The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-25
he lHair Of The ylrelsius.

The A1air Of the vlPslsiss.
Their is nowgood reason to hope that
the affair Of the Viry,nius may be sstt-
led by conciliatory measures. A fort
night ago the Yankees had very war
like bearing, and appeared resolved to
take the opportunity afforded ~ the in
famous haste with which the Cuban vol
unteers proceeded to the execution Of
their captives in Santiago; and, indeed,
the occasion was tempting one. With
out going into the question of degrees
in tie guilt of tho officers aud crew of
the Virginius, OF endeavoring to apply
the gencralitics % international law to
this particular case; we may say with
out fcsr Of contradiction, that the nx-
tons, whose citizens were executed by
tho blood thirsty Cuban authorities,
were bound TO enter q most energetic
protest, and to demand all the atone.
-ment that Sp in can make. 1t is clear
that the men who sailed in the Virsini-
US had deserved some punishment. The
mission on which they were bound was
an indefensible one. But they had =
claim-as all men, ~hatever their degree
Of guilt may be, have claim-to fair
trial and u righteous judgment. The
men executed at Santiago had neither
The one nor the other; and it is on this
account that the countries to which they
belonged we're boand to interfere pre-
emptOriiy.
Spain appears to be thoroughly dis
posed to mako any rcparatiOns in her
power; and this PREPARATION being made,
Ihe offended nations arc bound to 10 sat.
isficd, and to refrain from all interior
encc in the sad affairs Of Cuba. 1t is
most honorable to tho American people
that, after the first natural effervesccnve
OF anger, caused by the Santiago execu-
tons, had sub.iGcd, they at once began
to take view Of the case in str,ct bar
mony with the PRINCIPLES Of information
al law. Should the Spanish Govern
mcnt prove, in the end, ei,hcr,ndisposed
to make full atonemcnt, or unable to
make it, very grave question will arise
with the offended pOwers-namcly, that
OF direct intervention in Cuba, TO ter
inmate by force tho struggle which has
been in progress for FIVE years, and to
proclaim and guarantee the indcpen-
denee of the distracted island.
We repeat, there is no doubt about the
character of the Virginius, and Of those
who were on board. She was chartered
by the Cuban lnsurgent Committee of
New York, and her passengers were so
many enlisted insurgents, bound for Gu
ba with material to carry on the iAsur-
rection there. Taxing all the facts Of
the case is stated by the Americans
themselves, there seems to be no room
to doub; tina, the vessel WAS legally cap
tured.
The United States and Spain are at
peace with one another. General Grant
has never recognized the Cuban insur-
gents Il: belligcrents; therefore tho fit
ting out and sailing Of an armed vessel
Cd insurgents, with the object of aiding
revolt in y Spanish possession, was II
deliberate and ind,sputable act of pira-
cy, which no flag could, or should, cover
with IMMUNITY. For this act, all con-
cerned in it were liable, Is We have al
ready observed, to punishment. But
they were not Justly liable to the fury
and brutality which they suffered, and
which WAS an outrage on justice and
humanity. IL is for this outrage that
SPAN must atone and it Is possible tina,
in order to prevent the recurrence Of
sach excuses, the United States may
demand solid guarantees. For Spain
herself is not able to enforce her author
ity throughout Cuba. 1t is to be hoped
most earnestly that tho Cabinets of
Washington and st. James will see their
way to take common action. Every
friend Of humanity will rejoice to soc an
end put to the degrading and bloody
conflict, " ich has been so long going
on IN Cuba. Spain holds the island
and holds it very unsteadIly-by the
sword and this in the interest OF the
slave owners. Intervention in tho in
tcrcsts of the vast majority OF the white
populatioa, would achieve the indepen-
dence of the island, and ut the same
time blot out the curse Of slavery from
them Cuban Independence, in short, is
the atonemcnt for tho Santiago cxscu-
tons, that would 10 most welcome.
And Senior Castelar, would make his
reign memorable were he to giant it !;
and Withdraw his troops from the island
to help in the restoration of Or,:er at
home.-L!oyd's London Newspaper, Nov.
39th.