Weekly Trinity journal., 1873-11-22
SPANISH ATROCITIES.

The late act of the Spanish authoities
10 Cuba, by which the passengers and
crew of the Virgintus, vessel sailing un-
der the American flag, having American
papers, and manned and officered by
Americans, were butchered in cold blood,
has caused universal excitement and in
dignation not only in the United States
but throughout civilized Europe. With
out doubt the Vfrqinius was q Cuban
vessel, blockade runner, and her mis-
sion was to carry substantial aid in men
and munitions of war to the stru ggling
patriots of Cuba. True, or not, this af-
fords no shadow of excuse for the whole
sale butchery which followed the capture,
wherein one hundred and eleven persons,
nearly all on board, were condemned to
summary execution.
The PirgiliuS was not captured while
engaged in an overt act of hostility against
the government of Spain, nor vet in Gu
ban waters. When pursued by the Span
ish war-vessol she essayed to escape
failing in this, her colors were hauled
down and She vessel surrendered without
even show of resistance. But this did
not protect those on board from the bru-
tality Of the captors, and their arrival at
Havana was quickly followed by the tri-
al, conviction and execution of more than
one hundred of those on board. What
will result from this cowardly act remains
to be seen. 1t is more than probable
that it will be the means of securing for
the patriot Cubans recognition of their
rights as belligerents by our Government,
at the least. Humanity demands that
some step of this character be taken, and
stop put to the atrocities which the
Spanish officials delight in exercising to-
ward the native Cubans, whenever the
fortunes of war places them in the power
of their prosecutors. Every phase Of the
struggle on the part of Cuba to throw off
the calling yoke of Spanish rule, has been
marked by deeds of blood and cruelty
which are on par with the Reign of
Terror of the French Revolution, or the
atrocities committed in the sacred name
OF religion by the old Ihquisition.
Our government has taken measures to
have the navy at once placed on a war
| footing, every vessel in readiness for sea
has been ordered to Cuban waters. and
when Congress meet in December, what
ever action may be taken by that body
toward aiding the cause of Cuban inde-
pendence, will meet the hearty approval
of the American people.
The Cuban insurrection has been in
progress for more than four years, during
which time the government of the mother
country has undergone great and radical
changes. The tyrannical rule of Isabella
was changed for the weak and effete reign
OF Amadeus to bein turn supplanted by
the present Republic. The effort of Old
Spain to shake off royalty and take
place in the family of republics, enlisted
the hearty sympathy of the people of the
United States and this feeling was
strengthened when the new Government
broke the shackles of bigotry and intoler-
ance which had so long cursed the land.
But in all the changes Of government
which Old Spain underwent, the vice-like
grip upon Cuba was never loosed. The
liberty she sought for herself was denied
her colony. But there are limits beyond
which the patience of nations cannot go,
and Spain has transcribed these in her
last act of barbarism. A recognition of
belligerent rights to the Cuban patriots
will open the door to the independence of
the island in a brief period of time. 1t
is possible that the fate of the Viyginius
and her crew may bring on collision
between Spain and the United States, and
we believe that such result would be
hailed with Joy by large portion of our
people.