The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-01
WA SHINCTON.
Effect of Change of Regime In Madrid
on Our Spanish Relations.
The Virginius Question Not Drowned
with the Vessel.

ernment-Deepening International
Dimculty.
The coming change in the spanish government
felegraphed from Madrid on Monday last, is now
pretty generally credited here and involves con-
alterations OF peculiar importance to this govern
ment. During the late diplomatic correspondence
between Spain and the United States the fact Of
che non-recognltion OF the Castelar, government by
the leading European Powers operated TO with
draw from the representatives or spain any moral
support of1cial countenance by the represent
atives OF the other governments except such as
might come in the shape OF personal and UNOFFICIAL
remarks and observations upon the case by the
various members OF the diplomatic corps IL
has been known, however. that so far as
concerned The status OF the Virglnius,
and her relation to the question at issue, the
diplomatic corps have been nearly II not quite
unanimous in symeathy with Spain and convinced
OF the advantage OF her position over that into
which the bungng diplomacy Of our State Depart
ment had sunk the United States. The diplomatic
corps have OF course, condemned the massacre at
Santiago de Cuba on considerations OF common
humanity; but as that affair has not been permit
ted by Spain to bear upon the question nor Insisted
upon py the United States in q manner to
cucumber the diplomacy OF the former or
screen the blunders and looseness OF the
latter Spain has not been embarrassed, nor has
Tue SITUATION OF bHlS government pccu siihPilhcu
by the atrocious acts Of the Spanish volunteers in
Cuba So that, to all intents and purposes, SPAN
has had the informal countenance of the civilized
world as against in the whole matter, and, as
far as the unrecognized state OF her government
would permit, their formal countenance as well.
But now, since the HERALDs Madrid despatch has
announced that Serrano will soon come to the
head Of Spanish affairs backed by general recog-
milton by the European Powers, the interesting
nature of the situation is intensified.
Castears policy mas all along BEEN ham,
pered by considerations that almost amounted
to dependence upon the United States, and
he has thus been led into conces-
sioRs and temporizing which would never
have occurred had Spain been entirely embarrassed
by peculiar obligations to the United States
Serrano will come into power entirely Tree from
the delicate considerations and personal obliga-
tions which have tied the hands Of CASTELAR,. And
his first act will be an effort to unite and harmo-
Nixe Spain upon the Issue Of her relations with the
United States, taking up the thread Of Castelar's
diplomacy and following it out to conclusions
far more decided and possibly far more peremptory
shan Castelar,, hampered as he has been, could
Aave reached. The yirginius has indeed gone to
she bottom Of the sea- and our government would
have been oyerjoyed if it could have sunk Its
complications with her and hidden them
good radiance as she went down. But as the case
stands now, and as it will come into Serrano's
hands the presence of the yIrginius is immaterlal
20 the issue, except as the position OF our govern
ment may be made stin more awkward By de-
mand from Spain for an explanation OF her dlsap-
pearance. Thus the accession OF Serrano to power
may be expected to be sgnallzed by the adoption
of policy toward the United States which win
either force US into still deeper humiliation and
more palpable degradation or else compel us to go
a. nfo l,oa tSAn
brought on by the miserable incompetency or GRIM
anal negligence, or both, OF our own officials.
This would seem to be an alternative OF two
gigantic evils, between which there Is no possible
choice, except, as IN the event OF fight the hero
Ism OF America soldiers and sailors might be de-
pended upon to cover up. If not to wipe out, the
disgrace suffered by the administration through
the ignorance and the dereictlon OF its officials.
But along with this aggressive policy towards US
OF the new Spanish government will come an
added weight OF unfavorable sentiment towards
rs on the part OF other nations, and this
Will be no longer confined, as it ia now, to
unofficial remarks and undiplomatc comments,
but 1t will take the more tangible and
less agreeable shape OF Official notifications and
diplomatic protests. Great Britain, although she
has taken measures for the protection Of her own
subjects who may have fallen into the hands OF
Spain, must not be understood as sustaining by
that policy in any way the position Of the United
States. The position OF Great Britain in relation TO
those Of her subjects who were captured on board
the yirginius is simply that Of the parent country
protecting her citizens in trouble IN foreign lands,
without regard TO the means by which they got
into trouble; and Great Britain does concern her.
sell whether the virginius was rightfuiiy carrying
the American nag or not. She simply insists that,
though her subjects might have been engaged IN
SPAN to prove 1t and to have given the accused
due opportunity Of defence before executing them.
But, in relation TO the present issue between the
United States and spain, which is based upon the
violation OF the laws OF the United States by on.
cials Of the United States, whereby detrment
resulted to Spain, Great Britain, France, Germany,
Austria, Russia and Italy are in sympathy with
Spain, and as soon as she gets government which
they recognize Will be in open accord with her.
All OF which renders IL sort OF bitter mockery for
any one to wish this adninistra ton this LIST Of
January, 1874, a happy New Year.
The Edgar Stuart stu Watched.
The Treasury Department is kept advised OF the
movements connected with the Edgar stuart, now
undergoing repairs at Baltimore. clearance will
be denied If the proof shall be sufficient to show
that she intends to violate the neutrality laws
But In this there is some difficulty as under our
customs a vessel may clear ostensibly for legitl-
mate purposes, even when arms aud ammunition
are the cargo; and after she peaches the high seas
there is no authority to prevent her changing her
destination. This vessel was cleared two years at
New London, the Collector taking the RESPONSE
biBty Of issuing temporary register, without con-
cutting the Treasury Department. She had arms
and ammunition on board, and changing her al.
legged des tination she carried them to the Cuban
Insurgents.
Hot Snrfnu and Rig Valley Indi ms In
Danger OF Starvation.
Congressman Luttren has received letters from
George Townsend and other prominent citizens OF
his district, stating that the Hot Spring and Big
Valley Indians In sskiyou county, California, are
in danger of starvation in consequence Of their
vegetable means of subsistence being overrun by
cattle. He therefore to-day requested the depart
ment authorities to take prompt action for their
relief and submitted Proposition, which was