The New York herald., 1873-11-16
1ne smPotenos OF Spain In Cuba
What Our Honor Demands and tho
Law Permits.

The feeling ofindignation throughout the en-
tire Union aroused by the inhuman outrages
of the Hispano-Cuban butchers at Santiago
de Cuba has no uncertain sound in its express
sion 1t IS the diapason of a mighty people,
which is seldom heard more than once in .
generation. From the South as we'll as
from the North, from East and West,
it has arisen in that solemn accord which will
bear no denial of what it claims. The sd-
ministration has never existed which could
ignore such an appeal. 1t is not in any way
clogged with the minor issue Of whether Cuba
should be slave or free; it consults
only the national honor and dig
nifty, which certain Spanish fiends
in Cuba have deliberately outraged.
1t demands that reparation, instant and COM
plete be made. The evidence that localizes
the responsibility of the outrage on the Span
ish rulers of Cuba is complete. We were long
aware Of the impotence of the home govern
ment Of Spain to restrain the violence Of the
slave owners and their volunteers in Cuba, but
1t has seldom been so clear that the action
of the latter was completely in defiance
VI tlS NtALh1 SONtIuutHt ht lieu
with the intrigues of Spanish parties as Cuban
affairs have been, it was never before possible
to say that the atrocities of the slave owners
and volunteers in Cuba were not sympathized
in by the Spanish government. The home
authorities since the outbreak Of the
rebellion, have never been able to
control the brutes Of the Casino Espanol,
but until the advent Of the Republic
there was never any real desire to do so. Since
the abdication Of Amadeus the slaveocracy
have proved the utter powerlessness Of Spain
to rule in Cuba. The abolition Of slavery and
the law on the sequestration Of Cuban estates
were scofied at, and the execution Of the cap
tives Of the virginius is the crowning act
proving that Madrid has no hold on Cuba
to-day. We put the question in this light
not to claim any mitigation Of feeling for
Spain, but to demonstrate that our business
is directly with Cuba. The Spanish people,
whose very sports are bloody, may see
no crime in the butchering Of citizens Of the
United States, and the best resolves
of their government may be thwarted
by those whose brethren in Cuba
have made Santiago slaughter house
of civilization in the eyes of the world.
While the gravest doubt exists that the gov
ernment of CASTELAR, could muster corporals
guard to right our wrongs in Cuba, we are
very certain that tens of Spanish thousands
could be found to applaud and sustain the
butcheries. Therefore, we say, the impotence
of the Spanish government must not be its
excuse, even for delay. An insult to America
has been committed which must be wiped
out; blood has been shed which must be
atoned for; lives to. which we owe protection
are in jeopardy and must be saved.
How are these things to be accomplished?
1t will be seen by our dispatches up to the
latest date that some of the men captured on
the Virginius are probably still alive. 1t would
be crime on the part of our Executive to allow
the lives Of these men to be taken, and thera
is no way to prevent this but by action. 1t is
objected in quibbling quarters that to take the
measures necessary to rescue those yet un-
| butchered and to recover our property would
be to commit acts of war; which the President
cannot authorize without the order of Con-
gress. 1t is not war to protect lives which it
is our duty to protect in q season of peace as
well as in any other season. 1t is not war to
take our property from the hands of robbers.
1t is not war to tear down foreign flag from
any portion of our territory whereon the Stars
and Stripes have been lowered by the in
sulting hands Of lawless desperadoes. The
best that can be said by the quibblers is that it
may lead to war; Very well. Let the on,ls
of its declaration be upon those who dare to
lit their heads before the world to champion
the hideous crime of Santiago. The course
which lies before US, outside of the declaration
of war; allows of three important acts in the
case, which are those Of reparation. In the
primary form of demand they are;-
The surrender Of the men of the yirginius
still living
The surrender of the murderers Of the men
slain.
The surrender of the American ship vir-
ginius
If these demands are refused they must be
enforced. If we have right at all it is not
war to enforce it. These views are incontro-
vertible. They will meet the sense of the
nation.
While the exact temper OF the sdministra-
ton upon the question is not as clear as it
might be, we are glad to observe that they are
straining every effort to place us in position
to take the most extreme step necessary in
the event Of our demands not being complied
with. What we have to complain of especially
is the sentimentalism which governs our Sec
cretary of State in his dealings with Spain.
This sentimentalism causes him to shut his
eyes to the fact we have dwelt on previously
in this article--namely, the inability of Spain
to curb or coerce the slaveocracy in Cuba.
He can depend upon it that exchange of