National Republican., 1873-12-23
THK NEXT STEP IN THE TTR
"a GINTUS CASE.

The end Of the Virginius case is not yet.
II Is evident that while the intricate com.
plicaiions We have been called upon TO en-
counter have been safely passed, the deli,
cacy Of management which has chaipc,er.
tsed the policy Of our Government in is
treatment Of the affair up to this time is
nacrc essential now than ever before. The
decision of the Attorney General, while il
has moi been altogether unexpected, intro.
duocs a new feature. |, must he remem.
bered that our Government has not at any
time conceded that Spain had tho lras,
fbuadatlon for the assumption that the VII.
gini,s was engaged In Illegal pursuits. Our
assumption was that she was entitled to i'm.
munity from arTcs, or disturbance upon the
high seas because she borc The American
nag and American paper. The old and
time .honorcd declaration against the
right of search was repeated
NEST cmphaticslly, and adhered to with n
pcrtinsciiy which admitted Of no contro-
vcsy. In other words. We based our claims
foe rpam,on on mere primd .fdcis case,
the false assumption Of which is now ex
posed hy our own admission Of her raudu
lent character. The claims ul Captain Fry
and iiis associates tia, their imprisonment
and execution was in violation of interna
tiousl law are disproved by that admission.
md II we overlook the brutal -inhumanitr
of th,. executions, we are compelled TO ll
NH. on proof Of our own bringing, ihnt the
Spsuish side of the case u not without ius
tihcation. Ii is true that Spain has never
admitted the existence HI war on the island
Of Cuba. and that consequently. she cln-
NOT maintain claim That the Nirginiu, NRs
attempting TO give aid to her enemies: but
she can maintain claim llrnl The obicc, nj
the voyage was unlricndly. and that the IN.
tent II lhc crew and passengers was in 10.
lation Of the peace of the Spanish Govern.
mcni
There Is sn apparent masnanlmily in the
position We have voluntarily assumed which
will no doubt, meet will, the hi-spprovsl
at many Of our people, hut il is the natural
rcsui, vi policy so closely interviewer with
the history Of The Government as la bc nc.
copied as fundamental law. II We had not
adhered 10 the assumption that Spain had
no jurisdiction whatever Over the question
whether the Nrginius hal or had not the
right 10 carry our flag. the affair would have
reached different determination. and Il Is
e proof Of the strength nf oUr diplomatic
policy and the carelulnrSs uf ils manage
meni that, Notwithstanding the lately dis
covered weakness of our ease. We have won
every point To which we Were justly "nri
tied When this l. understood. the illWSor
of magnanimiIy suddenly disappears. anC
we dud that We are simply doing justice IL
ars-lvcs in our relations with n sister re
pub!r.
iim he difficulty now Ia br encountered
il onr st icli is the offspring pi public opn
ion and the unanimous sympathy Of ou
people in support of the Cuban insurrrc
tioaists. The sensational journals and rattle
Drained politicians of the day viii take ad
vantage or the opportunity afforded ,hcu
by the present situation 10 arouse a senii
mrui avcrse 10 the proper punishment q
the persons who are responsible for the Vi,
p,ion of law in sending the Nirginius uro
her GiIibustcring voyage. II + true that "
have heiurc lis the recent example OF III
Cs,,s'sF Government enforcing its decree
IN opposition 10 the expressed desires ui
powerful mob in Havana und larry
Ialty AT Madrid. And We will 500
receive from that Government an eSprr,
declaration that no insult wns intended H.
iIm capture Of the vessel. But this will ~
avail In allay The excitement which III
trial or The persons connected with III
business Of preparing her for 4hc voIaG
will occasion. lc, il /, the solemn duIy ,
the Government. incurred ~ an OblicaliU
of lis own making, 10 proceed with .rlc
trials without delay The frequent delar,
tions made during the progress oi the neg,
tintinns which resulted in III" Poln-fis
protocol. tlmt our Government alone la
the right 10 determine questions rrgan!in
violations Of the neutrality nr our fcgi-ir
laws, sufficiently implied lh. obligation
and We cannoi. in view Of he honest ua'
ner in which Spain has observed her pa
Of the agreement afford Ia disregard il.
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