Year: 1873

vindication OF Our National Honor :


The dangerous policy adopted by the au-
thorities at Washington in the virginius case
has produced its natural results. Our forbear-
ance is mistaken for weakness, or, perhaps,
for cowardice, by violent men who only
understand the logic of brute force. From
the first moment we warned the government
that its efforts in the cause Of peace would
end in failure, and now the soundness OF our
views has been vindcated by the stern logic
of events. The milk -and-water policy of Sec
retary Fish has compromised the dignity Of
the nation without even securing the igno-
minious peace he sought to thrust upon us.
| We are no advocates of war, but we want no
hollow peace when the honor and the interest
of the nation are the price at which it is to be
obtained Had the President consulted
his own strong common sense and
patriotic instincts we should have been saved
| the ignominy of seeing our overtures for COM
promise rejected with disdain. But it is our
misfortune to be represented in our dealings
with foreign States by men who think no sacri-
fee of dignity too great to secure peace.
When once questions involving the national
honor are handed over to the care of our
diplomats the result ceases to be doubtful.
Interminable dispatches are exchanged, filed
with words signifying nothing and only in
tended to mislead public opinion and induce
acquiescence in peace-atany-price policy.
Mr.. Fish has already distinguished himself by
an ability to muddle plain questions in a way
to puzzle the public and turn the nations
attention from points of vital interest. The
result has been most unfortunate for our ma
tional reputation. We have taught the world
to believe that we can be insulted with i'm
punity and that outrages committed against
our national sovereignty can be compounded
at the cost of a few thousand dollars.


The growth of this sentiment is fraught
with danger to our citizens and to our inter-
ests. Had more worthy policy been fol-
lowed no foreign State would have dared to
haul down our flag on the highway of the sea,
and to slaughter the men who had trusted
their lives to its protection. We shall not
enter on the discussion of the aims or motives
of the men taken on board the Virginius.
The question we have to deal with is one of
principle. To uphold the doctrine that an
American ship, carrying the national flag, is
an integral part of our territory America
has before now drawn the sword and,
whatever the cost may be, we must insist
that American vessels on the high seas
shall be free from visitation or search We
have been charged by the Hessian press with
(o Is,.A
measures only because we have been convinced
that an honorable peace could not be OBJ
tained. We knew the men with whom the
nation had to deal, and that, however well
disposed the government at Madrid might be
to do justice and afford satisfaction, it was
powerless to enforce obedience in Cuba. The
soundness of these views can now be judged
when no Misrepresentation of partisan news
papers can longer conceal the gravity of the
events transpiring in Havana


The seizure of the Virginius at sea was
fragrant violation of international right. The
ship was known, both at Washington and
Havana, to be an American ship entitled to the
fullest protection of the American flag. The
question of her seizure was therefore lifted
out of the domain of diplo matte chicanery,
and ought never to have been allowed to be-
come the subject of heightened correspond
ence or discussion. The duty of the govern
ment was clear. An act of war was committed
by foreign ship, resulting in the capture,
imprisonment and death Of American citi-
zens. Such an outrage called for signal and
speedy reparation. The insult to our flag
was deliberate and should have been atoned
for in manner that would have left no
room for doubt that apology, to be
followed by ample reparation, had been
made But Mr.. Fish's paltering policy led us
into the devious paths of diplomacy, from
which we emerge with honor and dignity torn
to shreds. The insult to our flag that should
have been answered by demand for instant
satisfaction, and, if refused, by immediate
action, has been allowed to become the subject
of long-winded discussion, while our trampled
flag, wet with American blood, lies on the
deck Of the captured Virginius a worthless
rag, to be spit upon by the vile Havana
rabble.


When the seizure of the Virginius and the
Hia0'"SiO VI Poi0io VI Hcr ClcW pecaine
known throughout the civilized world there
was but one voice of universal condemnation,
and nations looked to see the American gov
ernment vindicate the honor of the flag in
manner worthy Of a great people. No one
dreamed that the outrage would have been
tamely endured and made subject of rose
water dispatches. The insult III its nature
demanded swift punishment or signal repara-
ton. Had our fleet gone down to Cuba
with orders to bring back the yirginius
and her surviving passengers, by force,
if necessary, our action would have
met with universal appreciation. Even the
English press was prepared to approve the
annexation of the island as the best means of
r,ntfiro, OF, ond onna ar,d forauar 4o th4 n4roo;