New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-12

ANTEE FOE THE FUTURE.

| WIN t06C If06OOm VI COuuScl WA1CA 40
inspired by our devotion to republican
principles we do not hesitate to say that
the published adjustment Of the Virginius
difficulty will not be satisfactory to the
American people. That the United States
does not wish q wanton war with Spain
has been proved by our whole history.
We respected her rights upon this CONT
nent, even when she endeavored to entice
Kentucky into secession from the Union;
when she repealed the right of Western
deposit at New Orleans; when she allowed
her territory at Pensacola to be an asylum
for the savages who ravaged our frontiers.
Throughout the long war waged for indie
pendence by the American colonies OF
Spain our government was neutral, and
during the revolutionary disturbances in
Cuba we have sold vessels and munitions
of war to Spain and denied all aid to the
patriots proclaimdng moral and physical
| freedom. In this atrocious massacre OF
men claiming American citizenship the
State Department has labored to save
Spain any unnecessary humiliation and
to appease the national indignation Of the
American people by the most equivocal
| concessions which could satisfy both
| nations.
We fear that while our Minister of State
may have won the admiration of European
diplomats by his skill in avoiding posi-
tive issue, the concession of the right to
invade the floating territory Of the United
States, and carry thence to captivity and
death American citizens, may unsettle the
doctrine which the United States has pub
lished in the resolutions of the Senate and
interpolated upon the unwritten law of
nations. Madison claimed that a neutral
flag protected the vessel from truck to
keel, and the naval war of 1921 assured
the freedom Of an American ship from any
right of search by a foreign power. We
record again our objection to, arbitration
by foreign powers of any question affect
ing American rights upon this continent
or elsewhere.
There are two points now involved for
consideration by our government
l. Reparation and indemnity for the
acts complained Of. e..
The agreement to restore the Virginius
and the surviving prisoners is an apparent
expression of regret for the outrage of her
capture, and yet it is only to restore the
coffin of the gallant dead. 1t is to cast
back the casket when the jewels have been
distracted. 1t seems to be accompanied
by no disavowal of the act of the subordi-
nate officers who committed it. There
are many cases in history in which
power compelled to do justice has SO ex-
ecuted the specific stipulations of treaty
as to practically defeat their effect. Bor-
gia, compelled by a French army at the
gates OF Rome, to surrender Mohamme-
dan prince, complied with the engage
ment, but the unhappy prince died within
a few hours of his delivery, from poison
administered by the perfdous power,
which thus annulled the very act it had
agreed to perform. To consume the
bodies with quicklime and send home an
empty sarcophagus, gives no assurance of
even contriton for the crime.
The salute to the American flag may
mean much or little, as Spain may inter-
pref it. 1t may mean an acknowledgment
that the honor Of our flag has been vio-
lated by the specific act complained of.
1t may be set down to the respect which
Spain entertains and habitually exercises
toward sister republic and an ardent
ally. 1t may be even construed as dis
play Of magnanimity that Spain has not
permitted those feelings to be interrupted
by even an act of alleged injustice on the
part OF her old friend and ally. We
should like to have it known what &C.
acknowledgement is intended by the salute.
2. Some guarantee that these outrages
can and will be prevented by Spain.
If Spain shall acknowledge that the
capture of the Virginius and the murder
of her citizens was not done by her order,
and could not be arrested by her COM
mand, then an inference results that an
act of similar enormity may be repeated.
Indeed, the cost of the transaction thus
far is not very serious in comparison with
its military effect. An expedition for the
military aid of the insurgents has been
destroyed; many lives of enemies to Span |
ish rule have been taken. 1t has cost but |
the powder of the massacre and of the !
salute, with the delivery of a ship which |
could in no sense and before no tribunal |
out of Cuba be adjudged a lawful prize.
There is every motive and entire i'm |
punity for repeating the deed. |
There should then be some guarantee
demanded by the United States, lest from
he inability or tacit sanction Of Spain
,hese outrages shall be repeated. THIS is
.he real gravamen of treaty. Neither
Empty ships nor empty concessions will
afford any bond of protection to any one
who may lose ship or friend in future.
The great duty of our government is to
'ut the repetition Of this outrage beyond
loubt. There are two modes by which it
nay be effected.
l. To recognize the belligerency of the
PARTIES to the Cuban war. This subro-
.ates each to the benefit Of lawful war If
n American citizen be put to death con-
rary to these rights, it will be cause Of
var at once.
2. The military occupation of Cuba I'M
Il al, S..ai., lor,, z. |