The New York Herald Newspaper, November 25, 1873, Page 4

4 THE NATION’S VOICE. Shall the Country’s Honor Be Upheld? Opinions of Legislators, the Press and the People. “J ALMOST A UNIT FOR WAR. OPINIONS OF PUBLIC MEN. WASHINGTON, Nov, 23, 1873. Views of Congressman Thornburg. Representative Jacob M. Thornburg, of Ten- nessee, ia a native of that State, and was a strong Union man during the civil war. He is a republi- gan in politics, and is from the Knoxville district, which beretofore has been represented by Horace Maynard, who takes his seat at the coming session as a member at large. He says shat his constituents are warmly in favor of de- cided action on the part of the government in the matter of Cuba. A war for the acquisition of that island would be exceedingly popular in that State. Tennessee might be safely counted upon for 30,000 volunteers, Those who had been Confederate soldiers would jump at the opportu: nity to show their loyalty to the flag. The very best men would volunteer. Disciplined soldiers, who had served either in the federal or Confederate service, would look upon the invasion of Cuda a8 @ regular frolic, and they would fight the Span- fards with that cunfidence im themselves which would be itself the certainty of success in every battle that might take place. So far as driving the Spanish army off the Island, that would be an operation of not much difficulty, and would take but comparatively a short time after the landing of the American forces; but, after all, whatever may be our desire about acquiring the island, members of Congress, upon whom devolves the responsibility of a deciaration of war, have to consider very carefully all the facts of the case and see whether they are justified in such action, There are some nice points to be decided. Had the Spanish man-of-war the rignt to capture a vessel fying the American flag and having a regular Custom House clearance and a conswar acknowledgment? As to calling the Virginius a piratical craft and condemning her passengers and crew as pirates, that was nonsense. { They could not be deemed such by | any possible interpretation of international or maritime law, The vessel was notoriously a Mllt- | bustering vessel, engaged in carrying arms and | supplies to the Cuban insurgents; but she was sim- ply @ blockade runner, and as suc when | captured in the act, might, very properly, be | liable to forfeiture. We bad hundreds of such cases during our civil war. Our naval vessels | captured many of these blockade runners, but, | other than the confiscation of the vesseia and the | retaining of the passengers fcr a time as Prisoners, no penalty was inflicted. If, when the Tornado had captured the Virginius and had } taken her into Santiago de Cuba, the vessel | had been confiscated after due process oi law we could have had no grounds of compiaint against | Spain. The United States authorities should have had ample time to settle the puint of international law whether a vessel sailing under the American flag and with the papers she possessdd could be legally seized by a foreign man-ol-war on the high seas. Pending the Settlement of this pane the passengers and oficers and crew might ave been held im durance, so that if it should be settled that the ‘Spaniards were in the right inthe capture the persons on board | of her might be held to answer so far as their acts made them amenable for transgression of the | Spanish laws. It was a case clearly for civil | NEW YORK HERALD. TU ESDAY. NOVEMBER 25, 1873.—T action of the administration in the matter, and betieves that, while it has atrictly observed the usnal diplomatic usages and has done nothing hastily or rashly, it has shown an unmistakable deterinination to sustain the national honor. It would not do in such cases to act on popular clamor, The matter must de calmly considered in every aspect, and the government must take no step from which it will be forced to recede. The whole subject will doubtless come up for discus- sion in Congress, and he predicts a unanimity of feeling seldom seen in that body. Senator Brownlow for War. An intimate friend of Senator Brownlow, who arrived here last night, says the Senator is for war. He favors the adoption of a vigorous and decisive policy—ademand from the United States govern- ment upon Spain for the immediate arrest, trial and punishment of the Cuban murderers, He is in favor of the annexation of Cuba, either by purchase or conquest, and thinks that Spatm has demon- strated her incapacity to properly govern her American colonies, and that they should be taken from her. He will vote jor any measure that will avenge Spanish atrocity. Hon. Horace Maynard for Annexation. Hon. Horace Maynard, Representative from the State of Tennessee at large, will javor the adoption of vigorous measures for the punishment of the Cuban authorities, but 18 somewhav more conser- vative in his tone. He favors annexation of Cuba, but will prefer to purchase, il the price is reason- abie. Opinion of Representative Charles Hays, of Alnbama. Representative Charies Hays, of Alabama, on being asked his opinion conceruing the threaten- ing diMculties between the United States and Spain, gaid: As yet he had hardly any opinions which he would care to see published, as lis present ideas Might be very materially changed when the au- thentic and oficial tacts were presented to Congress for its action thereon. From letters which he was danly receiving from his State it was evident that a war for the possession of Cuba would be among his constituents exceedingly popular, and such, no doubt, was the teeling throughout the Gull States; but, so far as he was concerned, he would rather avoid a war if it could be done honorably, He had seen enongh of it, As @ native Alabamian he had opposed the secession movement to the very last moment; but when his State went out he went out with it, He served throughout the civil war on the Southern side, and when it was at an end accepted the situation and became again @ strong Union man. While he was na- tional in his politics he also desired to act in his Congressional capacity with a regard for the best interests of nis State and section. He believed @ war would be injurious to the South. He represented acotton-raising country, the prin- cipal market for wuich was the English mills, The Liverpool and London quoiatious aifect this | produce much more than those of New Yoi Spanish privateers and cruisers would materially imterfere with this commerce, and the | cotton planters would thus be direct losers. | Cotton is now so_ low that it hardly pays for the raising of it, and in the case of war, | with the additional risks fo be run in getting it to | the market, the middiemea und purchasers would still further depress the price to the planters. A long war reduced the South to poverty. The peo- | ple by hard labor are slowly creeping up again to @ moderate competency. They need peaceful times | and encouragement to im) toward better | days. War would unsettle again the whole com- munity, and for that reason ought to be avoided. In the South they had a pecultar population, whicu would be admirably suited ‘ora Cuban invasion. Young men, who were boys of 10 or 17 years of age at the outbreak oO! secession, bad to go Into the Vonted- | erate army and served through all the campaign. Many of them were sons of wealthy