The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-12-24

What Will we do with the Vlrginiusf
Spain has so far made out her case that
she will not be obliged to salute our flag
10 morrow. She will simply disclaim
any intention to show disrespect to 1t.
We should think that under al! the cir
cumstances we could afford to release her
from even this disclaimer. She has prov.
ed to the satisfaction Of our Government
that the Vlrginius had no right whatever
20 carry American colors; that she had
no lawful registry; that she was not, in
fact, an American vessel.
Having proved this much, the next
phase OF the difficulty is as to:what Is to
be done with the vessel. It Is not
clear that she belongs to Spain. She
was not captured in Cuban waters
but upon the high seas. The question Is
whose property is she Does she still
belong to the Cuban Junts in New York
who fitted her out? This Is Q question
not provided tor In the protocol.
: But q more serious phase OF the diff
Guilty Is that which surrounds her crew
as. fillibusters. II It Is true that Spain has
demanded the returnot the vessel and that
the demand embarrasses our government,
how much more serious and embarrassing
Is the question Of surrendering the crew.
We can imagine that such o demand, II
It has foundation In international law,
under all the circumstances Of the case,
to support It, will be one Of the most en-
barrassing nature to our Government. The
public sentiment Of this country will be
very decidedly opposed to re.surrendering
these men. The whole country was
shocked by the haste and inhumanity with
which part Of the crew were shot, aa
was indeed the whole civilized world, and
on this account, as also on account of the
stropg Cuban feeling in the country, there
will be universal outcry against surren-
dering the survivors.
This feeling will be intensified by the
account given as to the heartless manner
in which the survivors have been treated
by the Spanish authorities at Santiago De
Cuba while prisoners in their keeping.
According to q dispatch in the New York
Tribune from Key West
at appears that the Spanish authorities
TO the last moment kept the poor wretches
in ignorance of their prospective release,
and with base inhumanity led them to
suppose that they were to be executed.
Priests were with them, taking their con.
LESSONS and dying declarations, and i'm
ploring them TO look to God for pardon.
They were taken out Of prison In despair,
but OH their way to the slaughter pom, as
they supposed, their eyes fell upon the
Juniats flying the flag Of the United
States. When they realized the truth o
scene occurred which beggars description.
Their enthusiasm knew nobounds. They
were speedily transferred to the deck oi
the Juniata, and gave vent to the most
extravagsnt but touching demonstrations
of Joy, embracing each other, some cry
ing, some kissing, and others audibly oil
lerinp thanks to the Almighty for their
deliyerance from the horrors OF their
dungeon and the prospect Of an ignomt-
nious death.
Every heart was touched BY the piiable
condition OF the prisoners. The poor fel-
lows report that they were barbarously
treated. HI
To return these men to the Spaniards
to be dealt with as were their compan-
ions would seem TO the country and to the
world like an act Of inhumanity. Should
Spain, however, insist upon the redeliv-
cry Of the Virginius and these men; our
Government may be seriously embar.
rassed TO find way out Of the difficulty.
All advocates Of peace and good feeling
between CAsTELAR's Government and
this country win unite in the hope that no
such demand will be made upon us. The
giving up OF the vessel is q small affair in
comparison with returning the poor
wretches who were on board Of her.
Completion OF the Popular Triumph
An CnlifaFnlR.