Year: 1873

| Ths Murders - Santiago ae Cubs-
Necessisy Tor the Recognition sf Cu-
ban Benigerency.
The indignation Of the American people
over the murder of at least four of the persons
who were found on board the virginius is


manifesting itself in public meetings all over
the country, as well as in the almost unani-
nous condemnation of the outrage by the
press. In this city an imposing demonstra-
ton is contemplated, in which such citizens
as Judge Edwards Pierrepont Henry
Ward Beecher. Gerrit Smith and General


Banks are to take leading parts. In
New Orleans there has already been
an expression of popular sentiment ON the
subject Everywhere the Cubans and their
sympathizers are actively laboring to turn the
assassination of their friends TO the advantage
of the cause. and the crime committed at San
efforts beyond anything they have heretofore
been able to secure. But the question which
stirs the heart of the American people goes
beyond the popular sympathy with the
cause of free Cuba. It is question
affecting the honor and dignity Of our
own nation. We feel that the hurried
killing of Ryan and his associates was de-
signed as defiance Of any protest We might
make against their capture. We feel that the
ferocious haste with which their lives were
taken was in a great measure due to the
Spanish hatred of Americans We believe
hot tha r.v,.v ho1 hon Rrt ct, oh


sailing under British colors, the action
of the Spanish authorities would have
been more in accordance with the die
tates of humanity and the requirements
of the law. It is for these reasons, rather
than because we sympathize with people
demand . prompt investigation Of the affair
of the Virginius and an ample atonement for
the insult that under any circumstances has
been offered to the United States by the muir
der of four of the persons found on board that
vessel without the form of trial. in despite
government was afforded an opportunity even
to learn of their capture.


We publish to-day an interesting converse
ton held by our Washington correspondent
with Secretary Fish in regard to this deplor-
able affair, in which the views of the Secretary
are fully set forth. Briefly, they are as fol-
lows:-The Cubans have been Troublesome
set of people to the State Department, and
while Mr. Fish sympathizes with their cause
he is not impressed by the specimens
he has met to believe that they can
accomplish their independence They
want the American government to
do more than recognize their rights as belli-
gerenk They desire that we should do what
England did not dare 10 do daring our own
rebellion-namely, to fit out expeditions, arm
volunteers and land forces ON tho island TO
aid the Cuban side. This we cannot do. So
far as the virginius is concerned, she may
have been legally captured, or she may not.


It is possible that she was taken within
British waters, in which case we shall
fortunately be able to turn the matter
over to England to settle for us. If we are
compelled to seek reparation for an Illegal
seizure we may rest assured our demand will
be firmly made and readily acceded to. But
Spain does not like demands to be made upon


her; she prefers to be asked favors The


reason of this is clear; she is sensitive because
she has two rebellions on her hands. As to
the reparation we shall require, we cannot yet
tell what it may be- We cannot bring the
dead to ife-of course not. But we have


done all we can to prevent any more murders
by prevailing upon the government at Madrid
to telegraph to Cuba instructions to stop the


inhuman butchery. To be sure the wires are
down between Havana and Santiago de Cuba,
cut, probably, by the Spaniards, to prevent


these orders from passing over them, in which


case we may learn of the assassina-
ton of others of the prisoners. The Spanish
government however, is not to blame; they


desire at Madrid to do all that is right; only
the bloodthirsty volunteers in Cuba make all
the mischief, and it would be a good thing for
Spain if she would-fguratively of course
cut the throats of those who have been SO long
amusing themselves by cutting the throats of
all the defenceless victims upon whom they
could lay their cruel hands.


We are glad to learn that Secretary Fish
sympathizes with Cuba; glad that he at last
recognizes the fact that war exists ON the
island There may be some force in his re-
marks and in the yet more emphatic criticism
of others in Washington, whose views are
published to-day in our Washington corre-
spondence, in regard to the Cuban patriots
who fight the battle of their country in New
York. Philadelphia and Washington instead of
on the plains of Cuba. To be sure the fate of
Ryan and his associates proves that they might


experience some difficulty in landing on the
island, while the unsleeping vigilance of our
authorities renders their escape from our own
shores not q very easy matter. But we are