planters, and had been brought up toa life of luxury and ease. They were too young at the commencement of their army lie to have completed their education, and on their discharge from the service the eman- cipation of the slaves and the ravages of war had reduced them to penury. They were poor and un- educated. Without a profession or a trade to give them the means ofa liveahood it was the biiter restlessness of this class which originated Ku | Kiuxism, and made it at last so formidable that the strong Land of the geperal government had to ve | invoked to put it down, They would make admi- | civilization, | could neither course adopted for s0 doing. Herschel V. Johnson for Annexation. Avausta, Ga., Noy, 28, 1873. fn an interview with the Hxmaup correspondent Herschel V. Johnson, of this State, said his views on the Cuban affair were in full accord with those of Alexander H, Stephens, He has long thought, as Calhoun did, that Cuba was a pear ready to drop into the lap of the United States, and the pear was now fully ripe. A war at the present time woula harmonize North and South, The South would be greatly benefited by the acquisi- tion of Cuba, in the removal of high tari on the products of the island, In the event of war the Southern people wouid do their part in sustaining the government; but the war, if it takes place, will hardly be a long one, as Spain ts in too crippled a condition to fight long. He thinks that Cuba should, from ite geo graphical position as the key to the Gulf, as well as tor other more potent reasons, belong to the United States, and now is the time to acquire the island. In the event of war cotton would go up to 20 cents immediately, and the financial stringency, tastead of being increased, would be relieved at once. Last nigh a large indignation meeting was held in Columbus, at which the speakers were among the most prominent citizens of the place. Resolu- tions were unanimously adopted requesting the administration and Congress to take such decisive measures as will ac Once stay the work of slaughter and bloodshed and avenge the insult offered to the nation and tocommon humanity; chat ‘to every act of the government looking towards the recognition of Cuba as a belligerent power or as an independent republic we pledge our earnest support, and scand ready to vindicate our pledges With the sword ; that copies of these resolu- jons be sent to the administration and to Con- gress, with the assurance to them that we see in @ war for the liberation of Cuba the strongest Measures for cementing the different sections of our Republic in the bonds of harmony and pa- triotism,”” JOURNALISTIC OPINIONS. Am Almost Universal Demand for Re- dress—Take Cuba First and Negotiate Afterwards. The Mormons are on the warpath. The Salt Lake Herald, the organ of the Saints, thinks that a brush with Spain just now woulda be exceedingly popu- lar. The Atlanta (Ga.) Herald says, on the Cuban question, “Congress will act in accordance with the popular will, whatever that may be at the time. That will be controlled to a great degree by the propositions of reparation that may be made by’Spain. If these are not satisfactory the popular indignation of tie country will force Congress into decided measures for a proper vindication of the nationai honor and dignity.” The Louisville Courier-Journal of November 22 Says that “even if the belligerent character of the Virginius were established that by no means justi- fles the atrocity of the wholesale execution of her officers and crew. This crime appeals to universal and not to the United States only.” In the event of war this journal thinks that “only | Spanish humiliation and defeat could be the result, and defeat is the end of Spanish republicanism, The United States would then appear in the in- vidious Ole of destroying the Republic in Spain. Castelar would fall, the victim of circumstances he avoid nor control, and free govern- ment in Spain would fall with him."' The Newark (N. J.) Register wants to wait and let diplomacy fix us up, 80 that we may go into a war with Spain on the square. It says:—‘Let our soldiers and sailors wait until diplomacy has ar- ranged the cartel. We want no street fight. We want an old-fashioned, high-toned duel between the two parties—a duel fought according to the code and one whose result shall be received as final. There is vet time. if the government does not do its full and entire duty filibustering will courts and not for the summary yengeance of a drumhead court martial The mull- | tary court—if it can be called such— | was clearly iliegai, and the execution of the pas- | sengers and officers and crew of the Virginius was | murder. Itcan be characterized as notuing else. | ‘There is no law, civil or military, to justity it. The | whole manuer in which the affair was conducted | was an evidence that the perpetrators were | aware that they were doing wrong. The telegraph wires were cut so that there | could be no communication with the Captain General, and no orders could be received to check them irom the home government. The chance to gratify the bloodthirstiness and cruelty which | seems to be the delight of Spanish commanders | was irresistible. The suffering of the victims was better in its excitement than the national spors | of a bull fight. The deed was hurried through | to prevent interference, so that the perpetrators | might say, “Well, you are too late to stop it. Itis over, and what are you going to do about it #"” It | is this criminal haste, this deflance of our flag, | which demands the most ample reparation. Wheu | the Acting American Consul attempted to inter- | cede in the affair and asked that the prisoners be accordea the rights of jaw he was grossly in- sulted, and at the time of the execution a guard was placed over his house. This excitement will pecancs one good effect. It | will teach Congress the necessity of an efficient navy. His opponent in the Congressional canvass, among the complaints made against the ex- | penditures of the general government, said | that our naval jorces cost entirely too much and the service should be reduced. On the contrary, he (Thornburg) thought that the navy should be considerably increased and rendered in every way etficient, so that the government could protect American rights and commerce in every part of the world. Western | members were 100 ready todecry the navy and | vote against any measures which might be taken to enlarge it. This was bad policy. hat affected the commercial interests of the country affected all portions of it—the western and interior sections | as weil as the castern. | Even though this threatening difficulty should | be satisiactorily arranged he thought that an | American man-of-war should be stationed | at or in the vicinity of every Cuban ready at @ moment's warning to pro- | tect the rights and property of American | citizens, Had there been an American man-o!