New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-21
lBY rELERAPH TO THE TRIpuSEl

lB1 TELtRAfH TO Tltb TRIrUSE.l
WASHINGTON Nov. 20-Wm. NJ Eyarts. who has
been in town since yesterday, denies that he came
for the purpose Of consultation with the President
and Secretary of State on the Cuban difficulty. or
that he has had interviews with them. He is hero
20 attend to some cases before the Supreme Court.
He has had as yet no occasion. he says, TO modify
the views which he expressed in his speech at tho
New-York meeting on the seizure Of the Vrginius
and the murder of her crew and passengers.
Most of the prominent Senator's and Representa-
tives who have arrived here are far from enthusi-
astic over the prospect of hostilities with Spain.
They discuss the question cautiously, with many
ifs and butts" and rarely fail to refer to our
financial troubles, the weakness Of our navy, and
the support the United States ought to give TO tho
struggling Spanish Republic. The reasons for this
GOODNESS on their part in the midst Of the prevailing
excitement are obvious The war fever disturbs all
their plans for the Winters work in Congress, and
if it continues will make the heavy speeches they
have prepared on finances and politics, and the
bills they have carefully drawn so much useless
rubbish. The situation will abruptly change, they
know, if war breaks out. New financial measures
must be devised, and new political combinations
may result that will throw old leaders into tho
background and bring new men 70 the surface.
Naturally Senators and members OF the House who
are comfortably ensconced in pleasant positions III
easy leadership deprecate any change. The storm
of righteous indignation at Spanish barbarity
troubles them. Ii can do them no good. and, If
nothing worse happens to them as the result Of IT.
they Will have TO bcstir themselves to keep
the rens in their hands. They will haya
to shoulder the responsibility for such
measures OF taxation or Initiation which
the depleted state Of Mr.. Secretary Richardson's
casl-box will render Immediately necessary in case
of war; While generals are seeking laurels in Cuba
and commodores in the adjacent seas these states
men will have to undertake the thankless task Of
providing money to pay for fleets and soldiers, and
this can be done in one of three ways only-by in
creasng taxation, by swelling the volume of the
paper currency or by issuing new bond,--none OK
which would be relished by the public.
The Hon. John Allison, Register of the Treasury.
in speaking of the Cuban question, thinks our Gov
eminent should not take advantage of Spain be-
cause technically, the Yirgiuius had her papers in
regular order. BY becoming involved in a war with
Spain, we shall embarrass her attempts TO found
republic The agitation of the war question, be
thinks will serve the purpose Of diyertng the pub
lie mind from financial emblTassments, aud tho
discussion Of the subject IN Congress will undoubs-
eddy afford Congressman an opportunity OF SINKING
the responsibility Of their shortcomings IN the past
Senator Scott. Of Pennsylvania, speaking of the
CUBAN ullllCulIy, lO-uti, sdIu h' h"h hoV pS'
informed of the official facts received in relation
10 the question, and he thought that, in order to
form an opinion as to what was the duty Of our
Government in the premises, the facts should hrst
be well considered If the VirginUs ut the time OF
receiving her papers, ostensiby obtained them for
the purpose of legitimate commerce. but in reality
with design TO assist the Cuban Junta, she had
then gone outside the limit of protection from the
laws of the United States, and our Government
would certainly not be justified ia demanding
reparaton from Spain for its action concerning her.
Because vessel had obtained its papers under false
representation thus violating the laws of the United
States and making itself amenable TO those Of
Spain, would it be proper, would we be just to
sacrifice thousands Of lives because certain American
citizens illegally sailing under the American flag,
had met their death at the hands of the Spanardsf
Mr. Scott of the opinion that if en- the contrary
this fact was not shown and that international law
had been violated the part of Spain, and the Viz
ginius was proceeding under lawful circumstances.
Congress would not hesitate to 90 TO the furthest
limit IN demanding reparaton and security that
repetition of the Virgnius outrage should not occur,
even if war were likely to result from such demand.