The New York herald., 1873-12-02
The Alleged Settlement W ith Spain
at the Price or National Honor.


There appears to be some ground for hope
that the disgraceful compromise alleged to
have been agreed upon by our government in
the Virginius affair has not been concluded,
and that the arrogance and insubordination Of
the Spanish -Cubans, to which the enormity of
the outrage, if not its inception, is due, may
yet be the means of saving us from national
dishonor. The confusion and contradiction
which distinguish the semi-oficial utterances
from Washington certainly render it unsafe to
place much reliance upon them but when
the hint that s'the government is not without
fears that we may yet be compelled to adopt
extreme measures follows closely on the heels
of the apparently authoritative announcement
that the negotiations between our Secretary of
State and the Spanish Minister have been
are disposed to credit the latest statement,
inasmuch as it harmonizes with the general
belief that any terms agreed upon at
Madrid will be repudiated in Cuba
The Presidents Message, which will be COM
municated to Congress to-day, will probably
clear up all these uncertain points and enable
us to better estimate the character of the pro-
posed settlement from the correspondence
which has passed between the two govern
ments; unless, indeed, the mantle of diplo-
matte mystery should still remain wrapped
around the subject, on the plea that it has not
yet been moulded into shape sufficiently
decent and presentable to meet the public eye.
We prefer to await the full disclosures, which
we hope may be made to-day. before indulg
ing in any further criticisms of the action of
our government, especially since the finality of
the reported compromise remains an open
question. II is always an unthankful task to
condemn the position taken by our own
nation in controversy with foreign Power.
We cannot brand our recognized authorities
with dishonor without dishonoring the Repub-
lie in the eyes Of the world. If our Secretary
of State should be allowed to make a shameful
surrender of our national honor the shame is
not upon him as an individual, but upon the
United States as q nation. Hence we desire
to hope, until hope shall be no longer posi-
BILE, that the terms of the Fish-Polo protocol
have been misrepresented; that they were
semi-oficially put forth as diplomatic ruse
in order to test the public endurance, or for
some other object; that they have been indig
nantly repudiated by our soldier President;
that something has intervened to save
us from the degradation Of national cow
ardice and dishonor. But there are some
points involved in the reported protocol to
which we cannot too soon direct the attention
of Congress, for they materially affect the in
terests as we'll as the honor of the American
government.
Supposing the virginius to be ultimately
adjudged to have properly carried American
papers and borne the American flag, the
atonement to be made by Spain for her
seizure on the high seas, for the
tearing down of her colors, and for the
massacre Of the larger portion Of her pas
sengers and crew without trial and in
defiance of the protest of the American
Consul, is the surrender of the vessel,
q salute to our flag, and the delivery to our
authorities Of the few survivors. The ques-
ton as to the payment of damages is reserved
for future consideration and does not enter
into the settlement at all !; but Spain guar
antees to institute proceedings against any of
her authorities who may have violated either
law or treaty stipulations. This is absolutely
all we are to get from Spain in the way Of
reparation under the most favorable circum-
stances The two principal concessions, the
surrender Of the Virginius and of the sur
vivlng passengers and crew, ought to have
been demanded and compelled by our govern
ment, not through paper protocols at Wash
ington, but with loaded guns in the Cuban
ports, as o preliminary to the entertainment
Of any propositions for peaceful atonement
for the outrage. The remaining conditions
signify nothing. The salute to our flag is q
mere empty show, to be followed by new
insults on the morrow. The sproceedings'
against the bloodthirsty little butcher, Bur-
riel, for any ''violation of law or treaty
stipulations" he may have committed-pro-
ceedings to be instituted in the land where
his savage murders have been cheered
by brutal populace and celebrated by
bell ringing and bull fghts--is an insulting
farce. Reversing the picture, II spain shall
succeed in satisfying our complaisant and
easily persuaded government that the Virgin
ius had no right to the American flag or Amer
ican papers, then our flag is not to be saluted,
and we are to pledge our national faith to
institute proceedings against the vessel and
the surviving parties who have violated the
laws of the United States.
In oil this there is not one word of regret
for the past not the most trifing recantation
of any Of the unauthorized powers claimed by
the Spanish rulers Of Cuba not a single pro-
lection against repetition of the out
RACES perpetrated upon Americans for the
last five years, and of which the virginius
Spain does not say that the Tornado had