The Sun.
London, England, 1869-09-21 00:00:00

CUBA.

It is now evident that we were justified in our
remarks last week on Cuba, as the subject is assuin-
ing a dangerous aspect from the pressure of public
opinion on the Administration of the United States
on the one side, and the Castilian pride of the other,
which we are bound to say is more becoming than
prudent. General GRANT'S idea was that which
suggests itself to any reasonable man acquainted
with the difficulties of the position, namely, for
Spain to retire, accepting in bonds the highest price
the Cubans could afford to give for the Govern-
ment property surrendered ; and if what the Times
states be true, it was on some such understanding
that the pulses of Cubans were freely opened to
furnish to Generals PRIM and SERRANO the means
of accomplishing the home revolution. The revolt
in Cuba broke out in connection, as is proved by
the fact that the Cubans rose before any intelli-
gence of PRIM'S movements could have reached the
island. It is perhaps unfortunate for the success
of the negociations with which General SICKLES
and Mr. PAUL FORBES were intrusted, that so much
had transpired and been publicly discussed, whereby
the pride of Castille, attracted to the subject, was
aroused, and a most difficult element entered into
the complication. At any rate, the negociations
appear to have been the reverse of successful, and
the tone assumed by GRANT'S Administration seems
to have kindled into a flame all the arrogance of
the Spaniard. First we have a telegram that 16,000
soldiers are to be sent from Spain to Cuba ; then
that 24,000 is the number, 9,000,000 reals being
provided by Havannah firms to defray the expense
of transport. Of this army, for it is nothing
less, 3,000 had at once been forwarded, and 7,000
were to leave this week, together with two iron-
clad frigates—itself a pointed answer to the me-
diation of General SICKLES. Marshal PRIM pro-
ceeded to Paris, and was joined there immediately
by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, when they had
an interview with the EMPEROR ; and, coupled with
this intelligence, the position is represented as very
critical between Spain and the United States.
Turning from Europe to America, we see nothing
to reassure us on the other side of the water. A
New York morning raper, supposed to represent
the Administration, one day published an article
favouring Spain ; on the next it took a political
summersault, coming out with a leader recommend-
ing Government action on behalf of the Cuban in-
surgents ; while public attention, being attracted
towards the marked discrepancy between the edi-
torial opinions of one day and the next, learns that
the last was inspired by high official authority, fore-
shadowing the action of the Cabinet. Its advice
is, that the gunboats should either be retained or
the insurgents recognised as belligerents, when both
parties, being on the same footing, no greater favour
would be shown to one than to the other. In
Washington it is asserted that at the Cabinet
meeting of the 31st August it was decided to in-
struct General SICKLES to ask immediate action on
the propositions recently submitted by him and
Mr. FORBES, the belief being that Spain intends to
decline, but desires to gain time. In a private
letter received at Washington from Madrid, it
is authoritatively stated that on the American
Minister offering the mediation of the United
States between Spain and the Cubans, the Madrid
Government demanded as a preliminary that the
insurgents should lay down their arms, a pro-
position which they would, of course, refuse, as
they could have no guarantee of protection from
the Spanish volunteers, who, it is alleged, have
secretly organized to usurp all power in Cuba.
General SICKLES was authorised to propose that the
United States would undertake to mediate on
slavery being abolished in the island, and on the
basis of the Cubans paying to Spain the full value
of all Government buildings, fortifications, and the
like. The Hornet, on being liberated in New York
on the understanding that she would proceed to
Halifax and thence to Queenstown, appears to have
taken on board a fillibustering expedition at the
capital of Nova Scotia. The steamer was detained
by the authorities, but managed to get her coal and
crew on board and hastily to depart last Monday
night. At the same time a schooner with 90 men
on board sailed from New Bedford, Massachusetts,
to meet, as supposed, the Hornet at sea, but a Go-
vernment vessel being sent after her from New
Bedford, they were overhauled on Tuesday, cap-
tured, and brought back to that port ; and another
expedition gathered in the Southern States, under
an officer who had served on LEE'S Staff, was also
stopped. In the article to which we have above
alluded the New York Times, in a few words, gives
utterance to the American view. Alluding to the
gunboats being constructed for the Spanish Go-
vernment in American ports, at the same time the
export of munitions of war for the insurgents is
prohibited, it says :
"tt is not seemly for us, as it were, to hold the hands
of a people struggling in a cause precisely like that which
resulted in the establishing of our own Federal Union,
while a Transatlantic Government is beating out their
brains with weapons supplied by our own artisans.
Flesh and blood cannot endure such an outrage upon
humanity, and if Spain cannot see the folly, as well as
the madness of it, our Government must open her eyes."

