New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-14
orr Dirty IN CUBA,

IOcTe Is UU uttGsSltl iOi bhy ihoh w piN
cipitate action at Washington in regard TO the
Virginius massacre. The situation is not one
which will change to our disadvantage in the
course of the ensuing fortnight. 1t is highly
probable that whatever may be the immediate
steps taken by our Government, the slight
hold which Spain has as yet maintained upon
the Island of Cuba will be loOSened by these
events. The act of few crazy Pennsulars
has accomplished what the insurrectlOnIsts
had shown their inability to achieve, and has
made the colonial dependence virtually i'm
practicable. Once more the hand of fool
has proved more powerful in bringing about
great changes than the utmost efforts OF wise
and practical men.
Our reclamati0ns, as it appears from the
latest advices, will be twOfOld. The capture OF
the VirsiDius is the act of the Spanish navy,
and so comes directly within The as yet undis-
puted jurisdiction of the Spanish Government.
However weak the Madrid Cabinet may be in
China. il is able to order the restitution of the
vessel. and the arrest and trial of its officers
IF. as it is now reported, the cOurt-martial OF
Varona Del SOL Cespedes, and Ryan took
place upon the Tornado, and their execution
was by means of u squad of regular marines,
then a very considerable portion of the repa-
ration which we demand is in the power OF
Spain TO grant. Weak as are the authority
and discipline of the home government in
the Antilles, it is scarcely possible that
they have not power enough TO arrest
and try an officer of the navy upon
a national man-of-war. The delivery of
the Virginius would be a more difficult
matter. 1t might be necessary for us to send
a sufficient force to Santiago to receive the
vessel from the hands of the Spanish authOri-
ties and to protect them from the mob in the
execution of their duty. We cannot forget
that we lowered on the brink of war forty
eight hours under the strong and efficient
government of PTm, because the brutal AFRO
gance of the Havanese Volunteers prevented
the delivery of the Lloyd Aspin wall after it
had been ordered. Nor have we forgotten
the fact that the armed mob of Santiago drove
away our Consul for an official dispatch pub
lished through the carelessness of the Depart
ment of State--an insult and injury which as
vet have never been atOned. Still, it is prob
able that in view of a danger so important
as that which now threatens them, the Span
ish Government may be able to execute their
orders, so far as to visit deserved punishment
upOn the men who have defed both nations in
this crazy act.
But as to the part taken by the Volunteers
in this business it is useless to expect any
reparation from Spain. 1t is not in the power
of any Peninsular Government to control,
restrain, OF punish the Volunteers of Cuba. If
,they attempt it, they will soon lose the thin
phantom of sovereignty which still appears to
represent Spain in the Antilles. They know
this so well in Madrid that they will probably
not attempt to coerce these violent and mu-
tinous janizaries. In that case we must look
ito them directly. We must deal with them
hereafter without Intermediates. We must
have naval force in Cuban waters so formula
BILE that il will not be necessary to employ it,
and this will prevent repetition of the
outrages which have at last exhausted our
patience. 1t has been suggested that the
Spanish Minister at Washington should be
given discretionary power to act for his Gov
eminent without appeal. This would be well
enough if the plan were practicable. >But he
could no more execute his own DEGREES than
the Madrid Government can execute theirs.
If there is to be any shifting of authority it
would be better to give the Captain General
absolute powers and place him between our
Navy on the one side and his Volunteers on
the other, and let him make up his mind
which is the more formidable.
While we urge upon the Government the
most energetic and unhinching policy in this
matter, we earnestly hope that no attention
will be paid to clamors of the street, or the
passionate appeals of interested parties. This
is an affair which must be treated from an
American point of view, and not from Span
ish OF Creole. We are not likely TO forget the
regard in which all Republicans everywhere
hold Senior CASTELAR, and his associates, and
We do not propose to abate anything of our
admiration for those Cuban patriots who, like
Cespedes in the mountains and ALBANIA in
New-York, have been striving to establish the
Independence Of their country. But this is
question into which these considerations do