Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-11-15


and other chiefs. sr.s aaf5 az
Five of the men arrested at Antun on
charge of being engaged in conspiracy
toabducJ the neice of President MacMa-
hon and hold her as: a hostage, have
been convicted and sentenced to various
terms of imprisonment.
Adispatch. from Paris SAYS it is re-
ported that an extensive plot in favor of
the Count de Paris has been discovered
in that city. It is said that the autllori-
ties are in. possession of, documents by
which a number of well known politi-
clans are compromised. 1t is also re-
ported that adeputation. of Monarchists
is, about to :, proceed to Salzburg to re-
quest the Count de Cnambord to abdi-
cate his claims to the throne of France
i'm favor of the Count de Paris.
'1he PrSsse says the, Right Have not
only agreed to limit MacMahon's term
of office to five years, but have consent
ed that he shall be officially designated
as President, of the Republic BY
these concessions the Right have gained
over one Republican member ana now
have a majority i'll the committee OH the
prolongation Of, the Presidents powers.
Cuba. srs
Whilst the circumstances surrounding
the capture and hasty execution of the
Fillibusters, on the; ;Virginius, certainly
do not speak well for the humanity OF
the Spanish Cuban authorities. it is as
well to ask for all tire facts before going
loft the handle" with demands for tsrep-
aratfon'' Or 3''reuibution.'' The object
of the Virginitls in prowling about the
Caribbean Sea was well known. Her
pretence of being an American steamer
OH a peaceful commercial voyage, was
of the fiimsiest Possible description, de-
oeiving no one, Her we'll known OBJ
ject was 70 land party OF fillibusters,
with munitions of war, upon the Cuban
coast. Her use of the. United States lag
us Il cover for these objects can only be
defended on purely technical grounds,
aud if she had forfeited that technical
right by Il transfer OF ownership to a
foreigner. and ssiad, whilst under her
present owership; been flying the Cuban
insurgent OF theIVeIezueleansf flag, as is
alleged, there remains no reason why
her seizure should provoke demands for
redress from our Government. How
| ever strong may be our sympathy with
the Cuban '.pasrfots, and however
great our detestation of the ferocious
loyal governing body in Cuba, that
sympathy or detestation must not lead
| us into acts that, cannot be defended on
the ground of International law and
comfy between nations. The Virginius
| was IN reality a fillibustering vessel. 1t
she was, according to the law OF nations
and our own statutes, an outlaw, her
seizure cannot be successfully called i'm
question. The proof of her being an
outlaw devoiyes OH the Spanish author
tiles. The hastv trial and summary ex-
ecutlonOf the principal persons found
on board, was a barbarous act, unques-
| tiQnably, when viewed from our stand
point. But the Spanish Cuban authori-
ties are not wholly without reasons for
the act. The war in Cuba has been con-
Quoted with great ferocity on both sides.
1t is IL war to the knife and the knife to
the hilt. All those OF the Virginius
party condemned and executed, were
noted leaders.of the insurgents. Their
landing and active participation in the
strife would make the struggle more
desperate. and perhaps more ferocious,
if that were possible. There was no
doubt as TO their character and purpose.
If the Virginius was an outlawed ship
as is claimed by the Spanish-Cuban au-
thorities--all who Were on her with
knowledge of her unlawful character,
became outlaws and were subject to the
consequences of outlawry, The fact
that Colonel Ryan was an American cit
izen, could afford him no protection in
such case. Under the most favorable
view to be taken of his conduct, lie for
feited the protection of this Government
when he participated in the organization
In the United States OF an expedition
against the territory of II nation with
which we are at peace, and when lie left
the United States with that hostile eXpe-
ditlon, Our Government should Insist,
and doubtless will insist, OH the most
thorough and satisfactory proof of the
right of the Spanish-Cuban authorities