Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-11-21
1)orf Gobafro Qinres
PORT TOBACCO:
f.-
Friday Morning, November..-~21, 1878.
The BufcIrery at Santiago.

y
Santiago de Cuba by the Spaniards, of
the passengers and crew of the steamer
Virginius, captured on the high seas
by the Spanish man-of-war Tornado.
This Government is without official
information, as yet, on the subject, as
Mr.. Young, the American Consul at
that port, following the example of
our illustrious administration, was of
course absent from his post, enjoying
himself among his boon companions in
New York. But enough is known to
show, that at the time Of the capture
of the Virginius she was sailing under
the United States flag, with her papers
properly authenticated, and within six
miles of the coast of Jamaica and at
least ninety miles from Cuba, and
therefore on the high seas. It is true
that the vessel intended to land her
passengers and cargo, which consisted
of munitions of war, on the coast of
Cuba, for the purpose of aiding the
cause of the patriot Cubans who, for
more than four years past, have sue
cessfully defed the power of Spain in
their effort to liberate their country.
But inasmuch as there is no actual or
pretended blockade of the coast of
Cuba, vessels of the United States and
other friendly powers have a perfect
right to trade with that island, and to
effect landings at proper points on its
coast if not actually forewarned from
doing SO by the Spanish authorities.
But under no circumstances, even after
such warning, has Spanish man-of-
War. right to capture vessel sailing
under the flag of friendly nation, un-
less the latter be found within one
maritime league of Spanish territory.
En- this particular case every well set
tied rule of international law seems to
have been violated, and it becomes the
duty of the United States to demand
and enforce PREPARATION from Spain
But, if we are wrong in this, the pas
sengers and crew were entitled to fair
trial and full investigation before
properly constituted authorities, and
an opportunity given to our Govern
ment to see that justice was done to
Ez1IClIL JETLzS144s ~ -7~~ 90
tiiicaei0fI, n any aspect of the case, be-
fore the civilized world, for treating
these people as pirates, and shooting
them without trial or time for prepar-
alton. It was a wanton insult to our
nationality. This is all clear under
the law of nations, and the duty of our
Government is plain. We have no
doubt a great to do will now be made,
and in due time the Government of
Spain will apologize, and probably sus-
pend few officers from their COM
n1ands for month or two and at the
end of that time promote them for their
act. And so the matter will end
There is no probability of any war be-
tween Spain and this country at pres
ent, Notwithstanding all the fuss and
indignation now being displayed
Doubtless the administration would be
glad to involve us in war with pow
er so weakened by internal dissensions
as to promise succession of easy vic
tories, and thus, by distracting public
attention, for the time being, from its
own corruptions and Encouragement
procure it new lease Of power.
But, without this, will the people
overlook the shameful neglect of the
public interests and the national hon
or, as. displayed by Gen. Grants timer.
ant administration in this very matter
which has so cruelty eliminated in
this display of barbarous butchery?-
Cuba lies within sixty miles of the
coast of the United States: Interna
war has been raging within her Dor
ders; for more than four years past
Tales of butcheries and expressions
too horrible, almost, to believe, have
been the daily bulletins of the strife
And yet, with all this going on at oul
very doors, with eur largeinterests and
great commercial connections with
Cuba, with all the immense forces and
powers of the Government, acquired
by the most lavish expenditure ever
submitted to by confnding people
it now turns out that our Government
is so poor, our navy SO reduced, that
there are but two or three miserable
vessels which could bespared to guard
in the Cuban waters, the interests Of
onr people, and secure to them the
protection of our flag. Though tele-
graphs connect our coasts with all the
islands of the Gulf, and we are sup
posed TO have Consuls in every port
yet up to. the present time no United
States vessel has reached the scene OF