Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-11-20
THE RUTLAND HERALD
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1873.
SPAIN AND CUBA.

N d. ..H Z . q f.. . /. /
Our contemporaries in both city and
country, have been discussing the diplo-
matte and atrocious aspect Of the inhu-
man massacre at Santiago de Cuba, !
of the officers, crew and pas
sengers of the Inflated Virginius, near
" every day since the capture of that
vessel by the Tornado, off the coast OF
Jamaica. We early gave our views of
the situation and the duty of our own
government, and have, since that, con-
tented ourselves by printing the news
as they have been brought to us by the
telegraph, and such opinions of eminent
iurists and officers, as we thought
would enlighten our readers upon a
yexed question that appeals SO much 10
their interests and feelings, as this out
rage upon our flag and our sovereignty
does. We have seen no reason to change
our views upon the manifest duty OF the
Executive and Legislative departments
of our government, and we do not now
purpose to repeat those views or enlarge
upon them; but we do feel that Spain
must see that she cannot, consistent with
her own safety or duty, longer hold her
self responsible for the acts of the OIL
GERS who represent her authority upon
the island of Cuba. She is no longer
able to redress grievances that must con-
stantly arise between her and other ma
lions on account of Cuban insubordina-
ton te her authority.
1t is, and has been for some time, man
ifest that the Republic of Spain is great
ly weakened by her possessions IN the
West Indies Her endorsements are
great. Her authority and control are
merely nominal. The Spaniards are
proud, commercial people, who have a
high respect for their honor, and the
rules of international law, and when
ever the government at Madrid is appeal
ed to, it responds as becomes high-ton-
ed nation. But no nation can submit to
such vexations as the Cubans force up
on the diplomacy of Spain. Take for
example this same Nirginius case. The
government at Madrid readily responded
to the appeal of Minister Sickles to de-
Law the execution of any of her officers,
crew or passengers until the facts could
be fully ascertained, and an order was
issued to that effect, and fastened for
ward by cable. But the Cuban author
tiles hurried on the execution of the of
ficers of the Inflated ship, and some of
the more noted persons on board, so as
to consu.nate the bloody deed before it
would be possible for them to hear from
the Madrid authorities and after having
received such Instructions, others
were executed regardless of such COM
mands.
This is but an illustration of the Gu
ban method of receiving orders frem the
home government. The United States
are more affected by it than any other
nation. Our trade with Cuba is large,
and thousands of our citizens visit the
ports Of Cuba annually on business,
while millions of dollars of the property
of American citizens are upon the island
all the time, and for the last three or
four wears, three-fourths of the time of
the State Department has been occupied
with Spanish and Cuban affairs. The
patriot war upon the island is inherited
by the Republic of Spain from the inn
beetle reign of Isabella, and it has
brought about countless conflicts that
have required the interposition of our
government to protect our citizens and
their property, and we have been con-
stantly embarrassed by the fact that no
difficulties could be adjusted in Cuba.
She being nominally colony of Spain
everything must go to Madrid from
Washington; be sent to Cuba for ex-
animation and report returned to Mad
rid, reviewed there, and forwarded by
our Minister to our government at
Washington, and if found satisfactory
returned again to Madrid, and thence to
Cuba for enforcement. This sending to
and fro across the Atlantic ocean to Sc
cure redress for every little or more inn
portant grievance, real or imaginary, oe-
curing at our very doors, has always
been sufficiently vexatious. But it has
been aggravated beyond patient endur-
ance by the deliberate and studied tardi-
ness of the Cubans, and how at length
by their absolute, barefaced refusal to
obey the commands of their home gov
eminent.
1t being known that our people SYM
pathized with the struggling Cubans,
who are seeking an independent govern
ment, the Spanish authorities there have
looked with suspicion upon every citi-
zen of the United States, and have been
annoyance, until it has eliminated in the
dissertation of our flag, and the official
murder of our citizens, Spain must
now acknowledge her inability to con-
troll Cuba. The latter has outgrown her
pupilage She has, in fact, thrown off
Spanish authority and is acting for her
self. Her recognition of Spanish author
ity is merely nominal, and is no longer
real. The time has, therefore, come re-
curing our government to deal directly
with the people of Cuba. We can no
longer with self-respect permit Cuba to
wear the semblance of subordination to
Spain as a cloak for her bloody and
cruel wrongs. AS she refuses longer to
obey the just and reasonable commands
of the parent government, and assumes
the right to act tor herself, we are just
flied in regarding her no longer as a
minor, but of lawful age, and holding
her directly responsible for her own
conduct, and we may well assume that
Spain does not longer care to burden
herself with load that is endangering
not only her peace, but her very exist
ence as a nation, Secretary Fish says;
at is the beginning of the end, = and we
shall never have better time to bring
the Cubans to knowledge of the fact
that thew cannot nrotect Them I,no aS