New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-27
ORR RELATIONS WITH SPIN.

late our readers on the TACT that the course we
recommended on the first reception of the
news of the Yirginius outrage, and have advo-
Gated every day since, has been the one
adopted by the Government of the United
States, with results which at present appear
successful The State Department demanded
the surrender of the Virginius, the restoration
of that portion of her passengers and crew
who have not been shot, salute to our nag
in the port where it was insulted, suitable
indemnity to the families of the slain. This
demand was made with energy and prompt
ness, az we have always assumed it had been
made. A time Of delay was asked for by the
CASTELAR, Government, as was TO be expected,
and reasonable limit was fixed, expiring,
as we understand, to-day. All this was pre-
cisely what might have been anticipated.
The result which will occasion most surprise
is that the Spanish Ministry, rising, for the
first time i'm the history of their country,
superior to the national sentiment of resist
ance to all foreign demands, and to all consid-
eratiOns of political expediency at home have.
in direct defiance of popular passion in Spain and
the mutinous dictatOn of the Volunteers in Cuba,
resolved upon an act of justice to the United
States, regardless of the gE5ve consequences
which such an act entails If the reports
authorized by the President yesterday are true,
the civilian President Emilio Castelar, has done
thing which no general or marshal would
ever have dared to do. 1t would be vulgar
error to think that any fear of our power
has dictated his decision. The public
opinion of Spain. the after-dinner fury of the
Casino Espanol, are far more dangerous to
him and his government than all our army
and navy together. Yet in accedlng to our
demand, because it was q just one, he has
de6ed the full force of that savage patriotism
before which Prim yielded, and Serrano would
have thought it madness to resist. Over and
over the Spanish statesmen of the monarchy
have shown that they feared the shareholders
of Cuba more than the United States. Cas-
telar has chosen another course, and has faced
greater danger than any one OF his prede-
cessors has dared to confront
The matter now enters upon another phase
more fraught with interest and uncertainty
than ever. The first question is whether the
orders of the Spanish Government can be ex-
ecued in Havana and Santiago. Gen. Jovel-
lar has assured Se6or CASTELAR, that they can,
though when he sent that dispatch there was
apparently no apprehension in Havana that
the Virginius would be given up. Senior Sober,
the Minister of the Colonies, has just arrived
in Cuba, and his presence may naturally be
supposed to exert favorable influence upon
leading Peninsulars. But we do not regard it
a. at all certain that the transfer of the vessel
to our Navy and the delivery of the prisoners
and salute TO the flag at Santiago can be ef-
fected without some violent manifestation
which may react powerfully upon public
opinion in Spain.
But even without any such demonstration
in Cuba, the Republican Administration is
subject to serious danger at home. 1t is an
open secret that there has for some time ex-
listed an Alfonsist conspiracy in Spain, which
has gained the adhesion Of some of the most
prominent members of the old Unionista
party at the head of which is the late Regent
of the Kingdom, Marshal Serrano. 1t is true
that this distinguished parsonage short while
ago took an opportunity to declare his deyo-
ton to the Republic in somewhat public
manner, but these ceremonies are not unfre-
quently the precursor of an insurrectionary
movement in Spain as in other countries. An
eminent rebel of our own called on Mr..
Lincoln one day with clamorous expressions
of loyalty, and the next day drew a months
pay and went to Richmond. 1t is impossible
that Marshal Serrano should ever enjoy under
a Republic such distinctions and such prom-
nence as he is sure of under a monarchy,
and this consideration alone is enough TO u-
sure his support for any practicable scheme
of restoration. The fact that he contributed 80
much TO drive the BOurbOns out OF Spain does
not i'm the least embarrass 80 elastic con-
science IA his in an attempt to bring them
back. He has many friends in the army and
among the aristocracy. and he is so accus-
toned TO calculating ell the chances in which