National Republican., 1873-11-12
THE CASE OF THE y,RcISIus.

THE CASE OF The yIRGISIUs.
Tho Administration Ia beset on all sides
with suggestions regarding the case Of the
Virginius. From the very nature Of things,
pending the protest or request for an expla-
nation made TO the Spanish Government by
our own, the State Department officials are
| compelled to remain quiet, or rather to keep
secret the details Of the transaction. In the
meantime the public Is assured that the Cas-
tcllar Government, which we recognize az the
legitimate Government of Spain, will treat
the subject with IN honesty and fairness Of
purpose, of which preceding administrations
at Madrid have given no instance. This may
be true, and We hope 1t is. 1t Is certain that
CASTELAR,, himself one Of the trucst and most
liberal republicans In Spain, or in all Europe,
has record from which We may make the
natural deduction that he will sustain that
assurance. Long before the present republic
Of Spain was organized he had won name
and fame as republican Of the purcst and
most earnest kind; hut his reputation was
based upon his ability as an orator, In which.
u Is admitted, he has but few, II any, equals.
Ills thrilling speeches before the people and
In the Cortes not only possessed the power Of
cogent argument, but stamped him as
leader long before he was favored with promi.
nent Official position. Now that he has
reached such position his ability as an cx-
ecutive officer Is to bc tested. Aud the cru
chile In which the test Is to be made 1, one
through which but few men could pass with
honor. The dross that may he In him will
certainly come to the surface, and the fair
mi In ,shtoh ha -.
dlmmcd by the exposure of unexpected In
capacity for his new position; but should |
he prove himself to be as capable as
an executive officer as he has shown |
himself to be capable as mere |
political leader, Spain will, indeed, have rea-
son to acknowledge with gratitude the for |
tuitous circumstances which have brought |
him to the political surface. Surrounded as |
he Is by cliques and factions representing |
conflicting interests among the Republicans, |
he Is at the same time confronted with the
imperative necessity Of subduing powerful
combination Of Imperiallsts actually In arms
for the overthrow Of the Republic. II would |
consequently he surprising II he were able to |
meet promptly the manifold requirements Of
his position. Under any circumstance, then,
- ~ 'hN NNihtht tuty VI oui "
deal with him patiently, and II Is to be hoped |
that the innumerablc patriots who have pre-
sumed to beset the Administration with the |
suggestions to which We have referred, will |
bear these facts In mind.
At the samc time the Government should |
not overlook the opportunity afforded by the |
case OF the Virglnius to compel reform OF
the commercial regulations which Spain has
for generations paintained to our manifest
Injury. 1t would be the weakness Of vacilla-
tlon were we to llstcn to the doleful cries
which the Spaniards may utter about taking
advantage Of their unfortunate condition. 1t
Ia justice that we seek, and we can afford to
seek 1t at any time and under all circum-
stances. We have submitted to unjust DIS
examinations long enough-so long, In fact,
that Spain has become naughty and imperi-
ously expectant that we will continue to
| submit to them. But, while our people are
alive to the injustice Of these Determinations,
they may, without exaggeration, be said to
bc infamed with anger regarding the re-
peated murder OF our fellow-citikens Of which
the Spanish authorities In Cuba stand ac-
cused. They do not accept as satisfactory
the explanation that the Volunteers on the
island are the guilty parties, but rightfully
hold the spanish Government respon-
sible for them. While they may agree
that Spain is unfortunate In the fact
that the Volunteers have been able to
grow into such power as to control |
the island with unrelenting disregard OF law |
or reason, they rightfully expect that Spain
shall do something to restrain that growth /
In the future, and punish the fearful crimes
of which 1t has been guilty in the past. At
no time since the troubles growing out Of the |
insurrection on the island began to attract
public attention has this feeling among our
people doAcloped itself with such earnest
strength as at the present. In fact 1t Is so
general as 20 compel recognition As grand
national impulse, having no sectional bounds,
aud being circumscribed by no party or re-
llgious prejudice.
The near approach Of the session of Con-
gross should admonish the officials who
have this matter In hand that the suggestions
with which they are overwhelmed will soon
be supplemented by appeals, demands and
arguments OF more decided character. The
representatives of the people, including pa
triots rs well as selfish dcmagogues, will not |
fail to take advantage Of the situation to re-
spond to this national impulse In speeches of
no undecided character, and while tho one
class may be content to await further deyci-
opments, the other will most assuredly crafty
Its desire to dcnounce the Administration for
what II will be pleased to characterize as
hesitation. We have an abiding faith, how
ever, that when the message OF the President
and the accompanying executive documents
are made public, the people will be satisfied
that the Administration has not been recreant
to its important trust. In the meantime let
US possess our souls with patience, aud lot US
hope that CASTELAR,. with the largeness OF
heart and breadth of craftsmanship which we
nave the right to expect OF him, will respond ,
10 the efforts Of our Government for 90.
ution of the difficulty In a satisfactory man