-war | in the harbor of Santiago the massacre would not | have taken place. Nothing would have been done except im strict accordance with the law of Rations. This narrow-minded economy of strip- | ping the country of its proper naval protection will | brove in the end very expensive. Opinion of Congressman Nann. | Representative David A. Nunn, trom Tenneasee, | fully accords with his colleague, Mr. Thornburg, in | his statement that Tennessee will omer a large | volunteer force in case of a war with Spain, He | #ays that the State is glowing with excitement on | the subject. There is a feeling that Cuba | properly belongs to the United States, and that the Spanish colonial authorities by their utter disregard | ofall the rights of humanity and the laws of na- tions have ai/orded us the opportunity to take it. tn Tennessee in this matter there isa unity of | sentiment, The people all agree upon what ougut | to be done, Coniederate soldiers and federal | soldiers, republicans and democrats will forget | their former contests and their present political Aiferences and Nght side by side in the cause, | Opinion of Senator Chandler. Senator Chandler, of Michigan, arrived here | yesterday from Detroit. He is uncompromising | (n bis views as to what Congress should do, and Will advocate the sternest measures in suscaining our claims upon Spain. | Godlove 8. Orth’s Views. Godlove 3. Orth, one of the members at targe | from Indiana, arrived here yesterday, His former | connection with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs has made him somewhat conservative in expressing opinions upon internat! e Gnd he is in full possession of the tae a When's ie | President sends to Congress ali the iniormation {h | ossession of the government te has no doubt hat Congress will respond to the sentiment of the people and second the administration in their etforts to sustain our national liouor, Views of Judge J. N. Tyner on the Feel. ing in the West. Judge J. N. Tyner, Representative lo Congress from the Eighth district of Indiana, states that tne feeling in the West, so far as he has been abie fo learn, ia intense against Spain. Without dis- tinction of party, the people seem to be agreed | that the government of the United States has been grossly insulted, and that full reparation mast be demanded. He believes that should the news- paper Sespatch from Madrid relative to the treat- ment of General Sickles be confirmed by oMcial intelligence, and should it be true that the govern- ment of the Bnited States has, through our Min- ister, presented an ultimatum demanding the protection of American citizens in Cuba and the enforcement of the decrees of the Spanish gov- ernment on the island, and which ultimatum has been treated with contempt, that no alternative but war 1s leit. He thinks it may be possible, howe ver that the demand presented b 4 | Sickles Was pot an ultimatum, and’ ¢ , De May be susceptible of moditicarion Henee sah diplomatic negotiations. If, howev . If, er, it fone ultimatum the government of the Unieed ites Cannot with honor recede from the position | every apology, and piace hers | the lame man who is unable to leave his house, | quisition of it secured, rable food for powder, and in’ an army of invasion would be almost resistless soldiers. It would | give them a vent for their restlessness and an opportunity to gratify their pride. To them a war, therefore, Would be a positive good; but to others, | the settied and staid portion of the community, it would be a decided injury tn the interierence with trade and the lessenimg ‘of tne value of their prod- | ucts, In this view be took into consideration | only the material interests of his section, and, look- ing On it in that light, he should well consider the | question of peace or war before he determined his action, belicving, a3 he did, that a iresh war of | apy extent or duration would retard the Soutn in | raising herself irom her extreme impoverisnment. Hf, however, it should appear that the national | | honor and integrity of our dag demand war, ne he would be earnestly for it. We can only pre- | serve our dignity as a nation by insisting on other nations treating us with proper deference and | courtesy. He did not think the slightest imfringe- | ment stiould be permitted apon our rights. In tuis | question it is to be ascertained what our rights | are and how far they have been infringed. | Did or did not the Americans on board | the Virginius denationalize themselves when they engaged in an expedition to convey | arms and render assistance to the Cubans in | revolt against the Spanish authority? Did they not accept all the risks which they knew they would run when they thus embarked’ Can the | | United States hold the Spanish government, under | the circumstances, responsible penalty visited on them by colonial autnorities? for the cruel the | bloouthirsty would have to be answered. of Congress in determining what is to be done for the maintenance of the honor of the country, le would endeavor not to be led ata by excitem but to vote in favor of war or again | at this time. He was not expressing any | opinion upon these points, but they Were such as | Realizing the solemn | responsibility which will rest upon every member | st it where be | i] | thought his duty to his country required it, | | justice in all lands, have become a necessity, and the Spanish seas will swarm with crait of every kind, thicker than an invasion of locusts, gathered from Maine to Texas, all intent upon helping wrest from the hands of faithless men the ever-faithfulisle of Cuba. Let us | wait.” The Taseumbia (Ala.) Times has an eye to negro emigration irom the United States to Cuba. It says:— ‘Che barbarity has no parallel, save in Spanish history, for upwards of three centuries—a record of blood, The people of tie Uuited States | will sustain Graut in any measure indispensable to Indicate their national and individual rights. The Queen of the Antilles is a ripe prize of con- quest and an admirable fleld for negro emigration.” ‘The Phitadeiphia Age is sound enough on the Cu- ban question, but it assumes to fear the course of the administration. It says:—‘The people of the United States demand full reparation for the out- Tage upon our flag, the slaughtering of our people. ‘These puints will be msisted upon, but, at the samme time, they do not desire to have a further compli- cation of affairs by the bad temper or bad manage- ment of our representatives, either in Spain or Cuba, These are pomts for the administration to consider. A mistake would be Jatai to our position Weare right thustar, Let our rulers Keep us so by wise, temperate, prudent action, both in Caba ana Spain.” The Richmond (Va.) State Journal thinks the time has come to teach the Spaniards that civilize tion and numanity are advancing, which, it seems, they are not aware of, It says:—‘“The time has come to get rid of this commercial menace and diplomatic eyesore. The Spantards should be taught to understand that they live in the nine- teenth century O1 the Christian era, and that na- tions, as well a3 individuals and communities, must conform their action to the laws of a com- mon humanity, if not a common religion. Savage- ism is giving piace to civilization and barbarity to Cuba is not to be ap excep. Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, on | tion.” the Question, [From the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, Nov. 22.) The opinions of public men, aud especially those port, | of members of Congress, upon the all-absorbing | Cuban question, are looked for with great eager- ness Dy the public. Yesterday our reporter called upon Hon. A. H. Stephens, Representative to Con- | gress irom this (the Eighth Georgia) district, who is stopping jn Augusta for a short time betore yeaving for Washington city, and is the guest of | Mr. S. Marcus, for the purpose of obtaining his | views upon the prevailing topic. We found him suffering from a severe headache, but nevertheless readily disposed to converse. ReporTer—What do you think about this Cuban affair, Mr. Stephens? Mr. STEPHENS—Well, 1 am frank to say that Jam | for Cuba immediately, it not sooner. 