Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-13
DON'T SHOOT.
PRESS.

The New York Herald of yesterday
prints a very suggestive cartoon. IL rep
resents the American citizens captured
on the Competitor standing blindfolded
with their backs against a stone wall
and their hands behind them. Bearing
on them IS a fringe Of musket barrels .
hut between them and that menace. Is
the figure of Uncle Sam. with right arm
stretched out warningly and determined
expression of countenance, while beneath
the picture are the words Don't fire. II
means war" This cartoon speaks for
the vast majority OF the American people
IN the present crisis. Whatever course
1naV be technically sustained by the
treaty OF 1875 and the protocol OF 1871
which have been appealed TO- the Ameri-
can public have resolved that If Spain
carries out the death sentence in respect
10 the prisoners in question she shall be
made TO rue IL.
There can be no doubt about the earn
sstness OF our people in this matter. They
are thoroughly stirred up, and Span
would do well not to string out diplomatic
negotiations over the issue too far, even
IL she has already secretly determined
that in the end she will accord the Ameri-
can prisoners the rights recognized by
tho rules Of civilized warfare In the
present heated state Of the American
mind suspense as regards the fate of the
prisoners involves imminent danger 10
Spain. 1t is a significant fact. and one
IL would be wise for the Spanish authori-
ties 10 make a note Of. that many Of the
papers Of this country that previously
had been very conservative regarding the
Cuban question. and had been disposed
TO deprecate what they termed the jim
eoism OF Congress touching Cuban bel
ngerency, have since the Competitor in
cldent made a complete change OF front
and now vie with their lingo" contempt
raries in championing the cause of the
Insurgents. and IN reprobatlng the Spanish
atrocities that are being perpetrated on
the island. AS to the matter Of executing
the American prisoners. the press il
practically unit in demanding that
Spain be given TO understand that she viii
do that at her peril.
OF the papers that have all along SYM
pathIzed with the Cuban insurgents, the
New York Tribune makes an especially
strong point when 1t says that while the
Competitor might be made another Nir-
ginius. the sequel to the slaughter would
be very different in 1896 from what #
was i'm lS52-'l The United States are not
ms helpless now as they were then. True.
We not only have navy now that could
sweep the Spanish navy of the ocean
but our people are united to-day as they
were not in lS73-'7 A striking evidence
OF what this union signifies so far as the
Competitor incident is concerned, a
afforded in the action OF Lee Camp
United Confederate Veterans of jackson
VILE. Fla. That organization has passed
resolutions asking the President to pre-
vent the execution Of Young Milton, forci-
be, II necessary. aud it is given out that
an other camps and the Grand Army
posts will probably be requested to use
their influence to save the prisoners. The
voice of the Jacksonville camp is The
utierance OF an organized body Of men
wio know what war means. and is par
tioularly ominous. both in itself ami IN the
echoes IL is calculated TO awaken.