New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-19

on hoard the shin and that she was pirate hno
liable to capture, the testimony was exciuded' o'
the ground that the act of going on board vessel
sailing under foreign flag being illegal under Tue
circumstances the defense could not uso any e''-
dence of the character of the vessel which was Old,
tanned by that illegal act Mr.. Webster inquired VI
the captor what had induced him to violate the io'
egn flag He replied that he did SO because ne kno"
that it was a frand and that the vessel was b'i'
more clipper, and any seaman would know IL I'D any
port of the world The vessel was then lying III
Boston harbor, and number Of sea captains theh
in port being called at random confirmed this fact
when the Court said that beng now legally on ooaro
the ship, evidence could be given as to what they
found thereon. The proposition, however that '',e
flag on the high protects all it covers, is too wen
established TO be successfully disputed at this day.
But the most serious part of this question seems 10
be that if the accounts in the papers are true se'
eral days after Spain had disavowed the act anu
while she was asserting q necessary part ol nu
defense that she had the power as well as the VIII
to prevent further outrages of similar character
the remainder of the prisoners were butchered III
cold blood Now, if Spain was acting in good fai'n
then il must betrue that she has not the power
vent her own soldiers and mariners from becomns
pirates on the high and from violating lnterna
tonal law and the commOnest dictates OF humanity
How long it is decent and becoming for o great
maritime power, which has an island in such o con-
diton Cuba is in adjacent to its territory 10 per
nit this state of things to exist. is
one of the most serious questions for tho
Administration to consider. The Administration
cannot be blamed for exhibiting heretofore desire
to take advantage of the internal discussions exist
ing in SPAIN to acquire possession OF the island OF
Cuba or even TO assist her in her efforts at inde-
pendence The Administration has preserved ltseu
from any blame on that score No action when inc
present emergency may call for, no matter how de-
cided, how prompt and energetic-no matter whaV
consequences it may lead tO-can be attributed 10
any design to take advantage of the present condi
ton of Spain. In fact this country is to-day lar
inferior to Spain in its preparations for marltio
war; and if, unfortunately we should be driven py
our own self-respect and the proper assertion OF
those principles of international law to when we
are fully committed, into with Spain, 1t VIII ne
found that we are utterly unprepared to cope with
her on the sea, so far as ships and Warilke
preparations are concerned.
Here the Senator spoke at length of the weakness
of orr navy and referred to his repeated efforts IN
the Senate to secure its reinforcement He condemned
the policy of Congress of letting our navy 60 TO rum
because we were at peace. The personnel OF our
navy was never better but TO send brave men to
tombed IN monitors might result in sacrificing their
lives fooshly and in destroying the prestige OF our
navy. The folly of Congress in negectlng to
strengthen our maritime force is no excnse, the
Senator continued, for any hesitancy TO maintain
the involability of our flag and to protect what 1t
covers on the high seas He spoke Of the brutal
murder of the officers and crew of the Vrgnus with
much feeling, and said it appeared that men who
shipped with no knowledge of the objects of the
voyage and the engineer and fremen who took
service with no motive but to get work which the
financial condition of the country made it so difficult
to get at home. we're butchered with the rest
Speaking, in conclusion, Of the probable attitude
of the Democratic party in Congress, he said that
while the party would not be willing to violate one
principle of international law for the purpose Of
acquiring any seeming GAIN territorial or otherwise,
it will at present in the past insist that the dig
nifty of our country shall be maintained, and tho
certainty of the protection of our flag aud of the
lives of citizens in all parts of the world shall
be established.