Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-11-22
THE TiPTFRED VJRTINJTTS.

gers at the hands of the Spanish author
tiles at Santiago de Cuba, must inevi-
tably involve the United States and
Spain in discussion of very grave
international questions. Thegravity of
the situation is indicated by the fact that
Cabinet meeting has already been held
at Washington, even before official adj
vices have been received, and that sew
eral interviews have taken place at Madrid
between Minister Sickles and President
CASTELAR,.
In the forthcoming diplomatic investi-
cation of this capture, two questions
will have to be settled |. The character
of the vessel and the legality of the
seiznre 2. The execution of part OF
her passengers without what we may
consider the benefits of due form of law.
With regard to the first question, there
is no doubt of the general character OF
the Virginius. She was built for illicit
purposes, and first came into public
notice as blockadc-runner during the
war of the rebellion. She was captured
at Mobile by the Union forces, and in
1868 was sold by the Government to
private parties in New York, who, in
turn, two yevrs later, sold her the Cuban
patriots. Since that time she has not
been in American waters, having been
engaged in conveying troops and sup
plies from Central and South American
d ports to Cuba. Upon two OCCASIONS she
has been surprised in neutral ports by
Spanish war vessels, but on each occa-
sion the representatives of our Govern
ment, to whom her Captain appealed for
protection, decided that the Spanish
claim was not valid one, as the vessel
must be caught IN .fagrantc dclictO, and
could not be seized in harbor upon COM
pletion of a voyage. In each case the
Consuls granted her the protection of
American war vessels in port, which con-
voyed her to sea, where, owing to her
superior sailing qualities, she soon
showed the Spaniards clean pair OF
heels and in each case the Government
sustained its representatives i'll the po-
sition which they assumed. There are
other features which will enter into the
discussion of this question. She claims
to be an American vessel, that she is
owned by an American, command
cd by an American, and that her
crew are Americans. She carries
the American flag. The Government
having twice decided, by confirming the
acts of its representatives, that she
could not be forcibly detained or seized
by the Spanish cruisers in neutral
port, Il new question is raised as to the
present seizure on the high seas. The
Government virtually decided that she
must be "caught in the act" In this
case she was apparently on her way to
Jamaica; at least, it was not manifest
where her destination was. 1t does not
appear that she had any cargo on board
when taken. If she were conveying
arms or other supplies, they had beer
thrown overheard to increase her speed
Under such a condition of circum,
stances, the previous decisions of the
Government, that she could not be cap
tured in neutral waters at the compile
ton of a voyage, or upon the high seas
for past acts of blockade running. arc
now an embarrassment. That she was
and has been secretly engaged in wal
against Spain is undoubted, und she
must take the consequences. 1t is pos
sble that the former decisions were
technically right, but with her capture
on the high seas we have nothing to do.
We followed the Alabama all over the
world, and sunk her as she was leaving
French port.
Another fact complexities the case.
There were on board the Virginius q
large number OF passengers. OF these,
Bambetta, u General of Division in the
insurgent army Cespedes, a brother OF
the President; Jesus del Sol, a Gen,
eral of Division and Washington Ryan
IL Brigadier General, We're shot, as
pirates. The latter officer was M
American citizen who has taken an ac.
tive part in the Cuban cause. His rank
was not American, but Cuban. Both
the capture of the vessel and the subse-
gent execution of these men must
therefore come up for review by the a1l-
thorities at Washington. The charac.
to rof this execution is clearly manifest
by the fact that the Madrid Govern
menl telegraphed instructions to the
officers Of the Spanish steamer to delay
any action in the premises until specia
orders We're received but so cruel an6
50 peculiarly Spanish was the haste Of
the capturcrs, that the four victims
were dead before the dispatch reached
Its destination, Chicago Tj6,n4c.
PANIC PHILOSOPHB.
The New York Nation does not par,