1 consider | the Virginius alfair the greatest outrage of modern times. There is nothing at all analogous to it, ex- cept, perhaps, that upon a vessel—the Eldorado, I think it was—during Pierce's administration, in 1854. I wanted the administration then to take possession of Cuba, Kerorrer—Do you think there will be any war with Spain arising out of the complications Mr. sPHENS—I do hut. I think Spain will offer if in the position of and whose dogs jump over hig tence and rend his neighbor's sheep. She will simply say, I am unable to restrain the voluntee you must do with them as you please. I ain in lavor of suspending the neutral laws. If tis were done so large a force of Americans would land upon the Island of Cuba A @ {ew days that all opposition would be overdwéd and a péncelul ac- These Spanish volunteers in Cuba show by their recent acts that they are nothing more than pirates, and they should be punishéd accordingly. REPoRTER—Won't the United States lose consid | | The B erably by the stoppage of import duties on Cavan The Memphis Avalanche says this is the business at present on hand give guarantees for tue future, we think m: Set down ascertain; but they must be guarantees that carry with them evigence o1 the ability, a8 | Well a8 disposition of the Mad government to enforce its decrees. Otherwise the United States government will be compelied | own citizens and of humanity, totreat the Cuban authorities as utterly irresponsible, compel both the ‘patriots’ and blovdthirsty ‘volunteers’ to behave themselves,” The Hugteville aia) gun and is prepared fof action, This Says:—‘The press of the country is almost a unit in demanding of Spain the fullest reparation jor | [he butchery of the crew and passengers of the | Virginius and the outrage upon the American flag. We hasten to put oufses! in jive with them and add our Voice to the voice of an outraged people crying lor vengeance on the brutal, fends butchers, Our government should demand, and, if necessary, jorce at the cannon’s mouth, the surrender or pun- ishment of the inhuman butchers of the Virgiulug crew. ~ ‘The St. Lonis Globe says “On to Cuba!" ta the ¢ “Every day's news makes it more apparent th the troubles between the United States and Cuba cannot be settled by dipiomacy without sacrificin the honor and dignity of this nation. There {3 not | yet the slightest evidence that the government or | people of Spain regret the actiou of their repre- sentatives in Cuba, or are willing even to apolo- gize ior it. Madrid ig noy the place jor the settie- ment of the quarrel. Havana is @ much better location for the purpose. On to Cuba!" | |The St. Paul (Minu.) ress is horribly shocked by the account of the Spanish butcheries in Cuba, and demands that someting must be done immedi- | ately. It says:—"The deed is so monstrous and 40 bloodthirsty, the deflance of the public opinion of Christendom 1s so bold and the insult to humanity $0 tharked that one can scarcely believe the narra- | tive. The magsacre cun scarcely fail to arouse @ | feeling, both in this country and ‘In Europe, which will make itself felt in decisive action, Such indis- | criminate slaughter of prisoners, such unbridled license of the murderous passions of th in Cuba,cannot be longer tolerated by civilization.” ton American Justijer, & paper that cir- products in case of the acquisition of the island ? | culates among the rural districta of Massachusetts, Mr. STEPHENS—O! course the import daties will cease upon this country taking possession of Cuba, but the revenue froM™ the island will be far greater | best in the world. then than now, especially if anything like the taruT in force by the Spanish government is kept up, $26,000,000 annually before the w this country? M rs and cheap sugar, If Cuba were once ours oncile party differences and level down sectional animosities. ‘Tiie fact of the business is,’ he sa | the United States heretofore has been holding | oe down whiie Spain skinned her. REPORTER—It 18 probable thut Congress will toke the matter in hand immeaiately upon assem: | Hing? My, STEPNENS—Yes. Perhaps no less than fifty resolutions will be offered upon that and the cur- rency question the first day, REPORTER—Wiil not the Louisiana matter aiso excite much attention? Mr, SrerHeNs—I have no idea that it will. Mr, Stephens then made some general remarks on the Virginius outrage, which he condemned in the most unmeasured terms, He was unqualified At Hae assumed, He comNGnUS the OHO Wu AUCUL a Wi AouUmMenta Ln favor Of hia woveroment tak- | says: | there can be no doubt. | The revenue to the latter from this island was , {pe RevorTer—Ii the United States acquire Cuba the | li products of the latter will, of course, be cheaper in f | grading bonds of servitude | | Of bis rac its resources would be developed to an immense extent and its production largely increased. Mr. Stephens went on to say that the Movement for taking possession of Cuba | at this time, and in view of the unparalleled outrages, was C Teasons than one. One of the moat or. tant Was that it would furnish a common ground for all the people of the Union to meet upon, rec | all Christian nations. cail for volunteers would be answered atonce by thousands of well tried veterans, the Of the final issue of the conflict Among the results will be the annexation of Cuba to the United States and bolition of slavery on the island, The slaughtered . voyagers of the Virginius, as the e in cold Bbhstruction, Plead in death's dumb vengeance! The living, straggling trlota look with longing eyes to the United . PB tT, STRPHENS—Yes; and I am in favor of cheap | States for assistance in this their hour of dire ne- cessity! The enslaved negro cries out to his eman- cipated brothers to strike from his limbs the de- kvery generous lover nison with , With heart beatin Eater fag, nomie humanity, will hail with joy th recent } emblem of equal rights to all men, as it will wave desirable for more | in triumphant glory over the Gem of the Antilles |"’ The Greenville (Al@.) Advocate commences @ ong article on the Cuban question as jollows:— ‘These events, apparently so barbaric in their speedy and bloody occurrence, have sent @ thrill of horror throughout the civilized world, and have doubtless aroused the righteous indignation of Humanity stands appalled at the hasty and cold-biooded execution of men who, whether innocent or guilty, were entitled to 4 calm and impartial trial, and to the benefit of all the facts which might disprove or mitigate the crimes alleged against them,” and winds it up thus:—We believe that the United States should demand of Spain ali just reparation for the capture of the Virginius and the execution of American citizens, and should urge such a change in the pop ine of Spain as will render a repetition of the Santiago horror improbable, But until the argumment is exhausted and every expedient that ing possession of Cubs, whatever might be the | and the rights of individuals ts tried in vain, | | | | | | \ | ; of mercy of tne Red Cross, our voice is not for war.’ The Houston (Texas) Mercury is tn favor of adopting summary measures in regard to Cuba. It insists that we should take the island “first and let the investigation come afterwards, It thinks “the civilized world should combine in one united effort to extirpate the participants in this wholesale slaughter from the istand and seize and hold them nad into the affair, This ig considered summary, but it would be just. They are outlaws against civilization, obey no laws but those of their own will, and, Cain-like, have turned their hands eqnings allmen, Spain Danie RARbe to control the island, the United States, in taking possession of It, with the sanction of the great European Powers, would stop a cruel war, which bas been character- ized by brutality and butchery and burning, and has no present appearance of coming to any termi- nation unless some third party steps in.” The Augusta ((ia.) Chroniole and Sentinel waxes Savage over the Cuban question. It says:—“It 18 impossible to conceive a course more insolent than Spain haa pursued in this matter, or a course more cowardly than that followed by General Grant's administration. Outrage after outrage bas been perpetrated, insult has been heaped upon out- Tage, and still the administration hesitates, wavers and does nothing, The blood of the martyred Fry and ois comrades calls aloud to heaven for ven- geance from the crimson sands of Santiago, and the government, which is bound to protect the person of its humblest citizen, sends despatches and ‘protests.’ Prompt action 10 days ago would have saved the lives of nearly 100 men, but while Mr, Fish wrote General Burriel murdered, and Spain, Le le imagiuing that the administration was ‘ald to avenge the blood of American citi- zens, treated the protests and the despatches with merited contempt. jor one bour of ‘Old Hickory’ and a democratic government !'’ THE PUBLIC VOICE FOR WAR. Spain Must Feel the Strong Arm of a Civilized Government. Govanstown, Md., Nov. 20, 1873, To THE EpITOR OF THE HERALD :— I have carefully read all that has been pablished in your valuable paper in relation to the ship Vir- ginius, her passengers, officera and crew. It Is well known that the Spanish government ordered the Captain General of Cuba to stay all proceed” ings in the case of the Virginus; this order was issued at the instigation of the United States after some of the passengers had been killed. The Captain General and the Governor of Santiago ae Cuba deflantiy and contemptuously disregarded the order and acted on tneir individual responsibility. This independence of action was no doubt based on two grounds—first, the inability of the home gov- ernment to eniorce its orders and to punish its re- bellious officers; the second cause of slaughter was the inherited love of shedding the blood of all who, from any cause, may have helplessly fallen into the hands of the chivalric Spanish Dons, If the Vir- ginius was a pirate, what position do these hi mane Dons occupy * Does spain rule Cuba? N says the Captain General and the Governor. We or the volunteers rule, and we will rule as our supposed interests or passion may dictate. Ls the Cuban government recognized a8 a national government? The right they claim is to act to- Wards others as they deem fit, and to disregard international law When passion and interest dictate, This is piracy, and should be treated as such, and no respite given until they sensibly feel the strong arm of a civilized govern- ment. What international law forbids the United States or any other government from treating such as pirates, and compelling obedience to the laws of humanity and civilization’ The United States has torborne until longer forbearance would be a last- ing disgrace to the age. It the Spanish Consul sald, as reported, “that Spain was nov a myth, nor Cuba a balloon, and both would be found when wanted,” it is another instance of Spanish inso- lence, @ marked contempt for the outraged feel- ings of our people, and an indirect approval of the vloudthirstiness 01 his olicial and yoiunteer Cuban friends. Ww. A Voice for the Red Cross. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD :— But a few days have passed since [ reac in the New YORK HERALD that the Cubans, battling for the independence of their country, required sur- geons on the fleld almost more than any thing else. Abstracting altogether from my views upon the Cuban question—which are, as they ought to be, in favor of those who fight for independence—I be- lieve that there is here every cause for the exer- cise of humanity, Ihave been not a few times on the battle Held myself, and [ am weil aware of the horrors which ¢ecumulate upon it under the best arrangements that civilization and organizea belligerents can make in order to meet the mourn- jul occasion. If the United States declares war with Spain, as | am impressed with the idea will be done, there will be a great necessity foran an ambulance corps to supplement the duties which will devolve upon the medical officers of our army. It ts too much for them, to my own knowledge, to have to attend to their own wounded, without at all need- ing those who are: of the enemy's side, or o! any other belligerent party. Many a valuable iife is lost, ebbs out slowly und paintully, because the surgeons on @ battle field have thetr hands too tull of work. Now, if war there ne between our country and Spain upon Cuodan soil, an ambulance—a volunteer ambulance—can do a world of good. Acting upon the idea that humanity should be given the syim- pathy and the heip which pity demands, we must Tecoguize one fact, which ts that while the army ol the United States in battle and while Spain in battle will have the skill and assistance of trained and able military men, the Cubans who fight, and who may be our auxiliaries to redeem the disdained glories of the Stars and Stripes, cry out already tor medical assistance. This, to my mind, is an im- portant fact. If it shall so occur, which may Heaven avert, that the governmentof the United States will tamely submit to the insult and ignominy that hag already bespattered its flag with Hlth, and will not deciare War upon Spain for ‘the Cuban imbroglio. there is yet room for the initiation of the corps which I advocate, Spain was a contracting or assenting power to the conterence at Geneva, the conference since $0 Well known as being the inttiative of the mission During the late French { War an Irish ainbuiadce Was forméd for the service That Spain will endeavor to | | make al) possible reparation for past failures, and | the interests ofits | ot the French wounded, under the auspices of the Red Cross, That ambulance dia its duty so well that the Germans treated its members upon all occasions in France with the greatest courtesy, a fact of which I was aware, as I was the first volunteer to join it, even against the wishes of my greatest and most sin- cere iriends. Now, | should regard it as a great test of the desire of the Spanish government to conduct this war with Cuba upon a basis of haman- | ity that Spain would not refuse to an ambulance, Advocate has run out its big | is what it | designed simply to succor the wounded, the per- mission to go to Cuba for that purpose alone. I can raise a suiliciency of medical men and assist- ants for that