The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-11-20
THE CLAMOR FOR WAR.

THE CLAMOR FOR WAR.
The seisure Of the steamer Virginius
BY the Spanish gunboat and the terri.
bic butchery of its crew by the Spanish
volunteers at Santiago have aroused
storm of Indignation throughout this
country which finds its expression in
many quarters in demand for an i'm.
mediate declaration of war with Spain.
Meetings have been held, the barbarity
Of the bruta! volunteers denounced,
the most ssusuiuarY retaliation called
for, and the immediate recognition Of
the beiligerency of the struggling
patriots in Cuba urged upon our Gov.
erument. 1t has even been Insisted
that the United States should proclaim
the independence of Cuba, and maio.
tain it by force of arms.
In the meantime tho Government,
while keeping its own counsel, Is act.
lively engaged iu putting our pavsl
force into the best possible condition
for effective service. Several war YES.
sells have been sent already to Cuban
waters, and others will soon follow.
The Cabinet ia said to be a unit in
sentiments, aud to be in harmony With
President Grant, by whom the whole
matter will probably be referred to
Congress, Immediately ca its opening
next month for action. More definite
information from our officials in Spain,
as to disputed points in connection
with the outrage, is daily looked for,
but has not yet been received.
Do We want war with Spain? That
an insult was put upon the American
flag there is no question. That the
murder Of the prisoners taken on the
Virginius was bloodthirsty to the last
degree aud an outrage 90 humanity, de-
manding the punishment of the guilty,
al m agree. But the Spanish govern
me-. is undoubtedly earnest in its de-
sire to make every reparation 10 its
power, and to maintain the peaceful
relations which for so many years have
existed between tho two countries.
When such reparation is made what OBJ.
legation Ct honor or justice would call
upon or even warrant this nation in de.
claring war upon that people ? Spain
is new engaged in a lite and death
struggle to establish itself az Eepub.
lie, 10 which its whole energies are ab.
sorbed, and any hasty action on the
part of the United States which might
prove fatal to that grand effort would
be q greater blow to the cause of indie.
pendent government than could be
compensated for by anything to be
gained through our hostilities. Did
Spain approve the action of the volun.
teers in Cuba, the case would be differ.
eut; but it does not. 1t is unques.
tlonably anxious to bring about better
state Of affairs on the Island, aad UPON
this reform our government should most
firmly insist, aud back the demand With
the pressure of such force as would
sstisfy Spain, and very especially the
cut.,hroat volunteers, that We are in
earnest. The United States should be
prepared, 10 the future, to extend to its
citizens the smplest protection, should
Spain prove unequal to the task Of con.
trolling It's Cuban forces.
These ore matters for calm and Just
consideration between two friendly ma.
lions, and not for rash action springiug
from passion. In considering them i,
might DO we'll to remember that while
the Virgio,us sailed under tho Amer.
icas flag her character as q 6llibuster
was we'll known, as was also the fac,
that she was at that time and had beer
engaged in . lawless business. He1
crew knew that they carried their livel
in their. hands. What We can we'll de-
maud Of Spain, and what it is under
stood our Government has ALREADY
demanded, is reparation for the injury
done, to the full extent of her ability
and = steraer hand 10 the managemen
of her volunteers. If this be granted
why should we 60 to war, sacrificing
men, swelling our debt and starting ,
long train of miseries. To cooced,
beiligerent rights to the little band 0
Cubsns would be to irjsre much NOR
than to aid them. And to declare ane
by arms maintain the independence o
the Island, with view to annexing i
to. the United States, would be tn
Funniest from wisdom. The inde
pendsnee Of Cuba will work itself GU
in the near future, and the murde
Of the crew Of the Virginius will d
more to bring about that independence
than could these men had they lande'
safely and their puuber been multi
piled q hundred fold.
TIE Cashier of the National Trns