The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-11-26
The Cuban Trouble-War Threatened.

Inc puOllc nina seems 10 De
thoroughly aroused on the subject
Of the late outrage done to our
flag in the massacre Of the crew
and passengers of the Virginnius
by the Spanish authorities in Gu
DO, and the public press everywhere
is calling upon the Government to
take the most active measures for
obtaining redress. Indignation
meetings have been held in all the
principal cities, and it needs only
Il spark to kindle the fame Of war.
The Government seems to be fully
up to the standard of the public
demands, and whilst it is making
the most rigorous preparation for
war, has made upon the Spanish
government the most peremptory
demand for satisfaction. The ut
most activity exists in all the navy
yards, and powerful fleet is being
spatched to Cuban waters, whilst
the army is being put on a war
footing. Coupled with this prepa-
ration, the government hasassumed
a firm attitude in the negotiations
with Spain, and has insisted on the
formal delivery of the Virginius to
officers of our government in aport
of the United States; the release
and restoration to our protection of
the surviving captives; a money
indemnity to the heirs Of all taken
from on board the Virginius and
put to death the trial and punish
ment Of General Burriel and all
other responsible officers; the i'm
mediate and unconditional aboli-
ton of slavery in Cuba as the
source of all pending difficulties
and complaints.
The naughty tone of the Spanish
Ministry, so far, takes away all hope
of a pcaceable solution of the diff
Guilty. The Foreign Minister, i'll
his interview with Minister Sicales,
protests against our interference
in the municipal affairs of Spain,
and promises no redress. Spanish
pride is the great obstacle to any
concessions, and the popular will is
too strong to permit any yielding
on the part Of the CASTELAR, Gov
ernment. The tone of public SEN
timent is seen in the spirit of the
mob, which has endangered the
safety of the American Minister,
and which the Government can
scarcely repress, And without a
concession of our demands by
Spain, war is inevitable. Congress
alone has the right to declare war,
and in the meantime the Govern
ment takes all proper precaution-
ary measures. Congress meets on
next Monday, and if the public
sentiment OF the country, and the
declarations of its leading states
men furnish any proper evidence,
its action will be prompt and deci-
sive. One Of the first results of
the war would be the acquisition Of
Cuba, upon which the eyes of our
statesmen have been long fixed,
and which Mr.. Calhoun regarded
as q pear ready to fall into the lap
Of the United States. Two of the
leading Georgia statesmen, Messrs.
Stephens and II. V. johnson, have
recently declared themselves in IA
vor of the acquisition, as one which
must. enure to the benefit Of the
South. Mr.. Johnson, to CORE
spondent of the Chronicle and Scnti-
mel, said: -. .'.-.'. ;
w thinkEuba should belong to this,
country, and that now is the time to
get it. 1t is very probable that this
can be done peaccably and by nego-
,tlation. War, however, may be-
brought about. I am of the opinion
that if It became positively known
that war wasld certainly result from.
the complications, cotton would go
MP to twenty cents pound imme-
Iiatcly. AS to money to carry on
the war, there would be plenty of it,
and the financial stringency, instead
of being increased, would be relieved.
There arc seven hundred millions Of
currency. and the lookup of so large
a portion of this by holders in New
York and other cities is the cause Of
the financial embarrassment. But in
case of war these men wonld find a
more profitable use for their money
in buying supplies and furnishing
them to The Government, and there is
no doubt therefore, but that it would
at once be brought out and placed in
circulation. I do not think the Gov.
crnmcnt would bo obliged to- nego-