The New York herald., 1873-11-14

quate Punishment.
Mr.. Secretary Fish ought to see in the
unanimous sentiment Of the press of this
country the deep feeling of indignation which
is felt against the Spanish authorities in Cuba
| for the recent outrage upon the American flag
Seeing this, he should see also that the pres
ent is not time for that peaceful mission Of
diplomacy in the exercise of which he 80
much prides himself. When the territory OF
the United States is invaded by the capture
on the high seas of ship bearing the Amer-
can flag. when every man found on the vessel
! is doomed to death and barbarously murdered
without even the mock forms of mock
trial, diplomacy only means demand
for immediate reparation at the can-
mons mouth. The outrage upon the
yireinius is not equalled in the
annals of the past Retribution must be as
swift and speedy as the offence. Mr.. Fish's
diplomacy must be left to take care of ITSELF
and instead of waiting for official informa-
ton, the strong arm Of the government must
demand a full atonement. Enough is known
to make any unnecessary delay crime. The
Virginius was vessel bearing the Ameri-
can flag, captured on the high seas and car
ried into Spanish port where all on board
tlNan i, YNnt ha
known to make the duty of the government
plain and immediate. Every available man.
of-war must be at once despatched to Santiago
de Cuba to demand immediate reparation by
the return of the vessel and the surrender of
the men who committed the foul massacre, at
which the whole world shudders. Only
twenty-four hours should be permitted to
elapse from the time the demand is made till
its fulfIlment or the punishment of its non-
fulflment In a word. war must take the
place OF diplomacy, and the vengeance of our
insulted government follow quickly upon the
outrage to its flag
The Virginius had violated no law Admit
ting every allegation of the Spaniards. she was
still as untainted as if she had never carried
musket to the insurgent Cubans. When cap
man on board was under the protection of the
American flag. No treaty stipulations with
Spain operated against her, for Spain always
claimed she was not at war with the Cubans
This vessel, whatever may have been the pur-
pose and intent of those on board, was simply
an American vessel. and as such she
must be regarded as part of the
territory of the United States. The
American people, proud Of their national
honor, will insist now, as they always have
insisted, that the national territory must
not be invaded, and will punish its
invasion. We may have a war with
Spain, but the Spanish barbarians in
Cuba will be taught how dangerous it is to
trample on American honor. War is thing
always to be deprecated, but to be courted
when national humiliation and disgrace are
the only alternatives As we said before, i'm
mediate reparation, full and complete in every
particular, must be made or the guns of the
American navy be opened upon the un-
civilized community Spain has planted in
Cuba, who, like savages, revel in scenes of
butchery and blood.
Our dispatches from Washington this morn
ing contain one sentence which should make
with shame:-"The newspaper accounts giving
the details of the capture Of the yirgnius and
subsequent proceedings, while they serve to
crafty anxious seekers after intelligence, do
not furnish sufficient foundation for
government action" And so Mr. Fish is
trucking still, and forgets the honor of his
country in the weakness of his nature. He
waits for official information while his country
men, smarting under national dishonor are
painting for immediate action. The only
question which needs be asked is one our
government can answer for itself-Was the
Virginius an American vessel? If she was
there can be no true policy except the
one we have suggested. Immediate reparation
or the immediate and adequate punishment is
the necessity of the hour. With the flagship
which carries out the order of our government
to obtain full redress by the return of the vessel
and the surrender Of the culprits who CON-
mitted this wholesale assassination, or to Law
the city of Santiago de Cuba in ashes a ranre