The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-11-27

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sts::: t'a::a ps'a':'' nay seem es'' to cor
r." THE sPAN1sHxKEruD11c.
In compliance with the request of Congress
transmitted to the American Minister at Mad
ria. with Instructions to present 1t TO the Span
sn government. the joint resolution approved
on the I'd OF. March last, rendering 1.-The peop),
of Spain. In the name and on behalf Of tn
American people. the congratulations Of Con
gress upon their efforts to consolidate In SPAR
the principal Of universal liberty in republican
form OF government. The existence OF hi,
new republic was inaugurated by striking the
letters from the slaves In Porto Rico. This
beaefcen'I measure was folio wed by the release
OF several Thousand persons, illegally sold as
.laves In Cuba. Next thu Captain General o.
the p oUS1S to was set 0sp ssiSs ts S
orders Of bis superior at Madrid, which had
pertatned to the office since 1895. The St.
questered estates of American citizens which
had been the cause OF long and frequent cor.
.respondence, were ordered to be restored to
their owners.
THE CUBAN sLAvEocRAcY.
All these liberal steps were taken in the face
of violent opposition, directed by the reaction
ary shareholders of Havana, who are vainly
| striving to stay the march Of ideas which have
| Terminated slavery throughout Christendom,
| Cuba only excepted. Unhappiy, how
| ever, this baneful influence has thus
far succeeded in defeating the efforts of all lib.
eral minded men In Spa to abolish slavery in
Cuba. and In preventing tho promised reform.
In that island the struggle for political suprem-
acy continues. The 'proslavery arlstocracy In
Cuba Is gradually arraigniDg itself In more and
more open hostility and densnce Of the home
government, while 1t still maintains political
connection with the republic IN the Peninsula,
and although usurping and defying the author
lty OF the home government wherever such
usurpatiou or defiance tends in the objection
OF oppression or Of the main
tenance Of abuses, 1t is
st1tl power In Madlid, recognized by the
government there'as an element more danger
GUS to continued colonial relations between .Cn-
ba and Spain than that which inspired the in
| surrection of .Yarra. An element opposed to
granting any relief from misrnle and abuse,
with NO aspirations after freedom, commanding
no sympsth.es in>generous breasts, aiming to
rlvet still stronger the shackles of slavery and
oppression, has aeized many of the embems of
power III Cuba and under professions OF loyalty
to the mother country, Is exhausting the
resources Of tho island and is doing acts which
are at variance with those. principles of Justice.
acter to republic. In the interests of human
ity. Of civilization and of progress, it is to be
hoped this evil influence may be averted.
THE vIRaINIUs AFFAIR.
The steamer virginius was on the 26th day
OF Sept, 1870, duly registered at the port Of
New York, as part of the commercial marine
OF the United States. On the fourth of October
1870, having the certificate of her
register In the usual legal form, she sailed rom
the port OF New York and has not since been
within the territorial jurisdiction of the United
States. On the 31st Of October last while sail
ing under the flag of the United States, on the
high seas, she was forcibIy seized by the
Spanish gunboat Tornado. dhd was carried into
the port of Santiago de Cuba, where many of
her passengers and crew were inhumanly, and
80 far at least as relates to those who were ci-
zens, were without due process Of law put 10
death.
1t lisa we'll established principle, asserted by
the United States fropa the beginning of nation.
al independence, recognized by Great Britain
and other maritime powers, and stated by the
Senate in resolution passed unanimously on
the 10th Of June, 1868. that American
vessels on the high sess. in time of peace, bear
ing w Amerifsn flag, re4ain under the juris-
diction Of the country to (which they belong.
and therefore. any visitation, molestation Or
! detep!ion Of any such vessel, by force on the
Epass Of fo5slgn fdweE, is IN dProgatien Of the
sovereignty Of the United States: F.
In accordance with these principles, the de-
livery Of the Virgtnius and the surrender OF the
survivors of her paeSeDgerss and crew, and due
1eparation 10 the flag and the punishment Of tiis'
authorities who had been Guilty of illegal
acts OF violence were demanded. The Spant6h:
Government has recognized the justice of the
lem md mi for On
delivery of the vessel and for the surrender of
the survivors OF the passengers and crew,
and for salute to the flag, and for proceed
lngs looking to the punishment of
thoee who may be proved TO haye been guilty
Of illegal acts of violence towards citizens of
the United States, and also towards indemni-
fyint those who may he shown to be
entitled to indemnity.
"A copy Of protocol ofa conference between
tho Secretary of state and the Spanish Minister,
in which the terms Of this arrangement were
agreed to, will be transmitted herewith. The
on this subject with the lega-
ZION OF the United States was in CIPHER and by
cable and needs the veriicatiOn OF the actual
text Of the correspondence. 1t has seemed to
me TO be duo to the importance of the case not
to submit this correspondence until its accurate
text can be received by mail. II is expected
shortly, and will be submitted when received.
III taxing leave OF th1s subject Tor the present
Wish to renew the expression OF my convic-
lion that the existence Of African slavery in
Cuba is the principal cause Of the lamentsble
condition Of that island. do not doubt Con
grees shares with me the hope that it will soon
be made to disappear, and that. peace and pros.
perity may follow its aboNtlan.
The embargoing Of American vessels in Cuba,
the cruelty to American citizens detected In no
act of hostility to the Spanf.h Government, the |
moFdeFiDs Of prisoners taken with arms in their
hands and finally the capture upon the high
re. Of a vessel sailing under the United States
flag and bearing United States registry has
eliminated in an outburst of indignation that
has seemed for time to thl eaten war.
Il pending negotiations between the United
States and the government of Spain on the
subject Of this capture, have authorized the |
Secretary Of the Navy to put our lazy on a
war footing to the extent, at least. Of the en-
tire annual appropriation for that branch of the