Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-12-03
The 4panIsh-AmeFlcan Protocol
Views OF the Press

The agreement upon which the settlement
OF the Virglnins difficulty Is based does not
meet with unqualified approval Of the press OF
che country. 1t iS.eyideut that While there Is
serious trouble ,theterms of the protocol do not
afford that satisfaction which 1t was reasonable
to expect In view OF the decided attitude Of the
u. >. government as presumed to have been
originally taken,
The following extracts from various DrOmi-
nent journals will indicate the tone Of sent-
ment on the subject of the settlement
From the New York SUM- ttR
1t does not meet the exigencies of the case.
IL provides no adequate reparatiSn for the out
rage. IL contains no guarantee Of p0cHnlaTy
indemnity and it affords no assurance that
the Insult TO our flag, will not be repeated
sion.
This Is no new controversy. On March a.
1869, Capt. Gen. Dulce published in Havana
the following decree
vessels which may be captured in Span.
Ish waters or on the high seas near to the is
land having on board men, with arms, muni-
lions or effects that can in any manner cOntrl-
bute to, promote, or fOment the insurrectiOn
IN TINS province. whatsoever their derivation
ana destination, after examination Of their
papers and registries, shall be dc factO cOnsid-
cred as enemies of the integrity of our terrific
~, and treated as pirates In accordance with
the ordinances Of the navy.
All captured in such vessels, without re-
gard to their number, will be Immediately ex.
ecuted."
Against this decree and the doctrine on
which II Is founded, our administration prOtes-
ted. This government" said Mr.. Fish, In
the conclusion of his dispatch, certainly eau
not assent to the punishment by Spanish au.
thorltles or any citizen of the United States
ior the exercise Of privilege to which he may
DC entitled under public law and treaties. -
AGAIN, on the 9TH of July, 1869, CaballerO d.
hodas. the new captain general Of Cuba. is
sued another decree threatening with capture
all vessels carrying articles cOntraband Of wal
IN cuban waters, and their crews with pun
lSnment for piracy. Against this decree MIR
flsh also put in protest, from which we cit'
the following language .ptt.
III spain be at war with Cuba the L nned State
will submit to those rights which public law con
codes to belligcrcnts: But while Spain disclaim
state OF belligerency, or until the United State
may lind It necessary to recognize her as q belll
gerent, the United States cannot fail look upol
decree which, If enforced against any vessel o
the United States on the high sease cannot but b
regarded as a violation of their rights that ma
lead to serious complications
In view of these facts the settlement which Nj
Fish and General Grant have agreed to must b
pronounced unworthy and insufficient. But sue
as it Is will it be executed by the Spanlardsg
has certainly been made as easy for them as poss
BILE. 1t bears upon its face the admission that tn
present government of Spain has but little poWe
In Cuba, aud that for that reason the Unite
States are willing to submit with patience to an
outrage that may be committed by those wh
really bear sway there. 1t Is made so easy 70
them that they must be insane not to complete !
Having killed our men they can well afford t
surrender the hulk from which they were drags
ed.
from the New York Hsrald.l
AdmOnished by past of feebleness on the pal
OF the State Department-which we should ca
inanity but for the cunning and blatant pFeteni
that coaspired therein to degrade US nationally
we expressed a fear that, in the case of the vi
gtnius, dishonOr was again In stored for US by
repetition Of the same begging diplomacy.
In the United States Circuit Court Ra
sighA NC, yesterday, Judges Bond and BrOOI
refused to grant the application, Of the RPeclt