The New York herald., 1873-11-24
ADMIRAL POLO IN DEFENCE.


70 tho American Flag-The virginius
Was Not . UnlIed States vessel-Bur-
riel Acted Only in Accordance With
Law-The Telegram from Spain Com
cernlng Minister Sicklcs.
WASHINGTON, Nov. %, 1873.
Admiral Polo, the Spanish Minister who has
hitherto maintained strict reserve on the sub
ject OF the virgnius imbrogo, accorded to your
correspondent an interview at late hour
this evening. The Admiral expressed his
opinions fully and frankly on the grave
complications which threaten to involve
this country in a war with Spain, as he is evi-
IDENTITY desirous OF placing before the American
people what he considers the real facts OF the case
Of the virgnius, knowing full well that when the
question OF peace war comes to be decided upon
our Congress and government will be led by pub
lie opinion.
Your correspondent opened the conversation by
remarking that it was the accepted belief we were
on the verge OF war with Spain.
Admiral Polo replied d:-"Yes; war has stared me
in she face from the newspaper prints for the last
fortnight or so. and I suppose there is a
great deal Of talk about war; but l doubt
very much whether those who are clamoring for
II represent the real sentiments OF the American
people at large. There is certainly no occasion.
not even pretext for war, except 1t be to find
employment for the many idle people about New
York. 1t is said they must be provided for, and
therefore Wal wOuld ba a Cood fhinO pcrhanc 4
would, but think it is queer way of solving the
labor prob!em.n
Your correspondent here queried whether the
insult done to the American nag was not good
pretext for war.
Admiral Polo said-"There has been no insult done
or intended to the American flag, because the vir-
gnus was no more entitled to it than to the nag OF
Venezuela, and perhaps not quite as much. Task
you, In the name OF fairness, shall the great nag OF
this country serve as cover for the lawlcss acts
Of set OF adventurers who except as a tempo.
rary expedient, care no more for it than for
mere rag When the facts of the whole
career OF the virginius will be laid before the
American people they will look at the case in
different aspect. The virginius has been engaged
for three years in lawless pursuit. During
al that time che has not been once in
an American port. There is ample proof
that she was owned by Cuban insurgents,
and by no Mr.. Patterson or any other American.
1t is well known that she has landed several ex-
peditions in Cuba. She took part in the civil war
Of Venezuela, carrying troops for Guzman Blanco,
which fact was enough to deprive her OF her Amer.
lean nationality II she had not forfeited 1t BEFORE"
Here your correspondent said-"As the virGinius
nad American papers and was cleared by the
American Consul at Jamaica, would it not have
been well to examine the question OF her nation
aity before assuming her to be pirate and before
the Wholesale shooting OF prisoners
Admiral Polo replied THE virginius obtained
those papers on fraudulent representations, and
therefore they were void The American Consul at
Kingston did wrong in clearing her; for the char
acter and real destination OF the virpnus must
have been known to him as well as the nlibusters
who manned her. General Burriel. upon whom go
much abuse has been lavished by the American
newspapers only carried out the sentences OF
regularly constituted council Of war. 1t was, how
ever, no mere assumption on the part OF the San
tiago authorities that the prisoners OF the vr-
ginius were nbusters they knew 1t
to bc TACT. They had attempted
TO land for the purpose Of killing loyal
people In the Island and destroying their pSV.