After alluding to that the rejection of the proposal
for Spain to withdraw under a pledge of indemnity
given by the United States, who, acting as trustee,
would retain enough of the Cuban revenue from
customs as an indirect guarantee for its fulfilment,
it adds that a new proposition will be made in sub-
stance as follows :

"Cubans to have tho rights of Spanish citizens and of
representation in the Cortes, amnesty to those engaged in
the insurrection, and the suppression of slavery in Cuba,
with protection to the freedmen. Should Spain accept
this proposition, it is stated this Government will try to
have peace prevail on tho island."

Spain's answer is the shipment of troops and the
despatch of men-of-war, meaning the practical re-
jection of this mediation, and the attempt,by a vigor-
ous effort, to suppress the revolt before the United
States can interfere. This is what she ought to have
done at first ; for civilised powers will not endure,
particularly those in the neighbourhood, an atrocious
civil war to become chronic. In that case there
will always be the chance of interference in the
name of humanity, if for no other reason, for as both
the London Times and the New York Times say,
the right of Spain in dealing with her colony is oue
thing, while it is another to approve the sanguinary
and fruitless means by which she endeavours to en-
force this right ; nor should a people be encouraged
" to maintain by years of strife a dominion forfeited
by centuries of misrule." We cannot sec the object
of Plum's visit to the Emperor NAPOLEON, as far
as Cuba goes, but we have very little doubt, if
Spaniards left him to follow his inclination and the
EMPEROR'S advice, what course he would pursue.
The danger to all lies in Spanish pride, although
the leader in the Times of yesterday sneers at the

view its Paris correspondent expressed the day before.
As they stand the facts are simply as follows :—A
war, not of battles, but of cold-blooded executions,
continues to rage in Cuba. The United States,
sympathising with the cause of the insurgents,
which is regarded as identical with that which
made the Union an independent Power, is becom-
ing restless in view of the wasteful and useless de-
struction of property on American soil, and the
Government communicates the fact to Madrid. At
the same time, it offers compromises, and retreats
for Spain from an untenable position, signifying
that if all are rejected and the war continues, that
America will not remain a passive spectator. Spain
does reject the mediation, but sends off to the seat of
war every soldier and ship she can employ, while en-
thusiasm is aroused, and PRIM hurries to Paris to see
the Emperor of the FRENCH. On the other side the
PRESIDENT admits Senor DomtNoo Ruiz, a Cuban
Representative, to an hour's talk, and last Wed-
nesday Senor LEMUS had a long interview with Mr.
Fisir, the Secretary of State. Coupled with this, we
have the sudden and remarkable change in the opi-
nions of the New York '1 imes, and the open and
generally credited announcement of the Cuban
Junta that the PRESIDENT sympathizes with them.
However it may end, there is here doubtless the
material for an explosion, but we hope that PRIM
is too wise, and has sufficient control to prevent
Spain from drifting into such a national suicide.
The latest accounts from Spain are to Thursday
evening, and they seem to agree with the Paris
papers, which state that the difficulty between the
Spanish Government and: the Cabinet of Washing-
ton concerning Cuba is in a fair way of settlement,
though five frigates and other war vessels are about
to proceed to Cuba. The favourable news is that
the Official Gazette of Madrid will shortly publish a
decree summoning Cuban deputies to the Cortes,
which shows a tendency towards the last proposi-
tion of the United States.—Anglo-American

