Year: 1873




General Butler laughed very much while he told
this story.


Ex-Governor scymour's views-A Calm


and Dignifed Review of the whole


Qaestion-Reprtsals Rather than War.


Ex-Governor Seymour gave his views to the re-
porter in his parlor In the St. Nicholas Hotel The
kindly old gentleman looks AS fresh and strong as
ever, and speaks with the same lrankness and sim
cerity. The reception he extended 10 the reporter
was extremely courteous.


Governor SEYMOUR paclng the room, and speak
ing very deliberatelyf-Tn capture OF the vlr-
ginus was q clear violation OF our national rights
and there is no doubt that the American people
are greatly shocked at the massacre OF the crew.
II is not easy to say to what lengths
the people will go in righting this wrong. Most
men are In favor OF war so long as they believe
that there win be no war-and in saying this
think express the opinion OF the people in my
distrct-but SO soon as the danger Of war becomes
imminent men look more thoughtfully to the re-
suits There is no doubt that there is general
feeling that the attitude OF the government should
have prevented such an occurrence. The Cuban
authorities would never have committed such an
outrage II they had felt that it would lead to any
action Of our government


WHICH NIGHT OVERTHROW THEM.
For some, reason, however, our foreign policy has
failed impress other nations with the belief that
we are prompt 70 resent any insults 10 our dag
II Ia believed that IL the virginius had been ves-
sci sailing under the English nag, under like cir
cumstances, the treatment OF her crew would have
been very different 0ne There is general feel
ing that this matter should be brought to such an
Issue that hereafter American rights, American
citizens and American property shah be fully pro-
tected by the nag OF the country.


REpoRTEB-Do you think the people wish Tor
war;


Governor SEYMouR-r do not think that our peo-
pie wish Tor war. For many reasons they would
depore it, However, this question has un-
donbtedly assumed very grave aspect, and 1t Is
not clearly now the matter could be adjusted.
tOf course Lknow nothing OF the character OF the
diplomatic correspondence between the two
Cabinets. The position OF our own government,
well as that OF Spaln s iulI OF embsrrassments.
On the one hand, the United States have suf-
fered insults and wrongs which they cannot over
look, and 1t is very clear, on the other hand, that
the spanish Ministry may not ne able to make the
concessions which II may deem just. The man who
is at the mead OF the Spanish Ministry Castelar,, is
one OF the foremost men OF our time. He is


FREE AND LIBERAL GOVERNMENT
upon the soil or Spain. He 10 warm friend and
admirer OF our institutions. 1t Is hard thing Tor
overthrow ms power, defeat the great aim and
purpose OF his lie, nay, which may mperil that
changes which Spain is unnappiy liable TO suffer.
This TACT undoubtedly qualities In great degree,
the feeling I!so o. tne american people & and makes
solution OF the whole dlniculty, confess do
not see how this ls to be brought about,
but know nothing about the state OF the nego-
tiations between the TWO governments, and can
only express my hope that American honor will be
fully vindcated without the evils OF civil war and
without the sad spectacle OF prOmnen ut power like
republican America striking down the new formed
Republic OF Spain. that rs struggling or existence
against SO many difficulties and 30 many hostile
influences. Under ordinary circumstances we
might get out OF our dilemma by submitting the
question to some form OF arbitration but the seZ-
nre OF the Virglnius and the massacre OF her crew
were acts 80 clearly wrong that it seems difficult


TO ADMIT SHADOW OF RIGHT


in the conduct OF the Cuban authorities, which
would be Implied BY submission OF the question
to o third party


upon Spain as published in the HERALD?


Governor SEYMoUR-Well, / certainly approve of
an assurance that the conduct or the butchers
should be carefully looked into, and that they
should be promptly punished II found guilty. III
Spain refuses to accede TO our demands l shall
still not cry for war. l should rather be
in favor Of reprisals, because then you might
would prefer such reprisals to war
which would probably be attended with distress to
our workingmen and great injury to the business
OF the country. You see, this would be merely q
last war. 1t would not give employm ment to land
forces


EXCEPT TO A VERY LIMITED DEGREE.
IT is not for me to give an opinion TO the course
OF the government and to SIT In Judgment on an
administration to which am politically opposed,
but hope and trust that they are animated by a
desire to vndicate the national honor, and on the
other hand, to weigh duly the grave results which
must follow upon state Of warfare with foreign
nation and the possible complications that may
grow out Of it.


This terminated the interview.