New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-24

Will he any tangible result of the negotiations
which have been opened by our Government. In
'the mean time naval preparations arc proceeding
with the usual activity, designed az we are in
formed by n telegram from Washington, to place us
IN condition to compel respect to our flag in the
future.
! THE NATURE OF OUR GRIEVANCES STATED.
| OUR INTELLECTUAL EFFORTS TO OBTAIN REDRESS IN
| THE PAsT-THE NAVAL PREPARATIONS INTENDED
| TO ENABLE Us TO ENFORCE OUR DEMANDS IN THE
| FUTURE
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCHl
| WASHINGTON, Nov 23.-The Spanish question is
everywhere discussed with more camness than it
was last week. and the impression seems to prevail
TO greater extent than heretofore that there will
| be war between the United States and Spain 1t
| is not expected in official aud diplomatic cir
! cles that the correspondence the subject OF
! the capture of the Nirginius and the pro-
ceedings which followed viii be of brief duration.
If this should be 1T would be against all expert
! ence; for among other things the fact is revived
| that when the Lloyd Aspinwall, q legitimate mer
chant vessel, was seized by Spanish authority, more
than three months elapsed before she was released
and restored TO her owners, the proceedings TO that
end extending through the Governments of the
United States and Spain and the Cuban authorities
tested against the treatment of citizens of
the United States in the Island of Cuba,
and owing to the earnest efforts of the
Secretary of State q convention was concluded be-
tween this country and Spain in February 1871, for
the settlement of the claims of such citizens or of
their heirs against Spain for wrongs aud injuries
committed against their persons and property on
the Island of Cuba or within its maritime jurisdic-
ion since the beginning of the present insurrecton
The Commission was accordingly organized, but has
done little business in the way of decisions, owing
TO the continued disturbances preventing the taking
OF the necessary proofs in relation to some Of the
most important cases.
There is nothing to show that in this matter Spain
is not acting in good faith One Of the most serious
complaints is that the property and estates Of Ameri
can citizens are arbitrarily enlarged in violation
OF the provisions Of the treaty of 1885, The Secretary
of State more than three years ago complained to
the Spanish Government through Gen. Sickles that
the Spanish authorities in Cuba seemed 10 be clothed
with absolute power for the commission of such acts
az were complained of: but when redress was sought
this Government was referred TO the distant Cabinet
of Madrid, where il was often found necessary to
refer again TO Cuba for information, and the case
was thus suspended and delayed to the injury of the
parties and at the hazard of irritation from delay OF
which the necessity was not apparent to the impa-
tient sufferers OF to the public.
The President had respected the Spanish claim of
sovereignty the island OF Cuba during the pres
ent contest against a strong sympathetic pressure
from without and il was added that Spain owed II
to the United States as well as to her own traditional
sense of justice that her sovereignty should not be
used for the oppression and injury of the citizens of
this Republic and our Government expressed the
hope that the arrest and embargoes complained of
ODD hot iYnfu ntn TpD
would be made for those that had taken place. The
recent capture of the Yireinius sailing under the
American flag, and the summary proceedings at San
tiago de Cuba without giving the United States All
opportunity of being heard party interested are
the cause of the present naval preparations. These
are designed to prevent the recurrence OF similar
acts by placing us in n condition To compel respect
to our flag and to guard citizens either in Cuba
or on the seas from arbitrary arrests and spoiation
of their property.
NO DESIRE FOR WAR BY OUR GoVERNMENT-rHE
NATIONALITY OF THE vIRGISIUs AND The RIGHT
TO DEMAND REPARATIoS FOR HER SEIZURE
THE QUESTION OF ARBITRATION
lBT TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUSE.I
WASHINGTON. Nov 23--The war fever that has
ragged fiercely in Washington, as well as through
out the entire country for the past two weeks, has
greatly subsidized within the last two days. and, un
the meeting of Congress to kindle again the Indig
nation of the people. the indications arc that the
session will open Oh a calmer and clearer atmos-
phere than has pervaded the country since the cap
ture of the Virgnus. From all that be
learned by careful inquiry and observation, it
appears that while there has been no disagreement
among members of the Cabinet in their meetings.
and while all have maintained that II was necessary
| to be prepared for the worst that might happen
there Is very great difference IN the personal
wishes and feelings Of the members OF the Admins
tration. 1t wond probably not be safe to say that
any one of Gen. Grants Cabinet officers earnestly
desires to see this country involved in war with
Spain, if any excuse for the beginning OF hostiites
can be found; or that any of them IN IN favor OF
peace NJ any price. But there Is no doubt that
while some Of the Secretaries have kept their heads
others have unnecessarily contributed to increase
the excitement of the people.
The latest news received here tonight contains
nothing calculated to indicate that peaceable settle
ment of the present difficulties umy not be had
while the more the case of the Nirgnus is in
vestigated the more doubt arises in regard to her
legal status and her right 10 claim the protection Of
the American flag A Cabinet officer remarked To-
day that the more he examined the case the weaker
1t appeared. Tho flbustcring character Oh the eA-
petition which the yrginius took out is notorious,
and those American citizens who engaged IN 1t
either did intended to violate both municipal and
international law. The ownership of the vessel IL
also sthl IN doubt. IL IL even asserted
that Dir. Patterson was only nominally her
owner, or that persons who were not citizens
OF the United States had an interest III
her II this be the ease or it, since she secured an
American registry any citizen Of any other country
had ACQUIRED share either in Der ownership or her