BUDGET OF PERSONAL—Choy Chew and Sing
Man have returned to San Francisco, and express gratifi-
cation at their reception in the Eastern cities.—Vice-Pre-
slant Colfax was detained at Yo Semite in consequence
of the indisposition of Mrs. Colfax, but his wife's health
having improved ho returned to San Francisco.—The Hon
W. H. Seward reached Portland, Oregon, on Monday,
Aug. 30, brimful of enthusiasm on Alaska's future.—
Henry W. Longfellow and family arrived at New York
Aug. 31, in the steamship China from Europe, and pro-
ceeded to the Fifth Avenue Hotel.—Charles J. Pettit,
Secretary of the North Pacific Squadron, is dangerously
ill at San Francisco. —Most Rev. Martin J. Spaulding,
Archbishcp of Baltimore, Right Rev. James Gibbons of
North Carolina, the Right Rev. Bishop Patrick Lynch of
Charleston, Right Rev. Richard M'Gill, Bishop of Rich-
mond, Right Rev. Bishop Shannahan of Harrisburg, Very
Rev. Father Hecker of New York, and the Rev. Bernard
M'Manus, pastor of St. John's parish, Baltimore, have
engaged state-rooms on the steamer Baltimore, which
was to sail from Baltimore on the 20th of the present
month. They attend the (Ecumenical Council in Rome.—
Mr. Cameron, delegate from the Philadelphia Labour Con-
gress to the Working Men's International Union, being
held at Basle, has arrived in Europe.—Jacob R. Bear, ex-
press agent and telegraph operator at Brownsville, Ne-
braska, has absconded with $12,000 belonging to the Ex-
press company. $l,OOO reward is offered for his arrest,
and $l,OOO for the recovery of the money.—Capt. Shaw,
of the London Fire Brigade, is travelling in the West.
Commodore Vanderbilt paid $5OO to the clergyman who
recently tied the knot for him.—Colonels Ryan and Cur-
rier, of Cuban filibustering notoriety, surrendered
themselves to Marshal Barlow in New York on the 28th
of August, and gave bail—Ryan in $lO,OOO and Cur-
rier in $7,500, to keep the peace and appear for trial.
Carl Schurz arrived at San Francisco on Friday, Aug. 27,
and received an enthusiastic welcome by the German
population.—The administration of the estate of Heber C.
Kimball, late Brigham Young's first counsellor, have re-
cently filed, at Salt Lake City, a return of distributive
shares, subject to the revenue tax, showing 41 children-
-30 sons and 11 daughters—five being 14 years old, and
four ten years. The value of his estate is $59,000.—
Horatio Seymour is making speeches at cheese manufac-
turers' meetings in New York State.—Governor Ashley,
of Montana, has removed the Auditor and Treasurer of
that Territory, elected recently, and filled their places by
appointment. His action will bo contested.—Mr. C.
Osborne Ward is to proceed to Switzerland to represent
the Co-operative Societies of New York at the Labour
Congress.—The Hon. George II Yeaman, U. S. Minister to
Denmark, is in America on two months' leave of absence.—
Governor Claffin of Massachusetts has appointed Eleazer
C. Sherman of Plymouth and Henry L. Pearce of Dor •
chester State directors of the Boston, Hartford, and Erie
Railroad.--On the Ist Sept. the President appointed J. H.
Stewart of Pennsylvania to be Consul at Turk's Island,
vice Oliver Mungers, superseded ; Isaac Jonkenson of
Indiana, Consul at Glasgow, vice James Haggerty; and
Thomas R. Mosely to ba Commissioner to examine the
Central Pacific Railroad in California.—The Hon. J.Russel
Bullock, Judge of tho United States District Court in
Rhode Island, has resigned because of ill health.—Bier-
stadt, the artist, returns immediately to the United States.
—Mrs. G. B. Washburn° and family have arrived in
Europe, en route to join the United States Minister to
France.—Dr. Adrian K. Hoffman, father of Governor
Hoffman, is said to belying dangerously ill at his residence.
—Chief Justice Perley, of New Hampshire, having reached
the limit in age, 70 years, allowed by the constitution of
the State to a judge to hold office, has retired, and Gover-
nor Stearns has appointed Judge Bellows in succession,
the place of the latter being filled by Wm. L. Foster, of
Concord, a learned lawyer, once reporter to the Su-
preme Court.—According to the New York herald the
President sent a special messenger and a war steamer
after Prince Arthur, with an invitation to spend a
month at the White House.—The Marquis and Marchio-
ness of Westminster celebrated their Golden Wedding on
Thursday last, but after all this wealthy and highly-re-
spected Peer and his wife could only be regarded as chil-
dren by Jonathan Buxton, aged 102, and Saloma, his
wife, aged 101, who are living happily together, after
78 years of wedded life, at Smithfield, Rhode Island.—
Charles W. Slack, of Boston, has resigned his position as
treasurer of the State Republican Committee, which he has
filled for many years.—Among the speakers engaged by
the temperance men for the campaign in Massachusetts
this fall are General Neal Dow, of Maine, the author of
"Prohibition Legislation," and Dr. Lees of England.—Mrs.
Brownell, widow of the late Bishop Brownell of Hartford,
Conn., is dangerously ill, with small prospects of recovery.
—Professor C. Forthrop of Yale College, and collector of
the port of New Haven, has been elected President of the
Alabama State University, a position which Raphael
Semmes, of Alabama fame, tried hard to get.—Commodore
and Mrs. Vanderbilt are at the Pequot House, New Lon-
dou.—Bishop M'Farland of Hartford sailed for Rome and
the (Ecumenical Council on Wednesday, Sept. 1, with
$lO,OOO from the Catholics of his diocese to the Pope, and
another of $5,000 from the clergy for his own personal
expenses. He is accompanied by Father Hart, of St.
Patrick's, New Haven.—Lotta is playing at the California
Theatre, San Francisco.—Tom Thumb and his wife,
Commodore Nutt and Minnie Warren, have been giving
exhibitions at Platt's Hall, in San Francisco.—The Comte
de Paris with the Comtesse have arrived in Brussels.

