The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-11-27

Popular Clastaor. a
II is to be regretted that the press and in
2sustory public speakers, are awaiting tham-
selves Of the recent outrages perpetrsted up
IN American citizens by a Spanish gpnboat,t to
appeal to the passions of the people, and cause
"a undue excitement to prevail The Richmond
papers intimate the necessity of public NEE |
ting in that city to give expression to isaam'
cd passion. and add to the already too widely
spread war feeling. There is no necessity.
and less sense in such demonstrations. The
questions involved are Of too grave an in-
port to be determined BY miscellaneous pub
hc gatherings. They involve the honor oil,
The nation, and il is presuming too much to
assume that the President aud his constitu-
aioual advisers are Hot sensitivefy alive to
shs mainta,Dance of this, uptarsished. They
should be approached, discussed aud deter.
mined with that dignity, directnass and ju-
aicial fairness that become great country
Ifths virginius waa vessel with regular
american registry, as it seems she was, and
tss carrying the Unted States flag, as il
,eondesed, it was beyond the province of any
spanish or other cruiser, to question the lc-
Ritimacy Of her mission when on tho high
seas Fortified with regular American pa
pers, ind ac.tiTg from. her mast the stars and
stripes, she was either fraud upon this gov
,srn,nent, or regularly documented vessel =
IT the former, it was the United States laws
she was violating, and was amenabfe to the
government whose laws she had violated
:. Certainly it was ont Of place for such pow
4sas Spain to ofRciously assume the duties that
.perta;Red 70 out own government. We
think the country may rest assured that the
dignity snd honor of the government and the
rights Of her citizens will be amply cared for
By those entrusted with that duty, and it will
b time enough for popular demonstrations
vixen the ulsimatum of congress and the
President ara presented Co the country. War
ia serious business, and when once inaugu-
rated. it is not easy to foretell the end Of it.
We should weigh we'll the consequences
To-day there is greater demand for Ameri.
tsn products for European markets than was
aver kuown before, ana to-day we have more
need for foreign market than ever BEFORE
TIE producing west, with her grain, and
saath, with her cotscn, would receive the
aeverest shock from ina!atinse conflict
Spain has superb navy ranking ifth among
ire nations Of tao world, while that Of the
United States ranked teuth, Mt the time of
tina outrage upon the Virgiuius. Our COM
MERGE xsuld be utterly destroyed for the
time being, and the reaction would be felt
the more seriously in the South and West
The duration of struggle with Spain could
= bot be well fixed. Our objective point would
&: b Cuba. Havana is then.o powerfully for
sified port In the world, and it would be al
most impossible to take her from the waters
She wouli haveto to approached BY land, and
when it is remembered that Cuba could furnish
but limited supplies for our armies, and that
transports would be subject to all the vicissi
sudes of maritime warfare with formidable
naval power, difficulties would DO presented
that cannot be disposed Of by the cfamor Of
the populaee, assembled in public meetings
Let tbs people possess themselves With
Chat eslm dignity that becomes the serious
ness Of the complications, and hold them
selves in readiness to respond to the calls Of
. t,e government, when the emergency arises,
should it arise at all. We will then have
discharged our duties as Americas citizens,
ready and S7Fkne,at moments call from tbe
sonsiitnted authorities, to vindicate the hon
Grand Gag Of the nation, Oh land or sea.
A Brave Judge
Judge Davis of New York, has risen to
the highest eminence almost by a single
bound. The courage he has exhibited
throughout the remarkable trial Of Boss
Tweed, tho scrupulous ssusitivsness he has
manifested 10 MAINTAINING aud protecting the