. Likewise, ad-
| ditions to the army should be brought about
without ascribing the reason for the in
crease.
Cuba, he believed, should have been an
nexed to the United States many years
| ago. Her commerce, the inclinationS of
her people, and the situation of the island,
| all tend to place her III a position looking
| toward the protection of the United States.
| This had been delayed for twenty-five
years through the designs of a reckless class
of adventures, and their actions had done
much toward increasing Spain's opposition
to ceding the island TO foreign power.
War with Spain would entangle our COM
merce in innumerable complications. 1t
would subject it to the prey OF pirates, and
| its facilities would be hindered through let
tiers of marque. During the late rebellion
our Government was always very jealous
| of interference by other powers, or any at
tempt in favor of granting belligerent rights
to the South. We blame Spain, he said,
for precipitating action in reference to the
fate of those captured on the Virginius,
| yet there is a demand that the Government
act with equal haste in obtaining redress
| for what has been committed. To his
mind war with Spain was serious CUES
ton, and demanded much consideration.
The subject should be weighed carefully
and with judgment. He deprecated any
undue haste, and believed the Spanish Gov
ernment would act justly in treating with
the United States in reference to the exe-
cution of the Virginius captives.