The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1873-11-22
THE SPANISH OUTRAGE.

The eminent DarlDariSin Of the decade
has been cOnsumatcd at Santiago. The
Niryiniu>. q vessel carrying crew and
passengers. numbering one hundred and one
souls. was captured near Jamaica by
Spanish war vessel taken to Santiago, and
every soul found on board sl"t-in squads
Of FOUR forty and iifty-sevcn-without trial.
and against the protest Of the Con>uls. II
is stated the mob subsequently paraded the
streets bearing the hearts Of some Of the
victims impalcd on pixies. The atr"city Of
the affair is without a parallel in this gen
Grafton. if during the century, and is 4 blot
on the cscutchcon Of Spain that will not
ont in ages. The crime which these men
were assumed to he guilty Of was that Of
being identified with the revolt Of the Gu
bans against the Spanish Government in
Cuba. The affair has awakened an intense
, and universal dcnunciation in the United
States. and in some places has resulted in
mass meetings. presided over and addressed
10y distinguished men. The popular feeling
/ in some has been loudly for war, and reso-
lu,i"n>--as in New York-havc been adopt
/ cd demanding in glittcring ambiguity the
immediate Intervention of the Executive.
: Gross. dastardly and inhuman as has
been the outrage. the President Of the
United states will have to consider the
questions involved differently from that in
which public meeting or public speaker
may find expression. The United States
and Spain are on relations Of peace and
amity. 1t is not shown, or even avcrred.
the Spanish Government authorized the
",,tr,gc-it is not known. or even to be
supposed it will defend it. The VirginiuS,
some tw" or three years since, cleared from
New York under American register. 1t is
stated that register has not been changed.
If this is true. the Virginius is still under
protection Of the United States, although it
is ais" stated she had been sold after lcav-
ing New York. 1t is not improbable there
were American citizens among the pas>cn-
gers or crew. and they also arc under
United States protection. But even If these
are facts. a declaration Of war does not
necessarily follow. The perpetrators will
lc demanded Of the Spanish Government
to liz tried. and indemnity required for the
vessel. 1t would only be on refusal Of these
things the Executive could proceed, if he
desired. I" compel them and the processes
Of governments are slow. 1t is not mt all
likely Spain will refuse redress, or defend
the act. Meantime, the United States will
probably put squadron on the West India
station competent to protect it's shippin.
property and resident citizens, and he fully
prepared f"rany emergency that may arise.
This will take time, and meanwhile the
first frenzy of popular excitement will have
been succeeded by cooler judgment OF
mcthmlS by which to right the wrongs. W.
do not yet see the necessity for wal
against Spain: that will only come whe,
the Spani.l, Government defends and pro
tccts those who have pcrletrated the out
rage. The United States now enjoys thu
in."cation-. Let US have Peace" and til.
soldier VIII" gave uttcIancc to it is, We he
lievc, to" prudent and wise to again lei
loose the dogs Of war, unless honor ant
safety require it, even although the New
York populace. seeking employment ant
flush times in another strife, may shout 70
War" Back of present circumstance
are possible contingencies that may demant
it. When they arise, it will he time enough
to again involve the nation in struggle
Whatever may be tho sympatl,es Of SOM
individuals with the cause Of Cuban indie
pe,rlcllcc. or the ambitions Of others 70
Cuban acquisition. the Administration cal
properly regard the Virgnius affair only a
, an abstract question, and deal with Spai
| for rcpa,ation OF that outrage alone. Wit
, an unstable and distracted home Govern
mcnt, Spain is not prepared at present, eve
in Il just cause. to incur foreign wal
much les, with great power like the Unit
: I'd States, ready to pluck Cuba-its riches
jewcl-from the crown. Regarding til
matter in this light, We do not see war i'm
. mincnt, despite the wave Of popular excite
, mcnt and Indignation now surging over tn
land.