Year: 1873




Spanish Butchers.


The American journals III the interests Of
Spain-fortunately for the credit OF the Ameri-
can press they are few in number and unim-
portant in infuence-beat about in fog of
their own raising and touch every point except
those really at issue between the United States
and the Spanish government. In all instances
inspired, and in some written, by Spanish
counsellors, their articles are designed to con-
fuse the question and to divert public atten-
ton from the actual offences committed by the
buccaneers and murderers of Santiago de Cuba
At one time, under cover of pretended in
dictment of the administration for alleged
neglect of its international obligations, these
organs, which ought to bepublished at Madrid
instead of in the United States, drag before
the public long list Of accusations against
the Virginius and the unfortunate victims
who were butchered in front of
the slaughter house wall" intended to
excuse or justify the piratical act of Costello
and the felony of Burriel AT another
time, taking their cue from the insolent Span
ish officials they assail with coarse invective
the ministers and consuls Of the United
States who, in the discharge Of their duties,
interpose to save the lives of American 'citi-
zens or demand satisfaction for the outrage
committed on the American nation. On one
hand they craftily seek to embarrass the
proof Of the nationality of the Virginius by
covert threats that the owner Of the unfortu-
nate vessel may be subjected to punishment
under our neutrality laws, thus hoping to in
duce him to repudiate the ownership. On the
other, they make stupid attempts in their edi-
torial columns to discredit the HERALD's i'm
portant special news disclosing the insolence
Of the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs
and the outrages on the American Legation at
Madrid, while in their telegraphic columns
they are compelled to publish the confrma-
ton of our momentous and exclusive intelli-
gence.


The character of the yirginius and the
nature Of the traffic in which she was engaged
have nothing whatever to do with the question
at issue between ourselves and Spain, pro-
vided she was an American vessel. II, as
charged by the Spanish-American organs, she
had landed a dozen cargoes Of men and arms
on the Cuban coast, she was not liable to
seizure on the high seas in time of professed
peace, or even to visit and search. She
might have been hundred times filibus-
ter, and the outrage on our flag, the gross
violation of international law and treaty obli-
cation, would be none the less when on the
high seas she was chased, captured and seized
as prize by Spanish war steamer. She
had a right to carry what cargo and what per-
sons she pleased to any port Of Cuba or any
other country not in an acknowledged or
recognized state Of war, subject only to the
penalties imposed by municipal laws when
within the jurisdiction Of the country to which
she traded. But if the Virginius had been
Cuban insurgent vessel, sailing with the papers
and under the flag Of the Cuban Republic,
the lives Of the Americans on board were
sacred until, after a legal trial. conducted in
presence of their Consul if they desired,
they had been found guilty of an offence
out trial. without the privilege of seeing their
Consul, is the foulest act committed by the
Spanish cutthroats, and the crime is
the more heinous since the cruel butchery
was perpetrated more in contempt and
hatred of the United States than as
a punishment of the helpless victims.
The noble-hearted Fry, and the poor
men he so generously but vainly strove to
save while disdaining to beg his own life,
were slaughtered because the Spanish out
laws in Cuba detest the American Republic
and burn to heap insults upon our nation.
The blood that was shed at Santiago will lie
at the doors of our government unless full
atonement is demanded of the murderers yet
the special pleaders for Spain ignore this i'm
portant issue, and endeavor to befog the pub
lie mind by learned essays on international
law, the duties of neutrals and the wicked
character Of the Virginius


If we could believe that these Hessian or
gans advance their arguments in the laudable
desire to avoid war consistently with ma
tional honor and to hold inconsiderate passion
in check, we should respect their motives,
however poor an opinion we might have of
their wisdom. But when il becomes evident
that they plead in the interest of Spain and
for the dishonor of the United States we con-
denim and denounce them. The HERALD has
advocated prompt and decisive action in this
Spanish infamy as the surest way to preserve
peace. No nation is so well protected against
war as one that defends its own honor with
spirit and dignity. We have deprecated the
timid, uncertain, hestating policy Of the ad-
minstration in all our former difficulties with
this insolent Spanish-Cuban Power as we'll as
in this last outrage; but we have never urged
President Grant to do an act in
usurpation of the constitutional powers of
Congress We recognized the bold disregard
OF law and treaty, the insult to our flag, the
seizure Of our vessel, the murder of our citi-