The New York herald., 1873-11-15
Opinions OF the Press.

From I'll Cronlsta, Nov lZl
The question OF the capture of the Virgnius with
all its incidents and precedents, has exclusively
occupied pubic attention and the columns OF the
press. This, as usual, in place OF pacifyng the
feeling or enlghtenIng the public and seeking ior
the origin and the reason OF things, has been
pleased 10 irritare the masses into vituperating
and outrayng Spain and the Spaniards and IN
sharpening the government, so that. coming out
from the prudent reserve which belongs TO the rep
resentatives OF a decent and illustrious nation,
they might launch into exactlons and pretenslons
which they themselves until now, confess have no
foundation on winch to base them.
The news that Santa Rosa was shot is prema-
ture, and as he has been already three times lib
Grated from the action OF justice by the carnivorous
ierOcty OF our grace, even now he may obtain
fourth pardon. SO that in future he may pray for
his victims when newlv he enters into combat
As he is an American citizen, protected by the
HERALD and particular friend OF Mr.. Fish, every.
thing is possible.
IT is NOT PROBABLE.
Under the above heading the Cronista mas the
following:-
Certain information from Washington, having the
appearance OF truth, says that Mr. Fish has showna
assures the Secretary that the executive power Of
the Spanish Republic has, by cable, ordered the
Captain General OF the island OF Cuba to not exc
cute any others OF the prisoners of the yirginius.
| This cannot be true, because the sentences were
laws and y the Executive TS Of the Spanish Republic
has not sufficient power to order SO great an
apsurdity.
From La Independence, Nov. 13)
To-day. in the face OF all the civilized powers,
and in the bright noon OF the nineteenth century,
American ship has been chas ed. whether in free
or foreign waters does not yet appear; she has
been boarded: and, forgetting the banner which
she noated, and without inquiring II they were
passengers or not who were aboard or her, II there
existed, not, right to capture her. she has been
dragged 10 port and, without previous trial. with
out taking any OF the steps tnat are the lndispen
sable guarantee OF all justice, the victims that
! appeared most prominent have been picked out
those who best satisned the caprice oil the
moment-and there, in the corner oil nlthy
| slaughter house. made to knee down with their
eyes bandaged, and IN the midst OF hellish clamor
! OF jackals, they have been shot in the back.
| Can the American people content themselves
| with notes, more or less artidciaily abored by
CASTELAR,, when the blood OF Ryan claims ven
geanceY Are the most generous and heroic tradi-
tions OF the Union lost to the degree OF allowing
spain-the imbecile, cowardly, miserable-to tread
them IN tue shameful mlre tgnonlnyY
That agitation IN the country OF which the press
today gives us account is protest that tomorrow
all America will translate into deeds and spain In
the end viii receive condlgn punishment Tor her
crimes.
From La Revolucion de Cuba, Nov. 1871
The press OF the United States has protested
unanimously and energeticaly against the new
crimes OF the spaniards.
From diplomatic point OF view Cuba and Spain
are not at war; Spain has always denied H. and
the United States, ceding beneyoenty to her sug-
gestions, have not proclaimed Cuban belgerency.
only in a state OF war could ship OF the United
States be detained on the high seas, examined and
conducted 10 Spanish port as criminal, accord
! ing to present treaties.
For THIS reason the capture OF the Virginius is
an act OF piracy. Whether the Virginius had not
conducted an expedition OF arms and material for
the Cubans is point not officially nxed therefore
the Kansas lent ner protection short time ago,
with the approval OF TINS government in the port
! OF Aspn wall; besides, the ship was not amenaDle
the Spaniards, TO rob her OF the American nag
hosting their own in its place at the masthead.
and punshing with death various American citi-
Zens found on board, did nos comply with any
formality OF those required by the respect due to
friendly nation. They did not perform a slow and
impartial examination OF the matter. There was
no formal trial The nation whose nag was COM
promised was not heard. The accused were not
granted the guarantees OF defence. No attempt
even has been made by the spaniards TO excuse
In all the newspapers-above all the HERALD,
numerous writings viii be found full OF the indig-
nation which the case requires.
We think that the outrage can be compensated
| for. IL the government OF Madrid Is disposed TO
acknowledge that the Captain General OF the Island
oil Cuba, in Illuminating his palace as sign OF re-
| joclng for the consequences OF an insult to
friendly naton the Governor OF Santiago who pre-
| pared the scanold Tor the victims, and the CON-
! mander OF the Tornado in capturing the ship and
stripping her OF her nag, have behaved badly, and
chastise energetically them and all the other func-
tionaries who are directly responsible In these
savage acts, the government OF the United States
should rest satisfied and contented.
IO.l
1t is said that we wish the United states to con.
quer the independence for Us which we do not
know how to win. This Is far from being exact.
But II we aspire to an alliance with the United
States we are not to be censured for that The
Cubans do not pretend 10 be as strong as Spain.
They hope to conquer because they combat for
liberty and because the special conditions or the
country where the war is being carried on are ia
vorable to them. IL is no disgrace in them to
solicit ine support OF a powerful govern
the principles which the Cubans defend.
Tne most powerful nations OF Europe
procure alliances with other nations when war
breaks out. Mexico, perhaps, would not have seen
herself Tree from the French invasion If this
government had not intervened; and no one, for
tins reason, has ceased to admire and respect the
indomitable energy which the Mexcans demon
strated In the struggle. The United States, with
out french ships and gold would have struggled
much longer than they did, and would have shed
much more blood than what was spilled, TO accom-
rish their independence; but no American,
this account, ceases to remember with pride the
combats in which their fathers, minging with
foreign soldiers commenced to exiting ush with
the chains or servitude the hard and unjust domi-
nation OF Europe In this beautiful continent
Alliance sy with any nower ON earth To deeae onCe
They have the valor, self-abnegation and perse-
verance that are needed to obtain success with
out foreign support They wish belgerency, be-
cause 1t numlates them 10 be considered as pi-
rates and as bandits; because, with begerency,
strict neutrality while thus far, with Spain
friendly power, she is favored In everything pos
Sble. she mere constructs SHIPS, ana buys cannon,
and prepares armaments while the Cubans can
only take muskets and ammunition as legal
ticles OF commerce. and In q form In which neutral
ity could not prevent 1t.
The Cuban Threat to Execute Secretary
Fish.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
am one OF the Oldest resident Cubans In this
city--a naturalized citizen for more than twenty
years-and am wen acquainted with the
Cuoans OF this city as any man living and as fully
informed OF all their movements. / think / can
speak by authority, therefore, when / pronounce
tne threatening circular Addressed TO Secretary
flsn, referred 10 IN a morning paper yesterday,
"a weak invention OF the enemy.D intended OF
course, 10 bring odlum on the Cuban cause its
authorship could no doubt be traced. III IL were
worth the trouble, to the editorial sanctum or the
nIlAIi