Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-11-18
THE CUBAN TROUBLE.

The CUBAN TROUBLE.
The recent capture of the Virginius, sail>
ing under the American flag, off the coast of
Cuba, by a Spanish vessel, and the subsequent
summary execution of those found on board
has created quite stir in this country. The
Baltimore Gazette says editorially of this
affair:
eve scarcely know how to characterize in
words fitting the occasion the bloody slaughter
at Santiago de Cuba of ffty>seven of the men
captured on board the steamer Yirginius.-
The summary execution of General Ryan and
three other Cubans-one of them, like Ryan,
citizen of the United States-without trial.
and at an hours notice, was of itself we'll call
culated to draw down upon the assassins the
indignant reprobation of the whole civilized
world. But the later news adds fresh hor-
ror to what, even in its milder form, was bar.
barous enough. It was on the morning of
the 4th instant that Ryan and his three Cuban
companions were shot. On the 9Th, FIVE
other Cubans were shot. On the 7th, the
Commander of the Virginius, Captain Frey
himself an American citizen, and at one
time lieutenant in the United States navy
together with thirty-six of the crew of the
steamer, were taken out and shot, and, on the
following day, twelve more of the Cuban vol>
unteers were shot. The two last mentioned
acts of savagery were perpetrated, after tele-
grams had been sent from Spain, and received
in Cuba by the Captain General, ordering
peremptoriy stay of proceedings"
Orders have been issued from the Navy
Department to the different navy-yards at
Brooklyn, Philadelphia, ETC., for the immedi-
ate fitting out of vessels of war, to be made
ready for service at once, and number of
vessels will be made ready for active operation
IN few days The vessels of the navy have
bsen so much reduced in number that it has
been found somewhat difficult to promptly re-
inforce our spuadrons in cases of emergency.
but in the course of few days all that can
be made available will be sent to Cuban waters
in accordance with the determination of the
Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
From Fridays Washington dispatches we
learn that the trials of all the prisoners taken
on board the Virgnius have been concluded.
Only eighteen will be saved from death. OF
these several are engineers OF fremen. who
were ignorant of the destination of the expo.
dition, and four OF five will be set at liberty :
the others will be condemned to the chain
gang.
On Friday dispatches were sent to the
commandants of every navy yard to ascertain
just what force would be necessary to fit out
every vessel now in ordinary, and what was
the shortest time in which it could be done.
Large quantities of coal have ordered to
Key West, and precautionary steps taken to
have everything in readiness ia the event of
the Government being obliged to act prom pity
and firmly. All the available vessels. it is un-
derstood, will be ordered to rendezvous at
Havana, and general surveillance of the
Cuban coast will be at once begun. To this
extent the Secretary of the Navy is ready to
meet the question Of protecting American in
terests in Cuba.
1t can be stated on official authority that
while the present naval preparations do not
mean war against Spain or Cuba, they are
significant of the determination of this Gov
eminent to protect American interests at any
hazard, and to prevent in the future such
massacres as those which followed the capture
of the Virginius, and which shock the entire
civilized world. Experience has shown that
the Spanish Gov ernmen. cannot enforce its
own DEGREES iu the island of Cuba, and. there's
fore, it becomes imperative for the, United
States to protect its citizens from Cuban fe.
rocity.
Our Government is now waiting to hear
what the Spanish government will do in re-
spouse to our earnest protest against the out
rage perpetrated against the victims of the
Virginius. Here the matter rests for the
present.
The President, while he will guard to the
utmost extreme the rights of American citi-
zens, and defend the policy which he has de
termiped upon, will also make earnest recon-
mendations to Congress in his forthcoming
message.
The English journals all comment on the
affair of the Virginius, and express the hope
that the United States, in the interests Of
civilization, will take energetic measures with
the Cubans.
SHENANDOAH VALLEY R