Year: 1873

WASHINGTON Nov. IS. 1873


Admiral Porter, who has had more experience in
war and knows the effect it viii have uoon the
country, when asked whether he thought war
wonld result from the present imbroglo and what
he thought OF the Vrginius affair." replied that the
seizure OF the Virginius was violation cf lnterna-
tonal law and an outrage to our nag upon the
high seas. and that the other violent acts COM
mitted were inhuman and disconrtns-@ % ouI
government and looked a. II they had Dcen
done to prevent interference. and that
both cases have to be atoned Tor in the most
ample manner. But it did not follow
taat war should occur in consequence OF
those acts, Tor there was no. single offence that
one nation might commit against another that
could not be settled amicably All civilized ma
tons had established diplomatic code, whose
business 1t was to try al amicable means 10 sette
differences before trying the arbtrament OF the
sword, and this course was the more desirable as
II frequently gave the injured nation the opportu-
nifty to prepare TO redress the grievance in man.
ner perfectly satisfactory TO herself. For instance,
II this country should on the present occasion
commit overt acts or war, such as making re-
prisais. 1t would be placing itself IN dilemma,
lnasmuch as we were not prepared IOr war
ana an might get tne worst OF II, which would
we were 10 go to work IN calm, dignihed manner
and prepare to obtain all the reparatlon we could
demand. while diplomacy was eXhausting all its
arts our redress IN the end would not be the less
substantial or satisfactory 1t is found that those
who mostly desire 10 go to war are persons Of en-
thusiastc feelings who always count the COST
and 1t is well Tor all governments that when men
are placed in Office they feel the responsibility OF
plunging the country In war and take Il calm
view OF the situation. The confidence the people
feel in rulers whom they elect to office ought to
satisfy the same people when they sec these rulers
not rushing TO hasty conclusion People
who go OF half cooked are not always to be relied
Treasury rather than submit to this ndgnity. But,
al the same time, do not think We should depart
from the usages OF civilized nations account Of
popular clamor. Now popular excitement might
lnuuce us 10 commit some rash act at the very
moment tne 81, spanish na government, to to whom we
make reparation and indemnify us Tor all that has
been done.


From all can learn no Official Information has
been received about the Virgnus affair and cer-
talnly no action on the part OF the government
sSe'u the case sc are asen KNOWN. m think it unwss
TO Get up an excitement which Will cause
81 sr anS dan ss buH nnr c,iilen S sbonG n
lay aside their republican dignity and try and
force the government TO go into war they might
live to regret. think our whole navy should be
placed at once in a condition to meet any emer-
gency. and II war should follow through fault OF
Cuba and removing the last vestige OF Spanish
authority from this hemisphere. In the mean


e we must t nas we o oat ,ne M %
with Great Britain, and as the spaniards are
doing tLeir best TO establish republican instltu-
tions we should not be the first to throw obstacles
in the way OF their doing so. On the contrary, on
principle, we should yield more TO them than TO
Great Britain


II Spain proclaims her inability to control the
powers in Cuba, then we owe u to civilization and
humanity 10 take possession of the island and put
1t under United States laws. In the meantime let
US keep level head. No man ever made an ytning
by getting into passion, and the best lighters,
am sure, were the coolest. | think this Is good
opportunity to shell out for the navy, and hope
when the hat is handed round for naval appropria-
tions the people will remember they can't have
their flag respected upon the high unless they
are willing to have something better than navy
on paper; for this our navy certainly Is, which
can be easily verified by an inspection OF the old
rookeries that cucumber the navy yards. Our peo-
pie are often astonlshed when they hear that one
OF our gunboats has sailed for Cuba with an ll-inch
gun and sealed orders, but they will be equally
surprised to know that the Spaniards have 81 gun
boats III Cuba, some OF them carrying so each,
and can almost count 10 guns to our one. That,
OF course, would not discourage me In time Of war;
but 1t ought TO discourage those who Will only have
to read about the killed and wounded in The news
papers.