, 1873-11-16
THE CUBAN MASSACRE.

va1s during the last twenty-five yoars. Before
1860, thoro WAS strong party In tho United
States that favored tho acquisition OF Cuba. Its
WAS as strongly opposed. Tho de-
siro to acquire tho Island Ind its origin III tho
fact that Cuba contained largo slave popula-
tion, would admit OF being carved into at lcast
two States, and would greatly strengthen tho
pro-Blayory party in tho United States.
1t was opposed, II for no othcr rcaaon,
because 1t would strengthen slavery In
this country, and tond to givo It perposuity,
and would also give to tho slave holders un-
duo political weight in tho sonhto and tho. Eloc-
toral Collage. Up to tho time Of tho Rebellion,
tho acquisition Of Cuba was mainly considered
in this country as part OF tho groat slavery
question. Nevertheless, successive Adminiat1a-:
tions mndc oycrturos for it's purchase, and, at
ono timc, s1oo, 900, 900 WAS Professionally offered
to Spain for tho cossion Of Cuba, aud was TO-
fused.
:. There aro grave objections to tho purchase or
acquisition Of tho ialaud. Tho poople bf Cuba,
in habit, thought, customs, language, aud ro-
ligion, arc utterly unlike u.s.. A majority Of the
whole population arc negroes, and 30 little ro-
moved from the originalimportation TINT thoyaro
but scarcely nbove sAvages. Their natural bar
'barism hna boon intensified rather than miti-
gated by contact with the Spanish raco. III
mattors Of religion, thouo Of tho population who
have any arc 10 different In their manners and
c,,Htoms that they would bo as strange and "a
foreign to tho Roman Catholics Of this country
as to Tho protcstants. Thoy arc, perhaps, leas
adapted to Republican institutions and Ropubli-
can Government than any other portion OF the
Spanish raco, and that race generally Inns shown
q distasto for popular government that has
mado revolution cold-blooded murder. mud In
human disregard Of tho rulos Of civilized war.
faro the peculiar characteristics OF tho Spanish
American Republicans. -
The population Ut Cuba does not embrace any
clomont, scarcely any person, who fnvors aunox-
ation to tho Unitod States. the rovolutioniRts,
though asking An1orican aid and sympathy, arc
not fighting for annexation, but for Cuban indo-
pendoucs, II acquired by force or otherwise,
wo should gain legal title to most fortilo
garden, peopled, howevor, with q large pro-
portion of barbasians, and nll-whites, blacks,
Bpania1ds, and ENTHUSIASTICALLY hostile to
us, We must noedB occupy tho ialand
with an army Of Americans, which, like the
Spanish armies, would bo docimated annually by
tho epidcmics which are SO fatal to the stranger.
It would be d military government requiring
| proconauls mud m army mud navy far iu a1cess
| OF our present establishments. Where would bo
| the compensation Tie present population is
| divided, and tic war between the factions Grip
plea tho proluetivpnopo Of tho Inland ii NO
acquire it, tho strife will DO with tho whole pppu
lation, mora anxious to expel the "Yankoes" "
| than to drive out tho spnniarda. Under such
circumstances. tho productions Of Cuba would
add but little to tho national wealth, aul would
| cost us several timos M much, annually, Rs ne
now have to pay for them.
Wo 1oayo, therefore, tho question Of annoxa-
ton or conauest Of Cuba out Of consideration in
the present difficulty. We may also leave opt Of
| consideration tho fact that portion Of the Gu
| buns aro ae war with their Government. The
ipsurrection, though going Oh for several years.
las failed to produce any sorlous interest on tho
part of the groRt body Of tho American people
perhaps not 30 much as 1t should haVo done.
The lmmediate subject for decision is, what shall
bo done concerning the capture Of tho Virginius,
and tho murder ot thoae Of her passengers and
crew who were AmoEicans7 1t is now Soueoioqq
tlat tho yossol waa American, owned by
Americans, aud lawfully entitled to carry
the aag. Spain has nominal blockade
OF tho eoast Of Cuba, but It la easily broken.
This vessel has touched vt the coast Of Cuba
several tmes and has carried mon and nrms to
tho reyolutlonista. II aho had been caught in
the aot Of violating tho blockade, hor capture
would haye beop lawful ; but hor capture Oh the
high scas without contraband OF war on board,
On the plea that sho had previously run the
blockade, was pot lawful. Evon II sho had boeu
captured on the coaqt ot Spain, landing mon and
arms, while tho vosspl would have boon lawful
prize, TINT fact would not havo justified
tho killing Of the persons captured there
on, So fqr as tho oubana or Span
iurds On tho YirginiVs wore subject te
the laws Of the Government With WHICH tho,
wore at war, tliB country las nothing special t.
say, except to protest, III the pasno Qt outragot
:. civilization, agalnst the savage butehery, gu'
10 fGr as the Cuban authorities have undertaken
:: to hnng Or a,oot American citizone, thoro is Z
:, responsibility Which es!nnot he cyaded. In iii
! correspondence with Lord AsAburton in 1872
! Mr. Webater stated the law on this subtoot t, a'
; follows:
ycsuel on tho high acas, ueyprl the distance Of
n,nruo leaguo from thu allore, Is regarded part
the territory of tAe uat,on to which ale belongs,
Ia subject exclusively to tho Jurisdiction OF tint ma
, uou. %.
i Every merchant vessel tho Ia rigufny cpl
Bdered ~ part Of the territory OF tho country
= which aae belongs.
II carrylug goods contrabsnd Of war, destined
for the upo OF d belligerent, such vessols ar'
, proper subjects for = prlze.court. II tho Vlr
, ginius was marino league distant from thl
V.xf,.