The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-27

American flag and the atrocities which
American citizens had suffered. Imme-
diate vengeance was called for and the
government made a faint show of prep
arations for war. 1t went so far as TO
threaten to withdraw General Sickles
from Madrid. TIL United States were
the laughing stock Of the world, and
Spain. after playing with the question
as a cat does with a mouse. finally, on
the v of the withdrawal of General
Sickles from Madrid, consented TO con-
slider proposals for restitution and in
demnity.
On Nov. 20 a protocol was signed by
Admiral Polo de Bernabe, father of the
man who has just succeeded Minister
de LONE, the Spanish minister at
Washington, and Secretary Hamilton
Fish. by which Spain stipulated to re-
store the Virginius to the United States
Immediately, together with such pas
sengers as had not been murdered. and
to salut h American flag on Christ
mas day following. The latter event.
however, was made contingent upon
the proof of the propriety OF the Vir-
ginius In carrying the American flag.
In the event OF this having been un-
warranted the ceremony was to be dis
pensed with.
The first part of the
namely. that the Virginius should be
returned to the custody of the United
States-was complied with. the surren-
der being made In the obscure harbor
or Bahia Honda, the Spanish having
taken the vessel there to avoid the hu-
initiation OF a surrender at havana or
Santiago. The American gunboat Dis
patch was sent out for the purpose,
commanded by Capt. w. ID. Whiting.
the chief of stan of the North Atlantic
squadron. and this gentleman was
obliged to tag the American ship about
IN h0 aeA1 90 -. - -
Insignificant port mentioned.
The second part of the agreement
was never carried out-probably il was
not intended to be at the time of its
stipulation. On Dec. IL, 1878. George
H. Williams. then attorney general, ad-
dressed a letter to the secretary of
state. in which he said:
Assuming the question to be what
appears to conform to the intent of the
protocol. whether or not the Virginus
at the time of her capture had a right
as against the United States to carry
the American flag. 1 am of the opinion
that she had no such right. because she
had not been registered according to
law. Spain undoubtedly has the right
to capture a vessel with an American
flag found in her own waters assisting
or e~ndeavoring to assist the insurrec-
ton in Cuba, but she has no right to
capture such a vessel upon the high
seas under the apprehension that. in
violation of the neutrality or naviga-
ton laws of the United States. she was
on her way to assist the said rebellion.
Spain can not r~ightfully raise that
question as to the Virginius, but the
United States may. and as / understand
the protocol. they nave agreed to do it,
and governed by that agreement and
without admitting that otherwise Spain
would have an interest in the question
1 decide that the Virginius at the time
Of har nnr atItr Nuno n rf,IN .-I
improperly carrying the American
flag"
Upon the receipt of this humiliating
decision Secretary Fish informed the
Spanish minister that the United States
waived the salute to it's flag as agreed
upon in the protocol. In view of all
this. it is difficult to account for the
Inconsistency which made the United
States ask Spain for pecuniary relief
for the American citizens murdered
while sailing Under the American flag
and the granting of this demand by
Spain.
Spain paid, however. the sum OF $780,
600 in full indemnity for the ives of SO
persons murdered by its representa-
tives, while all communication of these
victims was shut off from the country
10 which they might have looked for
protection-though with how much JUS
tice can only be hazarded.
The total survivors of the crew were
10 n of the passengers 81, who were
surrendered at the same time as the
vessel and conveyed with IL to New
York. The vessel was not seaworthy,
and being struck by a storm off Cape
Hatteras was sunk on her way to New
York. This closed the episode of the
Virginius, which aroused more indig-
nation in this country than any other
event save the firing on Fort Sumter in
the memory of men now living. The
insult to the flag has remained una
venged to this day: the blood money
was meekly pocketed. and Spain. Sc
cure i'm her confidence that money can
mend murder when the atrocity is com
mitted against American citizens, re-
fers with pride to her diplomatic pers-
picacity on this occasion.-Chicago
Chronicle.