New-York tribune., 1873-12-12

mittees to confer with the officials try to inducs
them TO withdraw their designations and arrange
for some colrse of action. In the time hostile
feeling was expressed toward Americans and
Cubans, the latter taking good TO make them
selves as nconsmcuous ~ possible.
wARLIKE THREATS AND PREPARATIONS.
The designations were not accepted, and kilograms
sent from Havana to Madrid requesting modi-
tication of the orders in relation to the Virgnus,
and asking that she be sent TO Spain. where the an
thoriies could make such disposition of her was
desired The officials here asserted that if she were
surrendered by the Cuban administration, the popu-
lace would rise in body and another crisis would
be the result II there is any truth in the state
ments concerning the replies from Madrid, they
could have afforded very little consolation TO the
politicians and partsans here. The Home Govern
ment il was understood, had replied that if the Vir
ginius not delivered up to the United States,
that power 10 come and take her. Further
more il tho Spanish authorities in Cuba did not
obey the orders of the Home Government. they were
to be declared insurgents and treated accordingly.
This added fuel to the fame. and execration and de-
nunciation OF Spain. CASTELAR,, and his Government
were heard on all sides. They threatened to refuse
to recognize the authority of the Government and
to act for themselves In all these operations, the
Casino, as usual, the most prominent factor
III formed popular sentiment. III lndIlpuidtcu
the interior towns and worked upon the Off
cals here. Ii fosered the excitement. and its MEM
bers declared their willingness die rather than
allow the honor of their country to be sacrificed.
Additional volunteer corps in Havana, Santa Clara,
and other places were started for the purpose OF
repellng prospective invaders Religious societies
were requested to form ambulance corps, and ultra
Spanish shipping merchants held meeting at
which it was resolved 10 fit out priyateers to prey
upon American commerce in the event OF war beng
declared. Subscription lists opened, ana II was
reported that large sums were beng subscribed
These were the principal phases of the excitement
since it was first reported that the United States
intended to exact an immediate return OF the Nr-
gInius.
THE WAR FEVER RAPIDLY COOLING
Now, while the Spanish party still believe that it
is sweet TO die for ones country, there has been
decided abatement in the excitement and there is
evidently an ardent disposition 10 die immediately
Inquiry of the better informed class of foreign mer
chants. principally British. American aud German,
elected the opinion that all the excitement was SIM
ply the gasconade peculiar to the people that they
could not be expected TO subside Immediately under
such terrible humiliation. 1t was natural to ex-
pect that they would be dissatisfied and, if it were
possible to evade the duty they would not return
the Virgnius at all. While they were dcsirous
of diving for their country in sentimental
or fgurative sense, yet they would object
to any actual inconvenience of any KIND
Quoting the Spanish commercial and INDUS
trial classes, the merchants said that those
persons who had anything To lose were very strongly
opposed to hostilities War in Cuba meant rum 10
all who had any property. 1t meant not only
commercial depression but the abolition OF slavery
With tho destruction of slavery the Spanish
rnnlH ha
poor indeed. Gold is quoted at 81 here,
and it would require very little disturbance
to send it up to 30 OF more. The paper
money of the Spanish Bank is reluctantly accepted
and the directors are afraid to put out the addl-
tiona Sl0OO0OOO required. for fear. of popular IN
dicnation at the further depreciation of the cur
rency The less intelligent and more lawless classes
which have nothing to lose and are fond OF excite
ment have expressed less aversion 10 war.
The army and navy, however, are professionally
interested and have an esprit da corps winch VIII
not permit them, according to their declarations 10
silently witness the surrender OF the vessel
They are loudest in their protestations against
compliance with the demands of the United
States At dinner the other day Cen
Burriel declared that he did not blame the United
States but the Madrid Government for It's weakness
The officers Of the Tornado, as has already been
stated Will resign ana Jhef tcSBndtiohs VIII Piopa
bly be accompanied by those of many of their
brother officers who sympathze with them and
grieve over the humiliation of the Spanish Navy.
CUBANs PREPARING TO LEAVE TIE ISLAND.
Thus far no overt act has been committed against
any American or Cuban, but some OF the latter
afraid of possibilities are about to leave the island
The Americans and Others contracting their
business as much as possible and the planters in the
interior are converting their products into money
rapidly. as they can.
Lieut. c. w. Chipp of the United States Wal YES
sci Juniata arrived here on the 5th from Santiago.
lie reports matters quiet at Santiago, the Juniata
Wyoming, and Woodlark, exercising beneficial
superyision over the scene of the recent massacre
Commander Braine and the American ConSul had
AN interview with the survivors of the Virgnius,
and their formal declarations were taken Cor
respopdence between Gen. Morales de los Rios and
Commander Brane and other dispatches are trans
mitted by Lieut.. Chipp to Washington. lie left
almost immediately by way of Key West An error
was made 10 the first publication OF the total OF the
Virginiuss passengers. Instead of 162, there were
ONLY 155 SO of these shot; of the survivors IA
are native OF naturalzed Americans and IS are OF
other natonalities. On the arrival of the British
ounboat DaDe ut Havana there salutes,
and il was supposed that there was trouble; but it
was explained that salutes ever passed between
the Morro Castle and vessels of less than 10 guns.
The Voz de Cuba to-day publishes an editorial call
for more volunteers to join the battalioDs
organizing.
THE KEY WEST STATION.
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