purpose within a week, and for the first time suggest it, adding that either case | which I have referred to 1 will be the first volun- | teer. Respectfully, JOHN C. WATERS, M. D, 17 HIGH STREET, BROOKLYN, | “Let Us Hoist the British Flag When in t | | Stripes floated Spanisn | Danger.” To THE EDjTOR OF Hi ah a me ‘Ture Our government takes immediate action and punishes those Spanish butchers for the bar- barous murder of American citizens I suggest thas hereafter we appeal to England to protect us, if our own government will not. We are well aware that during the Cuban struggle our consuis have frequently been wrapped, as it were, within the jolds of the English fag a4 proot against Spanish | bullets, while our own once honored Stars and uselessly over them, to our shame and degradation. Weil may English- men jee! proud of their country! We Americans can now readily understand the reason that Englishm always manilest such sincere devotion to their flag and count) heretore, if our fag is pot a sufficient guarantee against insuit, would it not be a good idea in the future for the captains of American vi els to hoist the English flag when in danger of capture by those Spanish brates, and assume to be Englishmen, if we are not, in order to save our lives? The was an English vessel, manned by English aub- jects; the Virginius Was an American vessel, man- ned by American citizens, Take note, oh great and glorious Republic! AN INDIGNANT AMERICA Attach the Arapile PHILADELPHIA, To THe Epitor or THR HeRaLy:— If the Virginius was at. American vessel, sailing OV. 21, 1 | under the American flag and registered according- ly, why don’t the owners attacli she ‘murderers’ jron-ciad Arapiles, now in the port of New York, sell her, and what Is left of the proceeds aiter the Virginius is paid for give to ‘he families of the butenered victims’ Do likewise with all Spanish property in the shape of vessels belonging to their government that may enter our ports, and they will learn to respect the Stars and Stripes and those who sail under them. @. 0, JOHNNIE, Af Oriental Story-Teiler Contrasts Our Minister and Our Nation with Others, To THe Epirorn or THe HERALD: — Two days since Lasked an English friend of mine, “What wonld your government have done if it were placed in the position of that of the United States in reapect to Cuban affairs’ The prompt reply I got was, ‘Certainly it would not have waited so long.’ He wasright, Asia knows {it to her cost and dread terror. In respect to Cuban affairs Secretary Fish re. minds me of the story of two Pundit Bramins, who, after the closest application and intense study lo uot aud GopMistomt Wisk tue Boner Of palious | for divegu years in two holy city of Bouargs,n- acht Deerhound | RIPLE SHEET. ished their education in Vodas, nig-Védas, and air and everything pertaining to Hindoo theology. They had delved deeply into the metaphysl- cal subtleties of “sleeping, waking and trance.” They thought themselves perfect adepts in the art of palmistry and astro! When they were told by their renowned masters of the Holy City that they had nothing new to learn fiom them, they set their faces towards their home, which waa at a distance of several days’ journey. ‘Their fame as the “rising moons of the generation” had preceded them on their way. Once, when overtaken by night, they lodged in a house whose landlady was only too willing to afford ever. comfort to the favored of the gods. After an ablu- tion and sever ayn they took their meals, and chewing, agreeably to the custom of the country, petelnut and betel plant, they retired to their room. As they were preparing to rest after the fatigues of the day, they heard a bier of the dead carried with the loud lamentations aud show of vehement grie! peculiar to the nations of the East. Hardly had the bier passed, and the sounds ceased, when they heard the landlady’s voice, “Daughter! daughter! go and inquire of the destination of the dead; ts it heaven or helt” One Pundit Bramin looked at the other, the other with a rueful Jace put his forefinger opposite his forehead and twirled tt round, meaning, in the Indian jargon, that her upper story was not all right. Belore they could come to an agreement as to the sanity of their landlady they heard the daughter's yoice:—“‘Mother, I have inquired the dead’s des- tination; it’s heaven.’ This time the Pundit Bramins stared at each other, and befure one could stare the other Sway they again heard a bier carried with the usual noise; they again heard the landiady to the eifect, “Daughter! daughter! go and inquire of the desti- nation of the dead, is it heaven or holl *” This time the daughter returned with an answer, Ma, the destination of the dead is nell!” At each suc- cessive stage of the inquiry the Pundit Bramins stared harder and harder ut each other, until they broke down and could stare no longer. One whis- pered to the other, “We did not learn this,”’ The other replied, ‘1 know it is always so with the (religious masters); they always keep something to themselves; they fear being over- poveret some day by their pupils, aud the nowledge of heaven and hell they have kept to themselves as their sure defence.’ Sleep could not visit the eyes of the Pundit Bramins; at the dead of nignt they put the small bundie of clothes on their shoulders and set back their faces to the holy city of Benares, Ar- riving at the temple they fell prostrate at the feet of their gooroo and asked whether anything was kept from them untaught. Receiving a reply in the negative they again searched all tie manu- scripts to find out Uf there was any left unread, and, finding uone they Bot up in despair, when one of them said:—“I thought it so; itisa meonmedke transmitied irom generation to generation, by word of mouth, from one to the other. But never jear; somehow or other the old lady and her daughter have come to the knowiedge of it, We will coax it out of them, and yet de- feat our proud gooroo.” Once more they wended their way to the village they had leit so abruptly at midnight. Arriving there they entered the house of their former landlady, See- ing her seated in the portal with entreating looks they beckoned her in. Both took possession of her ears, and after a preliminary of high-sounding compliments on her wisdom and learning, to the alarm oi the recipient, asked her to tmpart to them her peculiar knowleage of the destination of the dead. At the conclusion of their learned and most labored speech she laughed outright, The Pundit Bramins’ faces became more rueiul, ‘The landlady pitying their perplexity replied, ‘My boys, you have learned but not calculated; you have theorized but not practised. My explanation is simple: it the dead were goog and virtuous on earth their destination is heaven, if wicked and immoral their destination is hell. My daughter had only to inquire the career of the deadin the bazaar and tell me the conclusions accordingly.” The Pundit Bramins leit the house sadder yet wiser men. ‘The Secretary of State and some others of the Cabinet remind me of the Pundit Bramins, who have, like them, delved deep into the history and politics of their own and other countries without having learned to put them into practice. The people of the United States have Cecided, in tne absence of the Congress, through their other rep- resentatives—the public Opinion and the press of the