Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-11-20


speak boastfully, 1--WE have men of eX-
perience, and we have the dash in the
United States, and if it comes to fight
we could whip out Spain"
THE NEW YORK TINES.
In an editorial article, on Saturday,
the Times says:
1t may fairly be assumed by this time
that the Virginius was, at the time of
her capture, flying the American flag
and in the possession Of American pa
pers. Had this not been the case, we
have should had a statement TO that effect
from the Spanish authorities. But in
stead of denying this essential fact, the
Spanish government, by telegraphing an
order to stay the execution Of the cap
tives from the Nirginius, substantially
admitted that their seizure required an
investigation. Ii would have required
none, had there been any pretense that
the American flag had Loot ben violated
This fact being established, further
inquiry into the matter can only discoy-
er aggrayatiOn of the Offense. If the
seizure of the Virginius were illegal, the
execution of passengers taken from her
would not be justified even though they
were Spanish subjects, in rebellion
against the Spanish authority. If. on
the other hand, the persons shot were
American citizens, 20 the original of
Tense is added one much more grave. so
grave in fact, that international law does
not undertake to limit the redress that
may be claimed by the nation wronged.
Every nation must defend its flag. be
cause unless its flag IS respected the
lives and rights of its citizens cannot be
made safe. When, therefore, the flag
is outraged, and the rights it was dis
played to protect are violated. and when
the injury thus dOne-aS when life is
taken - is irreparable, it is impossible
to define the redress which the injured
nation may require.
On this state of facts the course open
to the government is plain. 1t is obvious
that its immediate duty is to use all the
force necessary to prevent any recur-
renee of the injury and insult we have
already suffered. 1t is our right, under
the circumstances, to so far take the law
into our own hands as to dispatch what
vessels may be needed to Cuban ports,
with instructions to prevent, at all haz-
ards, any assault on the lives of Ameri-
can citizens 1t is set up in defense or
explanation of the recent outrage, that
the Governor General of Santiago de
Cuba-a subordinate, but quasi indie
pendent otficial-purposely eyaded the
supervision of the Captain General and
the home authorities. In that case it be-
comes necessary to bring him and all
similarly disposed Spanish officials, I'M
der the guns of an American fleet The
respect which Spain cannot compel, we
can. There is no reason to doubt that a
prompt display of determination, ac-
companied by a reasonable amount of
force, will make the rights of Americans
as safe in Cuba as anywhere else. Of
course this is an extreme measure. But
the case demands extreme measures.
Where offenses are sudden and violent,
they can, in full accordance with in
ternational law, be met by measures of
redress of the same character. More
over, it is obviously useless to deal with
Spain as we should deal with a power
capable of keeping all its obligations
with such a power as Germany, for in
stance, or even France. Such coun-
tries can secure to us the fulfilment
of obligations and respect for our rights.
In the case of Spain we must furnish
our own security. And while fleet in
Cuban waters will protect our national
rights for the present, our government
must seek some further and permanent
security for the future 1t would be an
awkward way of doing this to maintain
a fleet about the island. What we have
a right to seek is a government to deal
with capable of responding to our Just
claims, and of guaranteeing the rights
of American citizens in Cuba. Spain
has not now such a government, and is
not likely to have one. Her hold on
Cuba has been sadly weakened for a
long time, until it has become nearly
nominal. Considering what has just
taken place, she can have no right to
refuse to the United States any security
that this government may ask. One
thing is evident. No security our gov
eminent can obtain would be worth a
cent which did not include some plan
for the ultimate removal of the cause of
contention in the island.