The New York herald., 1873-12-15
The Beaming Smile Changed
Into Weird Chagrin.
OUR SPANISH CHRISTMAS BOX.
The Great Financial Question Of the Day
Agitating Congressional Minds.
N O Il A X A It I O N +.
The Confirmation Of Attorney General
Williams Very Doubtful.

WASHINGTON Dec. IA, 1873.
Secretary Fish breads the Scrutiny OF
Congrcss-Spain's Victory Over the
United Statcs-Thc salute To Be Fired
ON Christmas Day, Being, Therefore, q
Customary Ceremony.
From prominent Official who is in the secrets OF
the administration, and whose intimacy with the
Secretary OF State makes his opinions valuable, l
have received the folowing:-
Now that time has intervened for more delib-
crate view OF the whole case of the Vlrgnius than
heretofore Secretary Fish is less dis
posed to plume himself on the course
OF the State Department in respect
TO the virginius an air, and is not confident that
when all the papers get before Congress the policy
OF the department will receive unqualified CON-
mendation 1t is feared that the position that
Congress may take on the subject will be that, for
the sake Of wringing from the spanish government
q reluctant and qualified agreement to do what
ought to and would have been done spontaneously
and instantly by any other government claiming
the reciprocal rights and privileges observed
among civilized Powers, the State Department,
IN its protracted negotiations the protocol
with Admiral Polo, and in the subsequent pro-
ceedngs relative to the execution therof, has vir
tually bartered the dignity of the government as
well as the opportunities of justifable interyen-
tiOn afforded to the United States by the hagrant
outrage against this country, consummated in the
seizure of the Virginius and the almost indiscrm-
mate slaughter that followed it. Besides this, the
rights of those who failed to realize the pro-
lection supposed to belong to the nag
OF the virginius have been remanded to the
patering remedy OF a long winded diplomatic dis
cusslon between the two governments. as likely as
not to spread itself years before the promise
or reference to arbitration is resorted to, and all
this, as many Congressman already have said in
conversation on the subject, in the face OF fact
as plain as daylight ITSELF under any
theory set up on either side, the capture
OF the vessel without the shadow OF right,
and the subsequent executions. even when
glazed over with the form OF martial law, pure and
simple murder, and that there nothing in the
whole proceeding to justify the slightest conces-
sion on our side to the Spanish government. There
is little doubt that when the subject does get
before Congress it will provoke vehement denials
that the miscalled settlement made OF it through
the present Secretary of state has any right to
stand fair deduction from what pre-
vous administrations have done in cases
requiring the vindication OF our flag or proper
precedent TO be observed by the successors OF Mr.
Fish in cases that may arise hereafter The sneak
ing Of the actual surrender OF the vessel is
not thought likely 10 increase the satisfaction OF
either the Secretary or Congress at the issue
worked out OF the question by the State Depart
ment. AS 1t is too late now to begin anew the
practical side OF the discussion in Congress- when
it comes on, it is deemed likely to be the
urging OF the administration to a more
peremptory attitude towards the whole Cuban
question, with the view OF settling it in manner
consistent with wounded pride, our duty to-
ward the struggling Cubans and our material in
terests. Now the facts, dvested OF diplomatic
language, are that while the administra-
tion would gladly proclaim a great triumph,
the aggrayatng source OF our recent buster
has been annihilated by Spanish diplomacy.
The administration began with a concession which
was intended to be creditable and that was-the
CASTELAR, government Is weak, SO far as ii repre-
Bents republican ideas among monarchcal
Powers. When our demands were received
In Madrid, CASTELAR, represented that the
language used was stronger than in a
literal Interpretation was intended, and, instead
Of acting on the proposition, rewrote the
demands in Spanish and, as rewritten and trans
lated by the Spanish Minister, Admiral Polo, they
were submitted to Secretary Fish and dignined
with the name OF protocol. in addition, the salute
10 the nag, which is stipulated to take place on
Christmas Day, would have been fred on that day
without regard to the Virginius matter, and the
Spanish authorities in Cuba will carry out the GUS
tom OF sautlng the nags OF all nations the 18th
INST as the Catholic idea OF ''peace earth
and good will to men," as wen as the
christmas greeting or spain to all the peoples OF
the EARTH 1t IS iurther alleged that the victory OF
Spain over the United States is narrowed down to
pecuniary matter. For nearly half century the
Peninsuar government has found q wayward
colony in the island OF Cuba; her authority has
been dehed both in word and act. Now, the
United states, BY threatening the volunteers. has
q sAot rf ,.,tttt
Spain, enabled the CASTELAR, government to say
The Captain General is the representative
oil the Spanish government and what
the government OF the United states expects us to
90 Is exactly what we wish you to do Acting
uhoer these instructions Captain General Joyellar
mas ehdeaVered to impress upon the Havanese that
:tiwas not SO much the home government that was
sustaining MN as the United States govern ment
and now that the Casino Esoanol is
crushed, General Jovelar master OF the
situation. with our navy to give him ira moral snn
port, the State Department has prepared the wav
Tor the Information that salute TO our nao ia
after ALL oly diplomatic ceremony OF no sirnl6.
cauce whatever, but merely matter OF iormality.
such as the sealing OF a document or the Witness
ing OF 4 signature.
we have been outwitted,v remarked mem her
Of the Committee Foreign Relations TO your
correspondent. at has cost us $l5,00o,OoO 10
pretend we were preparing to MAINTAIN our
rights and sustain the dignity OF the nag on this
Continent. IL turns out that the money spent
just suits the Spanish government, for at
our expense she is able to do what she has not
been able 20 do since 1925, and that Is compel
obedience to her authority. CASTELAR, might truly
say, with the starving woman who prayed for help
ana believed her petition was answered when mis-
thievous boys threw loaves OF bread down the
chimney, The devil may have been the servant
but the Lord furnished the nourishment.'n
Vhe Triangular Duel Betwecn re.
trenchmcnt, Increased Taxation and
Anaation-iow "Pcrmancnt' Appro-
printions May BE Reduced and What
Is Said OF Them.
ihere Is general distrust among members or
both Houses OF Congress relative to an increase
OF taxaticn for the purpose OF meeting the exist
tpC and apticinated .laaai.s.s..