New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-27
POPULAR DISCUSSION.
GROUNDS OF WAR WITH SPAIN.

GROUNDS OF WAR WITH SPAlN'
A REPLY TO GEN. PRYoR-A STATE OF WAR IN CUBA
NEVER RECOGNIZED BY sPAIS-rHE DECK oF
TIE ynGIIUs AMERICAN TERRITORY
To the Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: cannot agree with Roger a fryoiS
conclusion that we nave no etsusioeH' win opAu
eediug the general accuracy Of his statement OF pI
cinles of International law, his application OF them
to the case of the vrgnius seems 10 he "thou' W.
rant except upon the assumption that state Vi We.
existed In Cuba that our Government an" Si'iIo" w
legal notice of the fact; and that tDa Vfhnids was
neutral vessel engaged In earryIs So'u,.iS anu
tons of war TO q recognized "belli'serent'
Th,, ossunptIop deny. The Spanish authorities
met s,and unon their own record in dealing with other
nations and they have uniformly NIuscu u PcoosH
in Cnba a state Of war. On the contrary they nave
claimed and exercised the right TO build vessels OF wa"
and have obtained war supplies IN American poi,9'
,o, the specfc ground that they are not engagon III
var Ar their earnest solicitations the United states
c.rnmont has forborne TO recognize the Cuban insur
gents as belligerents. ,
This being the status there Is no con'raoahu Oh "i
In the case so fur as American citizens and commerce
are concerned. We have perfect right 10 sell mum
tons OF war TO Cubans anybody else, without inquf
ING how or where they TO DO used our shps nave
tne s,me right 10 carry guns passengers TO any open
Cuban mort though upon arrival there they become SUD
Iect to and must obey the municipal authority ana lay"
sn,ip cannot claim of sister nations tho privileges and
imnunes state at peace. and at the same tme eX-
ercise the rghtof the peril OF subjects OF otner
she gives tho nations notice tlaI hhe IS
AZ war she may avail herself OF the laws or war IN her
dealings with mankind. But until she claims the pYi
OF nation In the condition OF peace, she must nea
with other nations upon the same plane ana accord 10
ships and subjects OF such nations the rights ana IN
munitios OF peace. .. .
Mr. Pryor L think, a. right only In part when ne says
The high property nation rather J, the property OF
neutral sab taken the hgh seas ih
an the act Of the aid OF tue revolt i" AS n0
| the captor. -. -. -.
repeat that in the under review there was n, no
"neutra" and there was no "eOntrablnd OF war; DC
cause Spain had declared that thcre was no Waro Oc
gerency. Under these circumstances how c0ud there
he any of going the aid Of the revolt slch ~
onld Justify tho seizure OF tho VrginuS ON the hlEu
seas ani the Witt massacre OF her men The seizure
was piracy in its worst form and tho executions under
sentenCe of cOurtmartia the most reYOlthG atfOcT III
| the eye of International law. 80
Acip LET ID be remembered that the deck OF the Viz
guius ii rightly covered by the American hlg was ter
Ttory OF the United states Bear In nni asO hat tue
law does make the intent TO commit crime tho crime
itself IL holds tho gultless uniii the overt act -
comrniited OF attempted Until then the law hOd5 MN
innoceu assuming that he Will repent and iorDear from
the contemplated WrOugdOing. Ills Was the status OF
those on board the Vrguius. Does MT Pryor mean TO
saw that the spanish authorities had the ngt TO invade
leI deck the high seas, haul down her nag, ana pu
her passengers DEATH upon clefest PROOF ina
fhey had Contemplated joining tho CuDan ln9ufg ts
II So they have the right To smuge force ashore
ana drench the streets OF Lls metropolis with the blood
| 81 CIhIn p,tTaofs and refugees J.ws
| Aelr- York, Nov -, 1873.