The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-25
Clear the Track, Fiiinusters.

The omclai organ VI eh@ :,
Washington Republican-very plainly 'el's
the public that the Government intenos u
clear the sea of filibustering expeditions
from the United States.
The article in which this announcement Is
made sets out with a statement oil the crnel'
ties Of the Cuban authorities in their trcat'
ment Of the passengers of the Virginius; the
trial of those persons by secret tribunal
which denied them hearing IN spite OF the
protest of the British and American cons uls;
the summary execution of those condemned
to death and the cruel neglect of those oe-
tanned as prisoners, who were found almost
without clothing. They had been poorly
fed, and were surrounded by filth ana ever!
evidence Of cruelty.
But the Republican hastens to say that
these horrid facts are not recited for the pur-
pose of creating new excitement, ano' we
add, nobody could suspect that 1t was ior
the purpose of establishing claim LOT
reparation, private or public. But the ne
publican only repeats the facts TO bring lnto
contrast the Cuban authorities and the Re
publican Government Of Spain. The
former. it contends, represents the OLD
Spain. while the latter is the exponent OF
better class of people " than those who won
"for the SpainIards MS race the name ana
"character of vindctive hloodthirstiness."
The Republican eulogizes CASTELAR,,
claims that he has gained strength by his
conduct In the Virginius affair, and laudins
the mockery of Spanish Republic, says
that it is the duty of our Government "to
foster this newly-deyeloped spirit" adding
"We must encourage its growth with
every method at our command, even to the
extent of support of the authority OF the
Home Government by moral and physical
menace of the indictments on the island.
- In carrying out the evident
obligation of our Government to do this
thing it may become necessary that we shall
interfere with the sailing OF future filibus-
tering expeditions"
So the 6Iibusters may consider themselves
warned.
The Republican states that the sympathy
with Cuban insurgents is "mere senti
ment." We say let the Federal Government
itself beware of Sentiment, and not allow its
foreign policy to drift into that dangerous
channel. What else is it but a sentiment that
modifes its policy towards the Spanish Re.
public? The republican sympathy it is ever
avoWing for European rebels is neither wise
nor proper in any view. Nearly all the
nations with which it holds friendly inter
course are monarchical, and yet while avow.
ing friendship for them we are ever encour-
aging that sort Of republicanism which is
but another name for rebellion in kingly
governments. In this official development
Of the purpose of the Government with re-
gard to tilibusters is the declaration that the
Spanish republicans "belong to the new
"element Of republicanism which is now
tsteadily advancing in power throughout
"the Old World, and before which the old
sand oppressive forms Of monarchical gov
"ernmeut tremble with frightened weak
sness."
Mere rant and fustian! With the exam
pies before us, what nonsense! But this
sounds well in the ears of the friendly mon.
arches in correspondence with our Govern
ment, coming, as it does, from the official
organ of the only gov eminent in the world,
save perhaps Switzerland, that can be with
any good reason called republican; and even
with regard to ours the term can only be
applied with qualification. Atthis very
time one-half the Union is endeavoring to
subject the white Caucasian race of the other
half to tyranny that is worse than the
sumptuary laws Of ancient Greece.
Well, well: these things belong to the
order of the uncomfortable. They 60 on
doing and undoing with regular irregularity.
may make very different music.