The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-11-12
THE VIRGINIUS AFFAIR.
Views Of Secretary Fish.
No More Executions to Take Place

views OF Secretary Fish.
No More Executions to Take Place
lngton correspondent represents Secretary Fish
as making the following statements to him in
an interview yesterday:
Ihe VIrgnius is a complicated case. This
government cannot afford to take steps in the
matter until the full facts are officially present
eo 10 It, When they are presented you may
rest assured thai it will act wi b the utmost dill
igence aud celebrity. Mr.. Fish then reverted to
the authorities at Madrid. He said he believed
that those controlling the Go, ernment were
good men; in fact, he knew them to be good
republicans. Spain, said he, has made great
many concessions upon the request of this Gov
ernment, and he was satisfied that they would
make full PREPARATION for the Virginus' capture
II Il was demanded.
You see, said he, Spain is sensitive Its rulers
DO not like to be told they must do thus and 50
upon the demands of this Government They
must be handled delicately; they are stubborn
enough to resent an absolute demand but will
readily comply with request. Mr.. Fish then
spoke OF the condition of affairs concerning the
Cubans, first stating that he knew that the
| Spanish Government did not sanction the spirit
| which prompted the Spanish volunteers to
| speedily execute the Virginius captives. Said
be, it was cold blooded murder, and no one of
sound Judgment pretends to apolo2 re for the
| 5utchery But the Cubans themselves are
| misguided set. They have had presumed pat
riots running loose in New York and Washing.
| ton cities, who, bad they been made of sterner
| nettle would have been fighting battles on the
| isl md instead OF manufacturing psuetlo enthU-
siasm in those cities. No one denies that Ryan
and bis confreres were on the commission of the
| Cubans
If an American is willing to enter the SER
Vice OF q foreign power he does it at his own
.rs.,
inImical to his own interest or life to ask the
| intervention of Government which he hasvo.-
nntarily left to battle for another power. Mr..
Fish then expressly stated that he was in sym
pathy with the CUBAN cause In speaking of
| their wants, he said that they want a leader of
| good judgment and rare qualities. Trey need
also seaports. Why, today they have not
seaport and are literally shut out from the
| world. Every article of need or muniton of
war is struggled through Spanish waters They
| have no means of communication. The Cubans
| are too enthusiastic, aud actually want the
| United State Government to espousr the cause
| de facto. They would have us do what Eng
land dared not do during the war of the rebel
lion. They want us to build ships and land
armed expeditions on their coasts. This Eng
land never did. True, she fitted out one or two
prvateers which did considerable DANCE, and
| for which she has paid SIS. 500, 0O0 but in all
our troubles she never fitted out an armed ex-
| pedition to land on our coast.
| The Cubans come to this country. enlist re-
| cruits for their service, raise money attempt to
negotiate bonds and loans and yet want the
| Government not only to accord to them bellig-
erent rights, but to commit the overt act against
| Spain OF arming and putting out ships, to land
| supplies for them, when thus far they are pow
erless to maintain solitary seaport / say
| again sympathize with Cuba, but cannot con-
sstently with my sense of duty and RESPONSE
| bility render aid in any manner which will con-
| hict with the comfy of nations. l want to see
| better me al from Cuba than has as vet been
con N Q Iaar, fob Of }t,ar
| ultimately achieving their independence The
| status oil the Virginius. if it comes under the
| cognizance of the United States is very much
| similar to the boarding of the English vessel
| containing Slidell and Mason by Commodore
| Wilkes.
| The trouble the United States has had to con-
tend with does not originate with the Madrid
| Government. 1t is the volunteers on the island
of Cuba, who are a bloodthirsty, relentless aud
| unforgiving set If the Spanish Government
| would only cut their threats it would be good
| thug for Spain. l mean politically, not physi
| caliy. have hopes that they are to be subdu-
| ed, as have received intelligence that the Min
lister of the Colouies, an able man, armed with
great power, is now en- route to make an inspec-
| tion of the real condition of affairs on the is
land of Cuba. am satisfied that his inspec-
| ton will have a salutary effect, and that in
| fortnight ! will be advised that check has
| been placed on their life sacrificing propensi-
| ties. One thing the United States Government
thus far has accomplished is, that there will be
no more executions. VI course we cannot
bring back life; but one thing you may rest as
sured has been accomplished, and that is that
no more executions will take place read IN
the papers that Santa Rosa has been executed.
have received no official intelligence confirm
| ing the same, but l am inclined to believe it,
He has given me great deal of trouble He
was once before condemned to death as a nj
rate, and am not sure but that he came under
| that provision. After consuming ream of
| paper-I do not eXaggerate when / saw a ream
of dnS fcbo
Government secured his release. He wrote me
letter only few weeks ago, saying he owed
his life to me- l think he is great fool if he
went down there again.
WASHINGTON Nov. H.
The official information from Santiago do
Cuba desired by the Department of State from
our consular representative has not yet been re-
celved, although several days have elapsed since
he was telegraphed to furnish all the particu-
lars relating to the seizure of the Virginius and
The execution which soon followed the event;
bat, Notwithstanding the non-rest of the intor
.ndoiou' Vnr Hoyernment has, as already known
taken such action IN Tho frAinisas as has so far
as the Spanish Government is concerned seeur
ed delay Of proceedings relative to capti7es
| now 10 the custody of the Cuban auth critics
till all the facts in the case shall have been as
certained. The Spanish Minister for Foreign
Affairs, in his recent converse viou with Minis
| ter Sickles, expressed his disapprobation of the
summary manner OF the execution OF the most
prominent per-oDs captured with the Vrginius,
and gave him the assurance that no effort
should be spared 10y the Spanish Government 10
| show the United States that its friendship was
| more substantial than mere words, or language
| to this effect. The utterances were, it is be-
lieved by those who have Leen advised of them,
| made in good faith. But the Spanish Govern
| ment, like our own, admits the practicable char
| acter of those with whom it has to deal in Cuba
| while referring to the troubles which now con-
| vulses Spain herself, thus rendering her almost
powerless to act efficiently in the aft ,irs of Gu
ba, and TO restrain the exeesses which, under
other circumstances, might be prevented.
| AT the Cabinet meeting today there was o
| conversation of long continuance with regard
| to Cuban affairs generally, and the position oc-
cupied by the United States. On that subject
| there was no difference among the members of
| the full Cabinet as to our duty in the premises
| and the prospective while awaiting the neces-
sary official Information. there no doubt that
| the admiral and commanders of our fleet in
| Cuban waters will be, it they have not already
been, instructed to observe the orders issued in
| the spring of 1869, When reports came to the
Navy Department. through the press and tele-
! grams of several American vessels having been
searched by Spanish men-of-war in British wa
| tiers and on the high road of nations in the Gulf
of Mexico.
1t is probable that the fleet in the South At
lantIc will be increased without delay, and one
or more vessels be sent to Santiago lie Cuba.
1t has heretofore been plainly intimated to
! Spain In official communications that necessity
might be imposed on the United States to de-
cIsively enforce the principles for which this
Government has earnestly contended. The
future shall determine when they shall have q
practical application.
The Secretary of State in q conversation TO-
| day expressed MS surprise at the reported ill.,
| terview with him yesterday, there being some
| things in the publication calculated to place
| him in false position.