New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-26
FEELING AT HAVANA.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE SALUTE TO TIE
AMERICAN FLAG IS TO BE DISPENSED WITH
EMULATION OF THE sPANIARDs-vIEws or THE
AMERICAN Observation-Disclosures OF THE ISLAND.
IRON SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRDuSRl
HAVANA Dec. 20.-For two days past this city has
been ringing with the Civilizations of the ultra
Spaniards, who have been informed by the local
press that the salute to the flag of the United States
had been foregone, and that Spain would not be re-
quired to pay that tribute to the banner of the
nation which she had SO recently outraged This
information was first given in the columns Of tho
Diario de la Marina, as follows:
We are given to understand that the Washington Gov
has communicated orders TO the chief of the
American squadron In the Antilles stating that there
will be occasion to exact the salute to the fag mas
much the aforesaid Government had been convinced
Of the justice OF the capture We have no comments 10
add to-day.
To-day this news was supplemented by the follow
ing editorial article entitled, 1t is Certain
In corroboratlon OF the news which gave in the
Diario late hour yesterday, enabled 10 give
the that the Government at Washington has
recognized that the steamer Vr1nius had right 10
carry American flag After this recognition there
does remain the slightest doubt that the Virginus
was good prize; that its pirates; that the
Spanish tribunals had jurisdiction 10 punish them
such, and that all the demands Of the United States
unfoun1ed. Now We expect reparation from the
said Government 10 Spain, and We also await the
distinct claims which the spanish Government must
make.
All this means that if the American Government
has yielded in the matter of the salute, the Spanish
Government will avail itself Of every possible
chance to present claims against the United States.
aud demand the same consideration as that which
was awarded at the Geneva Tribunal. The eonse-
quence is that the Spanish people here are very
iuhi lanfa nd hay med ri nj IN mn
more CALLING to G AmeriCa an residents than even
their violent expressions in the earlier days of the
Vrginius complications. The Americans are very
indignant and say that tie consideration Of
the United States for the Spanish Republic
has obscured its judgment as to the
dition Of affairs on this island; that
this consideration, instead of being regarded in
the true spirit will be looked upon as weakness on
the part of the United States and that the Spanards,
feeling their strength will become emboldened and
be guilty of greater excuses than any yet commit
ted When informed of the details of the surrender,
the American colony expressed general disgust, de-
claring that, inasmuch as the Virginius had been
seized with all on board, she should be returned
with ALL in due form and with every ceramOny. and
that every part of the very mild protocol should be
contaminated. The surrender OF the Virginius is
still not generally known outside of official and
American circles and there is therefore nothing TO
say with regard to the effect Of the actual surrender
With respect to the surrender of the survivors Of the
Virgnius, very little information is known here.
Official advces from Santiago report that they were
delivered to Commander Braine of the Juniata on
the 18th Of December, and that he Immediately
sailed for New-YOrk.
The finances Of the island still exciting the
attention of the people and the officers of the Gov
eminent. committee Of merchants and officials
held meeting, at which plan Of extnguishng the
debt was submitted. The Treasury debt at the end
of the present year will be $751; 176 The measures
which the joint committee propose to separate the
debts of the Treasury and Spanish Bank of Havana,
which now seem identical and to declare the Treas
ury exclusively responsible for the bank notes which
were issued for its account aud the Spanish Bank Zee
from all obligations on account of the said ennis
sions; to solicit law from the Spanish Government
of the nation declaring the notes Of the Spanish Bank
legal tenders, and from the date of the operations
of that law the Treasury to receive and pay ali OBJ
legations q gold basis. excepting duties in which
case three months grace shall be gwen The Com.
mittee proposes to apply S97 to extinguish the
debt Of the bank arising from the expedition to
Mexico, and the SantO Domingo campaign uniting
that with the $7,99l 500 emitted for the above
operations. thus reducing the general debt to CO.,
$500 The country will DO called upon 10 pay
$2Oooooo of that debt by Of an extraordinary
contribution, and the remainder will consist Of
about $4e,coOOoo of notes and funded debt ma
turing.
Several hundred negroes passed through the city
to-day on their way TO the interior to join tho
Spanish army and on transport in the harbor
there have just disembarked about 200 men. Senior
Manuel Calvo. the representative Of the Zulueta
slayehodng interest in Madrid. has returned to
Havana, and is In close consultation with the prom
inent members Of the Casino Senior Soer. the
Minister of UltraInar who wax announced TO return
to Madrid on the Goth Of this month. has not vet
started. but il sorfled ~ bis goon by llpeSs.