New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-14
THE Empty COFFIN SENT HOME.

l
may seem SO. The Minister OF State per
haps sees chiefly those who surround al
men in power their fatterers. But 1t If
the duty of the press truly loyal to the
success of republican principles to war;
the administration that this smoothnest
is deceptive What is the fact? Amer
can citizens have been taken from the
deck of vessel carrying the American
flag, and murdered in cold blood. The
government of the United States demands
the delivery of the vessel, and suspends
any atonement for the wrong until it shal
have been determined whether the vesse
rightfully carried the flag This may be
referred to foreign arbitrament. The Vir'
ginius coffin of the butchered men
will be brought to the United States.
What have we to do with it if it be not an
American vessel? And if it be, what sor;
Of an atonement for the outrage which
it has suffered? And what of the sur
viving s'prisoners2" Who is to provide for
or indemnify them for their loss OF time
or money or for the anxiety of instant
death by the bowling demons who have
surrounded their prison? "Going on
smoothly" Wait till these prisoners
shall have been heard, as they will be
throughout the United States. Do not
hastily decide until the American minister
to Spain shall have explained why he re-
signed his position in the midst of critical
negotiations. We may predict statements
Of fact which will not calm American
blood belov Chs boiling point of indig-
mani horrccs The -2eeo,iations have been
conducted With The utmost respect for the
fee'ipgs Of republican Spain. The coffin
was AIKEN 4pay n tie night, to be de-
livered in American waters. There was
no exhibition of spectacle so impress
sive before the eyes Of the Cuban
shareholders. They can butcher another
lot of Americans tomorrow and telegraph
us, eve send over another lot of collins
and carcasses.' We would like to see
where the atonement or even apology
comes in. There has been no disavowal
by Spain of the acts of her officials.
There has been no degradation of the
butchers in uniform who ordered the San
tiago massacre, who surrounded the con-
sular office of the United States with
guard, and who justified the massacre in
letter of insult to the United States.
1t has been observed that certain jour
nails of the North have, from the first, at
tached little importance to these out
RACES, and have commended our Minister
of State for bis diplomatic efforts to avoid
a Geneva bill of costs. The New York
Tribune and the New York Times are
prominent among these apologists Of ma
tional economy. 1t is very plain that the
moneyed and shipping interests Of the
East are, and have always been, well rep
resented before the Department of State.
The Geneva arbitration and award
show where the diplomatic power of the
government is directed. A war with Eng
land for her violation of neutrality would
have been a signal enforcement Of her
international duty, but it would have
brought no personal indemnity to those
who at Geneva prosecuted their private
claims in the name of the nation. In
like manner, we see indications that the
same great influence is averse to mill
tary vindication of American rights.
But where are those Journals was
the whole East when the the flag was
fired on at Sumter? Where are the friends
of freedom who urged on MIR. Lincoln
the great act of emancipation All then
urged the government to vindicate the
flag and give freedom to millions in bond
age. Ande has there been no insult to
the flag? Are there no slaves whose hopes
of freedom are cut off by condemning to
death all who seek their emancipation?
The New York Tribune is especially
conspicuous for its Indifference to these
great subjects. Were the man alive who
made the New York Tribune, his voice
would have been loud for emancipation,
and he would have proclaimed that the
duty of the government was "On to
Cuba!" Under the smoothing" idea the
Tribune assures tee Minister of State that
he has seen ''the last phase Of the Vir-
ginius:"
The pacific news Of this morning will be
received with general satisfaction. War is
at all times an undesi BILE and illogical |
thing, ard it would be hard to imagine a !
war which should have so many disadyan-
tages and SO little probable profit as that |
with which We have been threatened with |
for the last month. We do not want Cuba; |
we do not want To bring back tho BourboDs |
to Spain; we do not want our own finances !
more disordered than they are. nor our poll |
tics more debased and corrupted. Yet all |
these results would be likely to follow a |
war with Spain undertaken at this time. for |
whatever reason or with whatever purpose. |
All these considerations are not enough |
to make US hesitate in our demands of full |
for any wrong to our citizens or |
atfront to our flag. But they are enough to
inspire the negotiations of our government |
with the greatest discretion. and 70 cause
us TO give oul hearty approval to any solu-
ton OF the question which shall save our
interests ald honor without bloodshed. The
governments ut Washington and Madrid
both profess to have attained such solu
ton, aud TO have no apprehension that
there will be any failure in the prompt exc
cution of tbs agreement.
We do not hear that any punishr ept is
to be melted out to the zealous officers of
the Tornado or even to that sanCGinary
rhetoIician General Burriel, for their intem.
perste devotion to the Interests OF Spain.
Their alterations are supposed to DE COW
cred by their zeal.
For ''the general satisfaction" referred to
tha Minister of State will see the mass