New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-25

! 1eaeO0AuS, however, we Op1ue tueTe Will
be little disposition to put up money 70,
the purpose of litigating the matter.
1
DID WE LET SPAIN OFF TOO EASY?
Ever since the affair of the Virginius it
has been the delight of the small-fry Dem.
ocratic politicians to complain of the easy
terms accorded by our State Department
to Spain. for the conduct Of her officials
in shooting the Virginius' crew and pas
sengers. Every time an item about the
severer terms exacted by John Bull comes
up it is made text for diatribe against
MIR. Secretary Fish, President Grant. and
| all and singular the other officials who had
anything to do with it. This censure is
unjust. though it is the only part Of the
criticism that we take any exception to.
We look upon it as an indisputable fact,
that the reparation demanded and received
from Spain was totally inadequate to
the offense. Instead Of being salts
fed with the release Of the very few sur.
viving prisoners. the return Of the Vir-
ginius and the salute to the flag, which
neither hurt anybody nor gratided any
one of confidence, half dozen vessels of
war should have been sent to invest the
port of Santiago de Cuba, accompanied
with transports carrying ten thousand
men. The place should have been seized
and held. as Gibraltar was by the English.
The officers should have been seized and
tried by military commission, and de-
mand made for the surrender of the Tor
nado and her officers. But thanks to the
niggardly policy of the country, the Pres
ident had neither the ships nor the troops
to spare. We think he was fortunate in
obtaining any concessions under the Cir
cumstances. Had Spain stood out, We
would have been obliged to await until
naval vessels ofsuficient size and strength
could be built. before a shot could be
fred with any prospect of success.
For so great nation as the United
States. the army is ridiculously small.
With greater stretch of sea coast than
any other nation, exclusive of depen-
denotes, our navy is smaller than that of
any Of the great maritime powers. If the
people look to the administration for re-
suits, they should see that adequate means
are placed at its disposal to achieve them.
1t makes no difference whether it is an inso-
lent nation. like Spain. a sneaking redskin
on the Western plains, OF White League
victim Of negrophobia, that is warring
against the citizens Of the United States.
The government is expected to punish
them all at = moments notice. to defend
thousands Of miles Of sea coast and from.
Yer with about s4.; 10000 troops and thirty
1orty eng cover II vessels.
col. nj" :e;ivs p-,-l INC; 's''' at in
frh, be that had the ', s1m Il, ~
Fitted itself affair." 10 it would have nav s ssss
hea up ~ sam ,ns Domingo case .o was was vas
IN ~ nj is ssa ss' tn: law :s Or, sAiss
sssse 81 same 4s. mot fssss5e5s
tao4tu ~ov Meas;n;nistration for no' ~.
provided with war vdssens. by sending
matt a dozen of orr sunooats after
her, our Democ~ &c friends should w
sist upon .-engthening the hands of
the President. Give him the means.
I'd then hold him responsible if he
rs to employ them. The paltry $4,000
rsntly accepted by England in con-
dQtion Of some ofense. the nature Of |
whh We do not now recollect. would not |
payne interest for five minutes upon the
sum- would have cost Spain to satisfy
the ,ited States for the outrages at San
tiagoe Cuba. had the President been as
sureAe country would have sustained
him ipaking the demand. If our White
Leagus will enter into peace bonds. so |
the arr can go in pursuit of the red
skins. q then try and persuade their |
Northeipolitical friends to strengthen
the arm and navy, We will guarantee
there wibe no cause Of complaint about !
Spanish ptrages during the rest of |
Grants to.