The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06

which II should end, vii be "inbiazoned on the ban.
what another Crittenden OF the same lineage dared
but Win an IN in1 ean eSttst fo aSss an" nfh se latter n snn ,im't 10
spread our Institutions abroad. the others to preserve
The execution OF the crew and passengers of
the Virginius in 1873 was even more cold blood
cd, The Virglnius was sailing on the high seas
under the flag W the United states. But
she was captured by a Spanish gunboat. carried
to Santiago, and, fearing the home Government
would prevent the execution, tour OF her pas
sengers were shot next morning at u o'clock.
An officer of a British schooner. who Witnessed
tie execution, gives the following account OF 1t:
The executioners demanded that these VIC
tins should kneel apd b. shot In the back. Two
OF them so knelt and were so shot. The other
Two, verona ana Ryan. refused to knecl, aud
were thrown down and handcutfed while beg
cling their exocutioners to let them die standing.
a spanish oticer stepped forward and thrust
his sword through ftyan's heart. Verona died
easily, Then down upon the cnrpses, still warm
with HE. came the blood thirsty mob, severing
their heads from their bodies. placing them OH
pixies and marching through the city"
days after; and then came Aonfros and bull
lights. celebrating the heroic event. The VIC
TINS were tried at night before a court martial,
Not oply was the right of counsel denied them
but they were not permitted To be present In
person. Ryan had been a Union soldier during
the Confederate side. ReverdY johnson. one Of
the most eminent, lawyers tn.s country ever
produced, declared that the seizure was as
gross a disregard OF the authority Of the United
States as II the Tornado hal seized the Vir-
ginius In the harbor OF New York. Permission
was refused Capt. Frye to apply to the United
States Consul for the protection Of his pnssen-
gers and crew; but alter he WAS ned he
was allowed TO appear before The tribunal for
lido not come to appeal for my own life" he
SAID. gu have condemned me and | do not
ask You for my life. II has been notorious that
a great number OF vessels were engaged in
and. notwithstanding many prizes we're taken.
not a life was sacrificed. OF the Law in Cuba.
ton of arms into Cuba, | had not heard until
the night OF my conviction. If. with superior
opportunities. was ignorant of Il case decided
ny other than international law, how completely
Ignorant should be these poor peoplet Tie
council well know that l am not plead
nor country-a victim OF war and persecution.
being shut out from the road TO pros
wife and seven children, who know what it is TO
suffer from the viclssituues OF ms lite. Span
die in the I'm brace OF our holy religion. consider
the souls OF these poor people. Give them time
and opportunity to seek tue mercy of God. linus
blood ought to be sufficient. These poor men
had no knowledge OF their crime"
oners, but was refused. He had sent several
dispatches to the American Consul ut Jamaica
to learn the facts: but tho spanish General re-
FUSED to permit their transmission until tho
cnptlves were slaughtered, international law
sustained Spain in se!ZIng the vessel, which had
no right to ny our flag; but the execution OF the
crew and passengers without any real trial, and
In defiance of orders to wait. was "A butchery.
Buriel. who was chiefly responsible for the
crime. was never tried for the offence.
During the present war the Spanish nuthuri-
ties to repeat the same tactics. de-
spite the protocol to the treaty OF 1895. witch
was secured b. our Minister, Caleb Cushing. in
1877. providing that all American citizens vio-
lattnR the laws OF spain shall be tried by "A civil
tribunal, unless they are captured with nrms IN
their hands. The revolution had hardly been
lnaugurat.u when three American citizens were
arrested for completes and were about to be
tried by After the protest of
our Consul-General and II prolonged dlp!o-
matte correspondence. two were brought
before n civil tribunal, one OF whom
was acquitted. another released without
trial, and the third Is to have II new trial, unless
he should die in prison. The case of the Com
petltor captives Is still p%ending. There is no
douOt, however, thai during the present war
many American citizens have been secretly
murdered without any form or pretence of trial.
A still larger number have been robbed by
Spanish officials and soldiers. Others have been
banished for no offence whatever. ana yet tho
relations OF the two Governments are said 10 ue
- cordial" II there is any cordially on the part
OF our Government toward spain 1t is u disgrace
TO our Administrations