The New York herald., 1873-11-25


that runs in the Spaniard's veins and look
upon them with indulgence. Admiral Polo
falls into one error which is excusable, because
it is no doubt suggested to his mind by the
promptings of our own officials at Washing
ton. The people who ''olamor for war do
not, he says, represent the real sentiment Of
Americans at large. They regard war as q
'good thing" because it would find employ
ment for the many idle people about New
York" Now, no Americans clamor for war
for the sake of war. Those who insist upon o
full vindication Of our national honor; upon
the punishment Of the savage cutthroats in
Cuba who disgrace the Spanish uniform; upon
atonement for the seizure of ON American YES
sci on the high seas and the butchery Of her
people, whether done with or without the au-
thority of Spain; those who demand these
reparahons, with the sword ready to their
hands if they should be refused, do represent
the real sentiments of the American people,
and so Admiral Polo and his government will
discover. The Admiral will also find that the
United States cannot endorse his position that
the law of evidence has no force and no bind
ing effect in the dealings Of nations with one
another; that "a statement Of a certain fact
by one friendly government to another ought
to be sufficient evidence to justify any act;
that diplomatic action should not be ham,
pered' by any of those proofs by which truth
or falsity, justice or injustice are ordinarily
established 1t is this principle which induced
the Tornado to invade the deck Of an Ameri-
can vessel on the high seas, to tear
down the American colors and to
carry his prize into Spanish Cuban
port, with the Spanish flag flying over it.
What mattered the insult to our national
honor, the violation Of law and treaty, when
the ''mere statement of certain fact by
Spain to the friendly government at Washing
ton must be accepted by the latter as COM
plete satisfaction 1t is this principle,
advanced by Admiral Polo, which prompted
the bloodthirsty little butcher, Burriel, to
cut the telegraph wires to intercept the
dispatches of an American Consul and to
murder American citizens and others entitled
to American protection, without the form of
trial. What mattered the enormity of the
crime when the mere statement Of certain
fact by Spain to our government must be
accepted as sufficient explanation Of the pro-
cecdings? This outrageous claim advance ed
by the Spanish Minister, really lies at the bot
tom of all our troubles with his country.
Spain regards her own will as supreme and
haughtily refuses any other explanation of her
acts than those which she chooses to give
of her own free will. Early in this
affair, while the slaughter house wall
the wet blood Of poor Fry and his fellow
victims, we were told from Washington that
we must be patient; that Spain could not
afford in her present condition to yield to
demands, I" but would make concessions as
free-will offering if we would refrain from a
demand for reparation. We had been insulted
as a nation and our people had been foully
butchered, but, hat in hand, we were asked to
wait the pleasure of Spain; not to demand
anything; not to insist upon the immediate
release of the captives, the surrender of our
vessel, the punishment Of the buccaneers and
assassins, indemnity for the past and security
for the future, but to be humble and patient
until the Spanish government was ready to
yield us such reparation as it might see fit
With all respect to Admiral Polo, the ''sense-
less clamor," as he civilly calls it, of the
American people, will thunder against the
outrageous principle he lays down and
against its application to the atrocities of his
countrymen at Santiago de Cuba.
We recommend to the Spanish Minister q
careful study of the opinion of that able jurist,
Reverdy Johnson, on this Virginius case. 1t
will enlighten him on those principles of in
ternatonal law and national rights which he
does not at present appear to have studied to
advantage except from Spanish point of
view. The strong mind of the American pub
icist seizes the case and his keen reasoning
power lays its every point open plainly before
the world He proves beyond cavil that the
seizure of the yirginius was an illegal act, in
disregard of the authority and in violation OF
the sovereignty of the United States that the
atrocities committed on the crew and passen-
gers, Independent of the sacred laws OF
humanity, were without justification or excuse
under the public law of the world. His clear
exposition sweeps away out of sight the absurd
international law of the Spanish Minister
and the stupid plattudes of the respectable
Dr. Woolsey. To be sure, Reverdy Johnson
believes that no war will result from these
Spanish Cuban crimes but his judgment OF
their character establishes beyond doubt the
fact that an honorable peace can only be pre-
served by the prompt and unconditional COM
pliance of the Spanish government with the
demands Of our outraged nation.
Cutting Down Comptroller Green's
Estimatss.
At the meeting Of the Board of Aldermen