New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-29
FREEDOM AND HONESTY.

| in this City, IN al article when we copy III
another column, does us the honor to PROFOUND
question or two and to ask for distinct re-
ply. The questions are: l. Whether 1t is
wrong in Republican Government to forbid
its citizens from helping another people to
achieve their freedom and g Whether an
American Republic ought to maintain such
| contradiction to the right of selfgovernment
as the neutrality act of 1913, in order TO up
hold foreign hostile despOtism on her border!
These queries relate of course, to the case
ofCuba, who's sons we are told we ought to res
cue from Spanish oppression, despite the
Comfy Of nations as We would snatch
poor fellow from the clutches Of robbers or the
jaws of tiger. Here is our reply;
|. A republican government ought to re-
strain its citizens in the case mentioned if 1t Is
under obligations so to do by the express stipu-
lations of treaties solemnly contracted and
ratified. Such obligations the United States
now sustain toward Spain! They may be inn
polite, Inconsistent, wrong. Ii so, let the
nation be persuaded thereof and annul them.
Nothing can be more within the right Of any
citizen than to put forth that proposition, to
discuss and defend 10, and final, to take the
sense Of the people thereon If the decision
should be in favor Of Withdrawing the pledges
and agreements in question, our Government
would then notify the Spanish Government OF
the fact and our obligations would honorably
and fairly cease. But until this is done we
are held by them in the eyes of the world and
of history, and none but scoundrels would seek
to have the nation prove false to their sane
tons. Above all, the cause of freedom and
humanity ought not to be, and cannot truly be,
served by the national treachery and the dis
honor of the American people.
3. So of the neutrality act If that is a bed
law, aTraign it before the tribunal Of public
opinion and demand its repeal. The party I'M
derstcod to be specially opposed to its opera
ton expect to come into control of all depart
ments of the Government very soon. You can
then agitate for its repeal with the best pros
poets of carrying your point. But as long as it
stands on the statute-book the officers OF the
Government have nothing to do but to ell
force it, As for the character of the Act, we
understand it TO provide merely for the execu-
ton of treaties So the question comes back
to the annuling of the treaties and the prOcla-
nation to all the world that America will not
have friendly relations with any despotic or I'M
just power. All that we contend for at pres
ia tlato sholl ha
ard above board, and not after the fashion of
burglars and sheep thieves.
lis it necessary to repeat that the Cuban
question is not by any means so simple and
easy Of solution as the writer's Of La Verdad
imply 1t is dominated and complicated by
negro slavery. What an inconsistency for
people Of some hundred thousands like the
creoles of Cuba to talk Of freedom, oppression,
the rights of man and the woes of bondage,
when they persist in enslaying and embruting
another people Of three quarters of million
Let the Cuban patriots make negro emancipa-
ticn an article in their creed, and the civilized
world will begin to listen with respect TO their
appeals in behalf of freedom and human rights.
BROADWAY RAILROAD STOPPED.
The result which We long ago predicted in
regard to this gigantic project is at last a mat
ter OF fact. Judge Campbell, of the Superior
Court, has issued temporary Injunction. Or
dering cessation Of proceedings in the mat
ter until cause shall be shown by both parties,
and the question decided whether the iniunc.
ton shall be vacated or remain perpetual.
Of course the matter will go over to the New
Year, when--if the injunction should be vaca.
ted-it will have to pass the Aldermen. (which
ofcourse is easy enough as they will be the same
as now,) the new Board Of Assistants. and the
new Mayor; so, in any event, the Broadway
Railroad cannot be legally chartered probably
before March or April.
By the way, why should not this remedy be
employed in relation to other acts of the Com.
mon Council Why should not an Injunction
be obtained preventing henceforth the pay.
ment Of any money whatsoever from the City
Treasury, until the secret bargains the pri-
vate bills, and all she deep-laid schemes of
robbery perpetrated during the year shall have
been dragged into light 1t ought not to be
possible that the Common Council should in
crease the expenses Of the City at the rate of
million Of dollars per annum running up the
taxes in certain departments more than hum
dred per cent over the previous year, and yet
the people have no power to discover how it
was done, OF who has got the plumber Thus
far, tie present Council have bafied inyesti-