New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-31
VIRGINIUS AFFAIR RECALLED.
COMMENTS UPON CUBAN SITUATION BRoUGH
OFT ny THE LETTER OF MR. PHELPS

COMMENTS UPON CUBAN SITUATION BROUGHT
orT ny THE LETTER OF MR.. PHELPS
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Your comments on tho letter OF Mr. Phelps
should. IKE the general tone OF the letter Itself.
meet the appreciation OF your readers. Indeed you
hav found little TO crticise excepting mis- auslon
to the steady friendship OF Spain. which sadly
Interrupted at least In the case OF the Virginius.
II we had been so disposed We could have found in
that inc dent better excuse for declaration OF
than in anything else that has occurred in
connection with Cuba But We were not disposed,
FOR the simple reason that at that time mad
navy tina, could cope with the navy OF Spain. IN
these days now that are indulgirg In much
buster about humiliatIng her. 1t s well enough to
call this circumstance to mind.
The Vlrginius commanded by Captain Frye ar
American citizen and manned. as cur merchant
usually are. by mixed crew OF Americans
and foreigners was on voyage from the United
States TO the OF Cuba for the purpose of
landing ammunition ana few passengers on
approaching the land she was sighted BY n Spanish
gunboat whereupon Captain Frye gave up his at
tempt to put his material on shore and steered FOR
Jamaica. The Spaniard. being the faster vessel.
overhaued the Virginius md captured her. as
Captain Frey claimed within the limits OF neutral
waters But he had opportunity to establish his
defence for he and his crew were summary shot
on being landed.
At all events the Vlrginus nothing more or
less than a bockadc-runner. engaged in a business
similar 10 that pursued by British vessels In
Civ War Had the captain and crew OF any OF
those We captured been shot OH being brought into
the port of N"w-York We should have speedily
heard from Great Britain In terms moro emphatic
than those Of the note presented By Lord Lyons in
the Trent AFFAIR.
To go with this story for the benefit OF your
readers. did protest against this Illegal seizure
and execution. and all the satisfaction obtained
WAS that after the old Nrginus had become value
less by rust!ng for months in a Cuban hnrbor. she
Il delivered & our Government aOso-
lutely at that but 10 be adjudicated upon ny
admiralty court when she should reach the nled
States She taken I'm tow by OF our gun
boats. and rumor had it-and the truth OF r,imor
for unquestioned-that she WAS allowed
founder in the Gulf Stream TO save further
plicaton. ] was younger then than now and
my blood boiled more easily. I was quite ready 10
fight Spain for something that she had done but,
with cooler blood, | am not rcndy 10 fight her 10
day for what she has not done.
Leaving The Maine disaster out OF the question, /
cannot that she has done anything tina, can
construe cAsus belli War Is barbNrism at
bost. II IL so intended 10 he. The only difference
In Spanish and American methods OF putting down
rebellion consists. Mr.. Phelps has pointed out.
In different degrees OF barbarity. Spain did not
give MS notice to put a stop TO our Civil War In
given time. give notice 10 her. Nor did she.
far as | can remember, permit a single blockade
runner. as England permitted hundreds OF them. to
enter our Southern ports with munitions OF war.
To her credit be It said she took no hand whatever
In our domestic quarrel while We have showed ours
up 10 the armpits In hers. II we 60 to war tho