New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-24
TIE ATTITUDE OF SPAIN.

We DO not pretend 10 DE III tue lull Cohu-
dence of the Government as to its intentions
in the matter of the Virginius. We have
abStained also from giving unasked and super
fluous advice to the President and the Cabinet.
We have limited ourselves to the more practi-
cal function of furnishing the latest and most
ineligible news in regard to the outrage
suffered by our flag and the means taken TO
exact reparahon. We have as yet seen no
reason to modify any opinions we have ex-
pressed as to our rights and our duties in the
natter nor as to the limitations of the power
of the Spanish Government to grant US the
redress we are entitled to ask. On the con-
trary, out of the maze of contradictory
reports and dispatches from Washington
and Madrid the net result up to this date ia
precisely what we assumed to be true imme-
diately after the capture and the slaughter Of
the crew and passengers of the Virginius at
Santiago. The vessel was illegally captured.
The execution of those found on board of her
was cruel and murderOus, hastened.by desire
to avoid interference from Madrid, and marked
by circumstances of especial insOlence to our
Vice-COnsul and disregard of the rights and
dignity of the United States. The American
citizens included among the victims did not
receive that regular trial guaranteed to them
by our treaty stipulations with Spain.
These are the grounds of those reclamatiOns
which we have no doubt our Government
promptly directed our Minister at Madrid to
present to the Spanish Minister of Foreign
Affairs. We have no doubt he obeyed his
instructions faithfully and exactly. AS a sol
der and as a diplomatist he has learned this
much of discipline. The reports we receive
directly from Madrid and also by way of
London and of Washington show that our
constant prediction that the Spanish Cabinet
could not grant us redress, is in the course of
positive verifcation. We hear of the inter
view of General Sickles with the Minister of
Foreign Affairs. We see the excitement ill the
Madrid press--the demands that the Govern
ment shall at once send the American Envoy
his passports. A mob collects in front of our
Legation with threatening demonstrations.
The interference of the British Minister alone
prevents our representative from leaving the
country. Both extremes In Spanish politics
unite in attacking the CASTELAR, Ministry for
its supposed disposition to friendliness with
the United States. To Offset all these threat
ening indications we have certain Dephic
outgivings from Washington, that the Gov
eminent expect to effect an honorable settle
ment of the matter which shall avoid war and
secure the freedom of Cuba.
We should heartily applaud such an ISSUE
but we cannot an yet perceive any basis for
such a hope. If it is founded upon favorable
and, friendly utterances from Senior CASTELAR,,
the Administration is leaning upon a broken
I'D fho ,ybt ND bop
orable character of the Spanish President or
his disposition to 60 to the utmost limit of his
power to afford satisfaction to the United
States in this deplorable affair, and to settle
the whole colonial problem in the interest of
freedom and humanity. But he is in the
dilemma we have already defined IL he sides
with us, he must submit to defeat at home,
and give place to Ministry which would be
frankly pro-slavery and reactionary ready to
90 to all lengths for the preservation of Span
ish rule in Cuba 1t is rather too much to
expect from any Spaniard, especially when
the two courses seem 20 equally Objectionable.
If he yields to our demands, he perlls his
government and the cause of the Republic.
If he rejects them, he will it is true lose Cuba,
but may still have chance of sustaining him
self by an appeal to the ESpaHo!ismO of his
cOuDtrymen.
On tho one side, therefore. is our Govern
ment with its inst demands. On the other is
that of Spain, powerless to grant them without
political suicide, and powerless to execute
orders for proper reparatiOn in the Antilles.
Through this double inability we see no
prospect for that honorable and peaceful set
Element which we cordially desire. In the
mean time we cannot but approve in the
strongest terms the indisposition Of The
President and the Cabinet to allow themselves
to be hurried away by idle clamors into empty
demonstrations which would effect nothing.