Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-11-30
ruECuRAN QUESTION.


adjustment Of the Spanish-Cuban ques-
tiop. The Madrid cabinet has agreed to
deliver TO our government the sieam-
ship Virginius, and all those persons
SHARED from the massacre Of Santiago
de Cuba, and that the Spanish admiral
salute our flag with salrO Of guns. The
questions as to whether the seizure of the
Virginius were lawful OF otherwise, and
whether damages shall be paid to the
families OF relatives of the men muir
dered by order of the Spanish butcher,
General Burriel, are to be left
10 the arbitration Of a mixed
tribunal, composed Of representatives
of foreign nations. These eOndi-
tions are nea-ly up to the demands
of our government. But the country
may well ask, are not the murderers
of the passengers and crew of the steam
er Virginius TO be delivered up and pun
ished? Are these self-constituted exc
cutioners to go unwhipt of Justice?
Certainly, If it were wrong to seize the
Yirginius, as would seem from her sur
rs,,der-not, however, until after consult
alton with the several European powers
it was certainly wrong to execute her
officers. crew, and the great bulk Of her
passengers. If we read the temper Of
lhe American people Alright, they viii
insist upon our government demanding
the surrender and trial Of the murderers
OF General Ryan, of Captain Fry, and
of their companions Of American na-
tionality. The delivering up of the Nir-
giuius. and the mere fOrmality Of sa-
Iuting our flag by the burning of Span
ish powder, and, If so decreed, the
r1ayment Of damages 10 the sur
viving families of the murdered
men-these things cannot atone for the
blood so cruelty shed by order of the Pc
sliasulares at Santiago. An example
should be made of these murderers.
The position which We heve taken In
This matter, touching the wrong and in
suit done our citizens and offered our
flag, aud the wantOn violation Of in
iernational law, is broadly sustained by
the final action of the cabinet at Madrid,
acting after mature deliberatiOn with all
sbe governments of Europe. This de-
e.ision is q scsthing rebuke to those who,
IN the face of fact and law, cOntended
that Spain had done no wrong in the
premises, and that there was no repara-
lion to make, that they Nirginius was prop
etIy captured, her crew and
Messengers legally shot as pi-
rates, and that no insult was
offered the national flag. The APPEAL
thought diff renuy, our government and
our people thought differently, and now
our dispatches inform the country that
sII the European powers indorse the
position we have assumed, and insist
zhat Spain herself shall act IN aceor-
dance with the facts and the law OF
zbe case by surrendering the Nirginius,
ssluting our flag, and, if so decided 10y
q disinterested tribunal, pay damages
TO the surviving families Of the muir
dered men. We sincerely trust that
General Grants administration viii
insist upon the surrender for trial OF the
butchers Of Santiago de Cuba. The blood
ofthe men shed at that human slaughter
house. cries aloud for vengeance, and
the public sentiment Of the United
states is clearly pronounced in favor Of
bringing these Cuban murderers to-
speedy trial and punishment. We be-
1ieve that even if the late waT-cloud has
PASSED away, the events which cOnjured
it remain to give this people additional
proof OF the treachery Of the Spanish
people, and to prepare and mature this
Cuban question to point which will
eliminate in adding the Queen of the
Antilles to the American Union.