different shades and opinions—that the desti- nation of the Cuban slaveholders 1s hell. England, so averse to any furtuer aggrandizement of the United States, in this instance, to her honor, has spoken loud through her press that the fate of Cuba is sealed; that the destination of the Cuban slaveholder is héli; that the United Stutes should hurl them in there because Spain 13 wo weak to do so, to prevent such a second outrage on humanity in future. ‘There cannot be two opinions in the world as to tie destination of the Cuban tyrants. Yet the Secre- tary of the State is undecided and incredulous aa to the people's conciusion, and looks round in the pigeon hoies of the office for some old forgotten manuscript left unread, wherein he could find a svlution to a conclusion arrived at by others in- titively. He is poring over the volumes of tne international laws, sees the pros and cons of the War, the gains and losses, in the spirit of a mer- chant; national honor ‘1s counted in money's worth; wuen he hears too much noise made by the press and the people, like the Pundit Bramins, periaps he puts his forefinger opposite his fore- head and whirls it round before other ministers, meaning the uppermost story of the nation 18 not all right. There should be a deputation of old ia- dies sent to make the Secretary a sadder and a wiser man. The English have been called a nation of shop- Keepers; yet, When occasions have come, they have proved otherwise. On the contrary, they have olten proved themseives honor mad. Look at the Afghan, the Persian, the Abyssinian, and lastly tue Asnantee war. England can Proualy put her hands on her heart and say, “All for honor, and none for gain.” Believe me, sir, your obedient servant, & PARSEE, An American Woman Who Wants Ven- geance. BW YORK, Nov. 2}, 1873, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD :— Will you be kind enough to inform the commu- nity why it is that President Grant treats the murder of his subjects with such apparent indilfer- ence. Ihave read in your journal of his attending afair at Newark while the Spaniards are tread. ing on the blood of his poor citizens, slaughtered by brutes more treacherous than Captain Jack and his tribe could possibly presume to be (as it was in their nature). Is he deaf to the tears and groans of the desolate orphans and widows call- img on him to avenge the butchery of their earthiy protectors, or is he afraid of the Spaniards?’ If so, Why does he not vacate his post and give it to some brave man who is not afraid to uphold the honor of his country and wipe out the vermin that dared insult its flag. I notice that the editor of one of tue Spanish papers says that itis the HeRaLp alone that clamors for war, aud that to pacify that organ tne President of the United States sent out one man- of-war, since which time the HERALD has considerably cooled down, What effrontery tor any Spanish cur to Make such an assertion when the blood of every American man, woman and cuild on this continent boiled with rage at the insult they have received at the hands of tue Santiago highwaymen. Down with them, crush them, make an example of them, hang their heads over the gaies—the late scene of their vil- lanous atrocities—as a warning to the scurilous rage not to tamper with the Stars and Stripes. AN AMERICAN WOMAN, __. CAPTAIN FRY'S HEROISM. Help for His Wines Ma Glare anda Monument to His Memory. NoveMser 23, 1873. TO THe Epivork or THE HERALD :— Will you insert the subjoined extract from a let- ter from Captain Fry, the commander of the “Vir- ginius, to General Burriel, written in behalf of the crew? It states the whole thing plainly and witii- out extenuation :— For years past it is notorions the number of vessels that were employed in it during the American war, and, although ures were numerous, nota single lite was alter a short unprisonment. | ne’ the night of my sentence of the C heard a word betore ban law and the proc- lamation relating to an attempt to introduce arms into Cuba, It, with s portunities, | was ignorant that ‘the’ case co by any other law | than internation lev must have been the ignorance of these poor people! Iwas continually in of peuple who ought to have knows it, and not one alluded to the fact. Ina word, I believe that it is not known, and that the world will be painfully sur- prised at learning the sacrifice of these lives. The Con- sul knows weil that Lam not pleading tor my life. T have Not prayed to God for it, nor even to the Blessed Mother, have neither house nor country, « victim of war and persecution, the way ot prosperity being closed to me to such a point that] hot been able to provide bread dren, Who know what re aries of life. 1 sone of fer + and [look apon What has happened to meas a bene. | fit of God, and itis not for me, therefore, to ask favors of any one, 1 would call the attention of my countrymen. te the sublime spectacle of this sailor, gentieman and hero, whose final utterances of sorrow-stricken but Unconquered spirit will claim the heartfelt sym- pathy and admiration of all men not utterly selfish and cowardiy, Taking a legally wrong but hazard- ous service, to support it wile and seven children; captured—whether justly or not, I care not—but Most outrageously tried, convicted and barbaronsly executed, as sailor and commander are for his crew; a8 a gentleman he bows them ar on his way to his death, and a8 @ hero he dies He bitterly says he has no country, becanse he belonged to the list of soldiers and sailors, by pro- fession, who have never been permitted to resume their allegiance to their government, I claim him for my countryman, [claim his ex- ample and glorious death as @ legacy to both pro- fessions, to one of which he belonged, and I claim for all of us the privilege of avenging his murder, I ask you to accept contributions for a twofold purpose—for assistance to his widow and children and for a monument to his memory. Be pleased to accept $200, $100 to be ap Med 10 each purpose. Will you not take charge of the fund for this pur- pose, and any assistance yat | cam render | wilt Cordiaily Give t ARMY. 3 last efiorta | ‘The greater part of the prisoneis were set at liberty. | IRELAND. A PICTURE OF DUBLIN The Metropolis ot Modern Ireland. DUBLIN, Oct. 27, 1873. To a man who, I{ke Ulysses, has “seen many men and cities," whose feet are familiar with the Parisian boulevards and the Viennese rings, who has driven Unter den Linden at Berlin and lodged in the Plazza di Spagna at Rome, who has been surrounded with all the luxurious comforts of the Brevoort House, in New York, and within a week has had to shift for himself in the unwarmed rooms and with the half stocked larder of a newly erected: frame hotel in a rising city on the shore of Lake Michigan; to a man who has passed through such vicissitudes as these there is yet something novel and strange in the aspect of Ireland. The capital is itself an epitome of the country. From Dublia and its immediately surrounding neighborhood’ one can form a tolerably correct idea of the national pecullarities and characteristics, Its. situation 1s splendid; its principal street (Sack- ville street) is far broader ana grander and more Imposing than any thoroughfare in the United Kingdom. Its principal squares (Fitawilllam, Merrion, Rutiand and Stephen’s Green) vie with Russell square, London, in their