New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-12
SECRETARY FISH ON THE CUBAN MAS
-4as.---tta- EACRE

/ 40 "~~~S~ ~N
5 Secretary of State is reported to hav
: spoken of the principal outrage commit
!. ted in the Cuban war-the summar,
murder of four or more persons captured
on board a vessel held as lawful prize TO
being engaged in running the blockade o
the Cuban coast. There are several point
in the conversation attributed to the Sec
/ rotary which scarcely comport with tina
! sympathy that republican officer should
entertain for people who, if conquered
must share the fate of these murdered
men, or for six hundred thousand slaves
whose sole chance of emancipation hangs
on the success Of those who are fighting
for the freedom of the slave together witt
their own. The Secretary explains the
non-intervention, of what he calls the
good republicans of the Spanish gov
eminent, by saying that the volunteers Of
Cuba are bloodthirsty and ungovernable.
This would be an admission which Spain
could not make without giving cause Of
moral Intervention by all civilized powers.
We apprehend that Spain will make no
such disavowaL. These passengers
on the Virginius were murdered by
a courtmartial. The sentence of court
martial can not take effect except upon the
approval of superior in command, and
this superior, as we'll as the Captain Gen
eral OF Cuba, has been appointed by the
Spanish government In the same con-
nection the Secretary states that the Span
ish government has made many conces-
| sions cat the instance of our govern
ment." What these are we know not ex
cept to have RETAINED from shooting some
of our own people; but the great conces-
sion Of universal emancipation, promised
by the Spanish government, has in no
| sense been executed either by the mon
arch or the President Of Spain. The re-
buke for not going to fight in Cuba, ad-
dressed to those who seek aid in the United
States, and the remark that Santa Rosa
was ga great fool" for going back to fight
for Cuba, are contradictory. We do not
think that it will read well at the centen-
NAL celebration, that the example of
Franklin and Deane and Adams, seeking
aid in foreign land for the liberation
of their own, should have been thus
even indirectly reflected upon. The
whole .enor of the conversation leans
toward the exculpation Of Spain for the
barbarities practiced in Cuba, while for
those who have proclaimed and daily die
for religious freedom and the emancipa-
ton of African slaves the words are very
few and almost words of censure. The
subject is very grave, but the consequent
tial tone of the interview reminds
one Of ''Lord Decimus Tite Barnacle
in all the odor of circumlocution, and
with the very smell Of the dispatch box
upon him." The expressions which fol- |
low are highly diplomatic .'this govern
ment can not act upon vague informal
ton"
In regard to the seizure we have no Off
cal information 1t the EirgInius was first |
sighted IN Spanish waters, and chased to
the high sea and captured. that forms one
view of the case If she was on the high |
sea and was chased to Jamaica, that forms
another; and II she was captured within a
league of Jamaica. it becomes d matter for
the English government to take cognizance
of.
This is not unlike the protocol of Mr..
Commissioner Pordage when called to
make official Intervention in behalf of
party of British subjects himself being
one of them then in the hands of pirates
and to be shot in two hours.
"YOu will observe" said Mr.. Pordage.
looking at the torn cuffs of his diplomatic
coat instead of at me, ''that can not take |
of our situation. No memoran-
DUN OF 1t has been drawn up; no report in |
connection with 1T has been presented to
me- | can not possibly recognize it until |
the necessary minutes and memorandums
and reports have reached me through the |
proper channels. When our miserable stu
alton presents itself to me on paper shall |
bring it under the notice of government;
aud government. after proper interval,
will bring it back again under nv notice,
and then L shall have something to say
about it. Not minute beforeeno. nv
nan, not a minute before"
But the intimation that the United |
States should be careful lest she subject
herself to money damages as England did
0 the tune of 'sfifteen and half millions
It dollars, scarcely expresses the senti-
nent of the American people. England t
ntervened in our affairs to divide and a
verthrow republican government; the L
United States is called to do the same $
hing to stop brutal and savage war, to f
ustain republican struggle and expand l
he principles Of emancipation to the ends b
the earth. La this point of view, if we v
ave justice on our side, the possible il
ost of maintaining and spreading human l
berry should far outweigh with a Re- p
ublican statesman any dread of bill Fl
" damages which may be presented 6
II so doing. The REPUBLICAN has O
ated the duty which should govern
lie Republican press. 1t is to regard 7
lie principles of the party as paramount G
the opinion or action of any of its t
lembers The question Of emancipation I,
nd protection in Cuba is one of infinite a
Importance. 1t behooves the administra- a
on to consider with great care the legal Il
of the situation. The REpUB- ii
LcAN represents constituency peculiarly
lterested IN these results, and it would Vi
derelict to its duties to Republican "
'inciples If it forbore candid express al
on of opini on whenever these interests CT
me to be in any manner in orast;o, ii