The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-11-27


y0Be OF the condition of affairs |
the Cubans, stating that he
knew that the Spanish Government did |
not saeotion the spirit which prompted |
the Spanish volunteers to speedily exc
cute those captured ON the Virginius.
Said he:--
eft was cold-blooded murder, and
no one of sound judgment pretends to
apologize for the butshery." "But,"
said he, "the Cubans themselves are a
misguided set. They have had pre-
sumed patriots running loose in New
York and Washington cities, who, had
they been made of sterner mettle, would
have been fighting battles on the island
instead of manufacturing useless and
pseudo enthusiasm in those cities. No
one denies that Ryan and his confreres
were in the commission of the Cubans.
If an American is willing to enter the
service of a foreign power, he does it at
his own risk, and has no right at every
turn which proves inimical to his own
interests or life to ask the Intervention
OF o government he has voluntarily left
to battle for another power. 1t would
have been much more creditable to the
Cuban authorities to have kept their
ofisers at home doing service where it
was valuable. Battles fought on enthu-
siasm breathed in Washington and New
York will not gain Cuban victories or
add one chaplet to the cause. Ii they
had done more service in Cuba and less
elsewhere, the cause on the island might
to-day present more flattering aspect.
Cuban warriors should be made Of bet
ter stuff than those who foatel round
these cities, soliciting aid an en-
couragement for the insurgents in
the field"
In answer as to the reasonable time
this government could be advised OF
the official particulars of the capture of
the Virginius and the execution of the
captives, Mr.. Fish said:-
:" 1 cannot tell. Mr.. Hall, Consul at
Havana, has telegraphed me that com
munication with Santiago de Cuba has
been cut off. should not be surprised
if the Cubans themselves had inter-
rupted the communication. The State
Department will use the utmost dill
gence to be advised at the earliest prac-
ticable moment. After we have the full
facts we will act. This government
cannot now act, because it does not
have any basis upon which to proceed
firmly and intelligently. 1t may be a
week yet before the news is presented
in an official shape"
Mr.. Fish then expressly stated that
he was in sympathy with the Cuban
cause. In speaking of their wants he
said" They want leader OF good
Judgment and rare qualities they need
also seaports. Why, to-day they have
not seaport, and are literally shut out
from the outside world. Every article
of need or munition OF war is snug
gled through Spanish waters. They
have no means of communication.
These Cubans are too enthusiastic, and
actually want the United States gov
ernment to espsuse their cause de. .ftcto.
They would have us to dc what Eng.
land dared not do during the war of the
rebellion. They wantus to build chips
coasts. This England never did. True
she fitted out one or two privateers
(which did considerable damage and fol
which she has paid SIS, 800, 900, but il
all our troubles she never fitted out al
armed expedition to land on our shores
"The Cubans come to this country
enlist recruits for their service, rais'
money, attempt to negotiate bonds an(
loans, and yet want the government no
only to accord to them belligeren
rights, but to commit the overt &C
against Spain of arming and fitting ou
ships to land supplies for them, whel
thus far they are powerless to maintain
a solitary seaport. I say again, sym
pathize with Cuba, but cannot consis
tently with my sense of duty and re
sponsihility render aid in any name
which will conflict with the comfy o
nations. want to see better meta
from Cuba than has yet been sen
among us before 1 can hope to hear O
their ultimately achieving their indie
pendence. The status of the Virginius
if it comes under the cognizance of tn
United States, is very much similar t
the boarding of the English vessel con
tanning Slidell and Mason by Commo
dore Wilkes"
Mr. Fish was then asked in case tn
,, status of the capture of the Virginiu
was of such O nature as to demand REP
aration of Spain, what that reparato
would be other than q mere apology
to which he replied -
"We cannot bring the dead to life
and just what course the governmen
/, can pursue can only be stated when
, is in possession OF the full facts in tn
. matter. We cannot act hastily o
J vague information.