Year: 1873




| with intelligence, as it must make an imme-
diate provision for strengthening our wretched
iron-clad service We read in the columns of
a sneering contemporary that wooden walls
are stronger than iron sides. This may be
an amusing way of treating serious question,
timely for the exposition Of such labored
wit. Our present dignity and our future poll
tical grandeur depend upon the possession of
powerful iron-cad squadrons which must not
be towed like canal boats to the scene OF war
and it would be well to remember that Ii the
r<;ld settlement of the pending dispute with
Spain, the West India Archipelago and the
South and Central American States, to say
nothing of Mexico will always compel us to
keep on naval footing ready for war. The
loud voice of Manifest Destiny" which says
must be ours, admonishes us with warning
note that we cannot work out this future with
a mosquito navy.


Latest from Mndrid-The Proposition


for Arbitration.


Our latest dispatches from Madrid inform
us that the reports that violence had
been offered by the populace to our Minis
ter are unfounded; that on Saturday Presi-
dent CASTELAR, had long conversation with
Mr. Layard, the British Minister, the result
of which was regarded as favorable to the
continuance of good relations. Next it
appears that in the Spanish capital the idea of
submitting the case of the Virginius to arbi-
tration is much talked of, and that, should this
alternative for settlement be agreed to- the
Emperor of Germany is indicated as the
probable arbitrator.


Arbitration in most of the disputes arising
between nations is now, we believe, univer-
sally desired as judicial mode of settlement,
which, while avoiding the horrors of war, may
be made more satisfactory than war in the
restoration of good will and fellowship be-
tween the high contracting parties. Such have
been the results of the Joint High Commission,
the Treaty of Washington and the Geneva
Conference in the settlement of our Alabama
claims and various other recent troublesome
matters of controversy between the United
States and England. One of these trouble
some matters was our northwestern boundary
dispute, which was submitted to the arbitra-
ton of the Emperor Of Germany, and which,
from the convincing evidence submitted in
behalf of the line claimed by the United States,
he decided in our favor IT. therefore, the
case of the Virginius could be considered as
within the pale of arbitration the examples of
this mode of settlement resulting from the
Treaty of Washington would bind our govern
ment, we may say, to arbitration. Nor in the
adoption of this plan of adjustment could a
more satisfactory umpire be named to the
United States than the honest and impartial
Emperor of Germany.


But there are offences to nations as there
are insults to individuals, which done admit
of arbitration, and the proper redress for
them cannot be reached in suit for damages
Such was the Trent affair, in. which, for
the forcible taking away of two passengers
from the protection of the British flag on the
high seas, England could find no other rem
edy against the United States than immediate
and ample reparation or war. Such is the
case of the Virginius, with the accompanying
catalogue of our outstanding accounts against
Spain, and that ''imperiam in imperio," her
provincial government of Cuba. In the set
tlement of these grievances we may even deal
with these Cuban provincials as with tribe
of savages, held by the law of nations
as subject to the flag of the civilized
State which may first be raised over
such tribe in evidence Of the pre-emption
right Of occupation; for do not these Cuban
provincials defy and deny the authority of
Spain over the affairs of the island, and have
they not fallen from civilized usages and re-
straints to the atrocities of savages? In any
event this virginius outrage will not admit of
arbitration, and no intervention is wanted
from third parties in our settlement with
Spain and her Cuban provincials. Nor can
there be any settlement Of these never ending
but still recurring Cuban complications short
of the retirement Of Spain from the island


The Vienna Exhibition-The Lessons


and Hopes OF the Exposition.


We print this morning the CLOSING chapter
in the history of the Vienna Exhibition. The
substance of this report has been anticipated