tall, stately, red brick houses, and utterly surpass that or any other portion of the Englisn metropolis in the fresly greenery of the turf and the luxuriant beauty of the flowers in their central enclosures. And the Principal public buildings—the Bank of Ireland,; Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Cus- tom House and the Four Courts—are each and alt’ of them magnificent specimens of architecture, highly and appropriately decorated, while the Phoenix Park is larger than Hyde Park, with a wealth of greenwood almost equalling in exten! and certainly surpassing in vernal tint the far- famed foliage of Kensington Gardens. Intand the suburbs stretch away along broad roads, linea here with terraces and rows of houses, there wish pretty cottages dotted down in the midst of smiling gardens, and with the soft undulating: range of the Dublin or Wicklow mountains as the background, while within 20 minutes rail 1s the’ grand, open sea—the lovely Bay of Dublin, the chosen rival to the Bay of Naples, and by Thack- eray considered to have asserted its superiority over its Italian competitor in the fact that it pro- duces excellent herrings, none of which fish haa ever been caught in the Neapolitan Sea. What would not be given by the tired Londoner, jaded and wearied with his work in the eternal fog and: smoke, which dim his eyesight and choke his lungs, if within a quarter of an hour from his city den be could be steam-borne to a spot where he could See the children sport upon the shore, And hear the mighty waters rolling evermore, and feel the fresh sea breeze clearing the cobwebs: from his brain and bracing his enfeebled health? The shore of this silver sea is iringed with pretty” villages and hamlets, each of which has its sep= arate station on the railroad, with high cliffs and bold, picturesque headlands, along which the train, looking remarkably like a child’s toy, winds im and out, with pretty market gardens, every tinct of which seems to be jealously cultivated, with a broad sweep of esplanade or a tall, stuccoed ter- Trace oF @ covey of one-storied cottages, with ther most romantic names inscribed on their white washed outward walls. These should be the sum- mer homes of the citizens, the marine retreats of the aristocracy, the resting places for the old and weary, the flirtation ground of the young ands thoughtless. Such a capital, so situated and with: such suburbs, boasting, if not of a court itself, at’ all events of its mimic semblance; of @ learned university, of its own halls of jus- tice, of a school of art, of a splendid cathedral, of a large military garrison, both of cavalry and ;infantry, would, one would imagine, be not merely populous and com- mercially thriving, brisk, stirring and independ- ent, but would contain within itself the elements of @ society in which all could find their level—at once the gayest and gravest, the most learned and the most frivolous. The docks should be filled, the quays crowded with merchandise, the railways laden with native manufactures, the university an alma mater of hundreds of hard-working and well-conditioned students, the law courts a curric- ulum for the future pleaders and judges of the land, Gayety and fashion should hold undisputed sSWay over the great squares, the spacious streets should be filled with dashing carriages and lounging pedestrians, and a general air of well-being should pervade the entire city, Such, to the untravelled and half-informed mind weuld be the ideal state of Dublin; but we now glance at the real condition of affairs. Throughout the whole of the city of Dublin, alike in its business streets as in its fashionable quar- ters, there is an omnipresent, unmistakable and not to be gotten rid of air of desolation. In the commercial districts business is carried on in & languid, helpless, purposeless manner. Vans are laden and unladen by men who set about their work with no more determination or earnestness than a Neapolitan lazzarone. There is @ singular want of alacrity in the serving of customers and an utter absence of that disposition to press wares upon the attention of the unwilling which is so characteristic of the successful shopkeeping class. In the Four Courts the great uncertainty of the law, With all its natural delays and difficulties, is rendered a hundred times more difficult and more procrastinating than elsewhere. Three or four judges sit in solemn conclave to deliberate over @ matter which could be dismissed by a judge in chambers in twenty minutes, the grand jury system is confusion, the regulation for the recovery of small debts Is stated to be fail of practical anomalies, while the Bank- ruptcy and Insolvent law has, on the authority of, one who well knows what he is speaking gf, %éen- ina muddle for years,” From the edvantages of, giugation in their anclegt University the great mas of the people are excluded on account of their religion, while no Irish Jaw student can be called to the Bar before he has attended an English inn of court. A large proportion of the big, red~ jaced old houses in the aforementioned square which, before the union, were inhabited by the grand old Irish peers and the hospitable old Irish squires—who, while their chimneys blazed and their glaret flowed and their hall doors were always open to--those = properly recommended, yet did not fa! to keep up a certain state and dignity—a” now tenanted by doctors and » brass plates adorn the area rail- lawyers, Wom. pear the announcement of ings. Many of the! “ ” wh in several the blinds are Lodgings to Let,’ while J, up, and the whole down, the windows are paperew f ng dead, mansion has the appearance of bl Savatey op bankrupt, brokcn-down exterior is 10 Rovelty the strangerin Dublin, Thirty years agdThack@ray; theu on his first visit to Dublin, wrote:—“The louse have a battered. rakish look, and seem going to ruin before their time. Who lives imthem? One fancies that the chairs and tables*,jnside are broken and the pot on the breaksastytable has no spout, and the tablecloth is raggedana SIOPPY and the lady of the house is in dubious curl pa, °°f% and the gentleman with an imperial to hie &! aid a faring dressing gown all ragged at th? ee At the present day the houses have tha same look of desolation, or, at least, of shabby gentility. There are but few large retail establish- ments in the city, and those languish for lack of custom, With the exception of two of the principal thoroughfares, the street#, even at the busiest time of the day, are comparatively silent and deserted by pedestrians, while the vans or strings of elegant carriages, eristic of different sections o London life, are nowhere to be met with; the public institntions are unvisited, and so despondent or so careless is the muntet- pality that the public streets are lettin a state of unpariileled filtn, hat is the cause, then, of this desolation and y, this political and moral dry rot which has rmined, not merely the capital, but the Co what- a unc try itself? Ask this question where and of soever intelligent jon you may, 10 he or Protestant, landiord or — tenans, townsman or peasant, and you will re- ceive an answer in the same two words—absenteeism and centralization, What these terms convey, What means have been adopted, hitherto unsuccessfully, to rid the country of their baleful edvots, 1 purvoas to discuss in me next letter [~}