The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-12-04
The VirginiuS Affair.

Much has already been said
through the columns Of the news.
papers regarding the affair Of tho
Tiryinius. There have been so
many false reports aud exaggera-
tiors in circulation as to render 1t
almost Impossible TO ascertain
with any degree Of certainty the
true state of affairs. Many pa
pers, and especially tho Demo
cratic, have been and are favoring
tho declaration Of a war with
Spain. Why men who have had
60 much to say about The war Of
the rebellion, the enormous debt
thereby cntallcd upon the United
States, etc, should wish a war
and an increase OF the debt, 10 not
plain to consistent n,iDds.
in a letter published in the
New Orleans Times Of Nov. 2ls',
and purporting to have been writ
ten by the captain Of the British
ship West Derby, to n brother of
Capt. Fry, of the above named
place, it is. nvcrred that tho Vir-
gsnius cleared from Kingston, ia
nraica, as a bona file passenger
ship, and under the American
fAg. 1t also states that the crow
were shipped in legal and proper
manner before Mr.. Nuncs, acting
United States Consul at Jamaica.
The destination Of the vessel is not
given, but OF conrsc it is inferred
that it intendad to 60 to some
point on the coast of Cuba. We
have already stated that the Span.
ish war steamer Tornado first dis.
covered the Viyyinius in Spanish
waters, and gave chase, the latter
vessel heading towards Jamaica.
The capture to'k place upon the
high seas, the Viryinius making
no resistance save in fight.
The captured vessel was then
taken to Havana. Attcrward tho
vessel and prisoners were taken to
Santiago dc Cuba, where. it is al
legged, So Of her passengers aud
crew were tried by court martial
and executed. 1t is claimed that
there were quite a number Of
Americans murdered, aud only
one Englishman. Tho whole at
Air of the shooting was done with
out the knowledge and sanction
of The Spanish home government.
Statements regarding the manner
ia which Spain received the news
of the inhuman outrage are con-
flic.:me, but the majority seem to
agree that it eauscd regret, and
a desire to make all the reparation
possible. We should further state
th,u the American and English
Consuls at Havana vainly protest.
ed against the summary execu-
tons.
The feeling Of cxritcmo't Great
ed in various parts Of the United
States has been in no way allayed
by the circulation offalse reports
one of them to the effect that Gen.
Sickles had to be protected 10y
Spanish authorities at Madrid, >.
from mob violence. Another re.
port has been that the Castelar,
or Republican government OF
SPAN was unable to. enforce its
will in Cnba,. Orders sf"m tho
Department Of the Navy have
cansed great activity in tho navy
Yards and several vessels have
been fitted ont ready for im'ncdi-
ate active service. Already over
$4,000, 900 have bsen thus OK
pended. From all PARTS OF the
country have cnnc offev of men
and money, showing that ID only
needs \ declaration OF war to
bring forth plenty of mcn to pros
ecnte it,
The assertion. that Spanish au-
thorities in Cuba would not pay
heed to tho voice of the homo
government is emrhatically de
lied, and it ,s saiif they are ready
and willing I" obey all orders
from a proper source. A Wash
ington dispatch Of Nov. 26'h, says
that the only point of difference
be-, ween the United States and
S, ,ain is tho surrender Of tho Var
ginius. The Spanish Minister,
Paolo, at Washington, was cl"'hed
with extraordinary power To
agree upp tho surrender OF the
remaining prisoners, and to pay
~ indemnity to the families o'
those murdered, but conteEdcd
for the right to hold the vessel IN
Ill it was shown she was entitled
to tho protection Of our flag. This
proposition tho United States