OBITUARY.—PIiny Jewell, the father of Governor
Jewell, of Connecticut, died at his residence, in Hartford,
on Saturday, Aug. 28, at the age of 72 years.—Deacon
Jasper Morgan, father of ox-Governor Morgan, of New
York, died at his residence at Windsor, Connecticut, on
Saturday, Aug. 28, aged 87 years..—Charles H. Dexter,
aged 59 years, a prominent manufacturer in Windsor Locks,
Connecticut, died on Sunday, Aug. 29.—The death is an-
nounced of Mr. James Louis Prevost, at San Jos6, August
16, aged 63. He was the chief promoter of silk culture in
California. —John Durivage, an old actor, and one of the
founders of the Alta California, died at Memphis. —The Rev.
William Henry Rees, D.D., formerly officiating clergyman
of St. Phillip's Church, Newark, died on the 3d instant.—
Walter S. Mowry, son of Scott W. Mowry of Providence,
was drowned in Pachang Lake, in Griswold, Sept. 2.
—Edward Place, a New York correspondent of various
papers, died suddenly at Rhode Island from excessive
exertion in rowing.—Joseph Curtis, ox-sheriff of Queen s
County, died suddenly at his late residence in Hempstead,
L. 1., Sept. I.—Col E Y Morris, a distinguished Union officer,
died on the let inst. from disease contracted in the field.—
Dr. Carlton Gates, of Yonkers, N.Y., died recently, leaving
$lOO,OOO to that village, $60,000 to Rev. Dr. Hurlburt, of
White Plains, and otherwise disposing of his $200,000 so
as not to give a penny to any of his relatives. Before
his death he expressed the opinion that ho had been
poisoned, though not by his relatives, and a post-
mortem examination is being hold. Ins cabinet, a very
find ono, goes to Professor R. Wood. Mrs. Mercy Burgess
Dawes, mothor of Henry L. Dawes, memb3r of Congress
from Massachusetts, died at Cummington, on Tuesday
night, Sept. 7, at the advanced ago of 89 years. At the
funeral the pall-bearers were the Congressman and two
other sons, Francis H. Dawes of Catutmngton and Dr. T.
S. Dawes of Saugerties, Now York; also three grandsons.
—Nathaniel NV. Coflin, a leading citizen of Dorchester,
died, Thursday, Sept. 2, at the age of 51. He was for-
mery engaged in political life, and was navy agent of
Boston under President Taylor.

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