The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-03-23
The VirGlnius Case

II Spain expects the United States to
act now as she did in the case Of the
steamship Virginus she is sadly mis-
taken. This case should be kept in
mind now by all persons who desire TO
see the honor and dignity OF this coun-
try sustained in the Maine affair. It
shows just exactly what may be ex-
pected by government that handles
Spain with too much consideration in
diplomacy. Itshows also what results
can be achieved with her by determine.
ton and promp! action. During the
late war the Vlrginius -as blockade
runner into Southern ports and in
1870 when the Cuoans were trying to
break away from Spain, the Virginius
resumed the old occupation, only with
change OF base. For three years it
succeeded N carrying on its business
without being captured. She was un-
der the command of citizen of the
United States. Captain Fry, who had
served with distinction first in the
United States navy and then in the
Confederate States navy. The crew
consisted of Americans, Englishmen
aud Cubans. On one OF her trips the
Virginius was run down and captured
by Spanish gunbost called the Tor
nado. Captain Fry protested that his
was san American ship, carrying
American colors and papers, with an
American captain and crew." All
this gas true, but far from being "sa7
ing truth" The vessel and all on
board were taken to Santiago de Cuba.
They were Immediately tried by a
drumhead court. The United States
consul at the place was not allowed to
leave the consulate or have any inter-
course with the prisoners until the
last day. The trials. condemnations,
and executions were in squads. In
the first batch was q gallant soldier,
who had served in me Federal army
during the war, but who was then q
brigadier general in the Cuban army.
In the second batch the gallant Fry
himself was shot. Not man would
have escaped the fury Of the cruel
Spaniards, but before the butchery
| was completed a British cruiser, the
| Niobe, which happened to De in the
vicinity, steamed into Santiago. Sir
Lambert Larraine. the commander OF
the Niobe, had heard of the butchery,
and without the slightest ceremony
demanded that the butchery seace.
He told the Spanish butchers that he
represented the United States as well
as Great Britain and that if another
/ man was executed he would shell the
town. That settled it, and ninety
three men under sentence OF death
were saved by the brave and humane
interference Of the brave commander
OF the British cruiser, Sir Lambert
Larraine, who should be held in high
esteem by all Americans. Then fol-
lowed series of diplomatic negotia-
tions, Secretary Fish took the sensible
position that the Virginius, having
been registered as an American yes.
sci carrying official documents regu.
lar upon their face, and bearing the
United States flag, was entirely be-
yond the jurisdiction OF any other
power on the high seas in the time of
peace; if she had secured fraudulent
entry or committed any other fraud
against the laws of the United States
it was for her to be turned over to the
United States courts for punishment,
and not for her to be captured and
punished by some other power. This
was COCA beginning to pitiful end
ing. The final result must have made
all Spain chuckle with delight. The
contention of the United States was
conceded by Spain, and she agreed to
sends as far as saecould the great wrong
she had done the United States. The
men who had been rescued by the
Niobe we're put on board the
Virginius in the remote port OF Bahia
Honda, and there, before handful
of witnesses, the Spaniards went
through the farce ola salute. The
Spaniards should at lesst have been
compelled to take the Virginius into
the harbor at Havana. and there in
the presence of all the people, made
to pay homage to the United States.
We agree with an exchange which
says cases like that of the Virginius
breed contempt and lead to outrages.
No nation ever won respect or peace,
that could endure, by such course as
that followed by the United States in
the case OF the Virginius massacre.
It is well toremember that fact now.
Hesitation and hall measures with a
nation like Spain serve only to pile up
trouble for the future. No nation
has in its history such conclusive proof
of this SIS our own. No nation has
suffered such loss and provocation at
Spanish hands as the North American
Union. We now stand fast on the
line that marks the limit.