The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-18
SPANISH PITY.

On the third day of March the secretary
of state telegraphed Caleb Cushing you
" are authorized to present credentials, If
/" Immediately thereafter final agreement
will lie signed" Which, being inter-
preted, meanetb, that the United States
will recognize Alfonso as king, and the
monarchy as the government of Spain, if
Spain will Immediately promise to pay the
United States eighty Thousand dollars in
gold as an indemnity In the Virginius
matter. Whether this may be regarded as
diplomacy, craftsmanship or sharp prac-
tice, we will not inquire it Is enough to
know that Alfonso was recognized, and
the "1nal agreement signed, and that
without the promise TO sign there would
have been no recognition, or without recog-
milton no "fnal agreement" AS it is,
Spain pays the eighty thousand dollars, as
she says, "actuated by sentiments of pity
consequent ON duty fulfilled, and as
caused by a desire to alleviate the misfor-
tunes of those who suffer through punish
ment imposed on others by the law
Spanish "pity" indeed But it is kind
of ''pty" enjoyed more in the reading than
in the experience. Spanish pity" is a
good deal like Spanish justice is, the
worst kind of cruelty. 1t is never akin to
American pity or justice, except when
forced from her at the point of the bay
onet cxtorted by the fear of Interior
consequences, or the hope of imme.
date gain. Pity came this time from
the desire of recognition, as a logical
result of the surrender of the Virginius
and the survivors of her passengers and
crew, and because the United States de-
manded to be treated as Great Britain was
"Pity," however, was good word. 1t
was a salve to Castilian wounded pride and
was good sop to throw TO the Spanish
people. However absurd it may be to US,
there is nothing absurd to them in the idea
of Spanish pity fol American citizens.
But ''actuated by sentiments of fear and
an ardent desire for recognition would
have sounded better, truer, manlier, to the
world, than to talk about Spaniards being
"actuated by sentiments of pity" The
secretary of state understood this when he
telegraphed Recognize it," But senti-
ments of genuine pity might have been
aroused by contemplation of the whole
sale slaughter at Santiago de Cuba. For,
whether the Vrginius lawfully floated the
American flag or not, whether the execu-
tions were, as Ulloa says, "the strict full
tlllment of the laws" the putting to death
of ffty-three of the passengers and crew of
the vessel was an inhuman butchery. and
was justified neither by the laws of God or
man. AS it is, both the United States and
Spain are well out of the difficulty, and
greater concession is made to us than to
Great Britain. The latter country engage
of the indemnity received, while the United
States receive eighty thousand dollars alb
solutely "without being obliged to an &C.
count of the distribution TO the Spanish
government We also receive a larger
proportionate indemnity than does Great
Britain. She received some twenty-five
hundred dollars for each white subject
executed, and about fifteen hundred dollars
for each colored subject. There were but
three of the crew executed who were
American citizens, and nineteen of the
passengers and crew, who were Americans,
were surrendered to this government-and
we receive eighty thousand dollars "for the
relief of the families or persons of the
ships company and passengers aboard OF
the steamer Virginius." So much the
United States realizes from Spanish "pity,
or her hopes and fears.