The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-02

servable on board the boat, naturally led one
10 suppose that equal care and attention wonld
be exercised to provide against the oc-
| currence of accidents. That care and
| precaution were ordinarily used we believe.
We only hope that, under the great temptation
to beat the Francis Skiddy on the first day of
trial, and to secure the tclat which it was
thought would follow such triumph, did not
lead to hasty and criminal imprudence. On
this point We confess that we entertain some
apprehension. IF the owners and officers of the
boat can pass through the fiery trial of an in
vestigation unscathed we shall heartily rejoice
for their sake The previous complimentary
notice of this splendid steamer by one Of our
correspondents bears witness to our readiness
to commend her merits; but no kindlness of
personal feeling no private regard, can swerve
us from the performance Of SO plain duty as to
call for that rigid examination of the case
| which the circumstances demand If there
is guilt let it be exposed. If all parties are in
nocent, let that be made to appear, and they
will escape mountain-wei ght of suspicion now
resting upon them. 1t may be that the dis
aster was purely an accident, which the utmost
| degree of human caution could not have pre-
vented. If so, it is remarkable circumstance
| that it should have occurred on the very morn
| ing when the steamer was to run for the first
time against somewhat formidable rival But
even this is not impossible. We only say that
circumstances look suspicious. Let those impli-
Gated have fair chance to clear up the matter
if they can.
1t strikes us that in the letter to be found in
another part Of this mornings paper, from Mr..
Newton, that gentleman altogether under esti-
mates the Importance Of the occurrence. His
manner Of treating it is too cavalier to be be-
coming. 1t is not really quite SO small an az
fair as he would seem to wish the public to be-
| lieve His statement that zone fireman was
killed and the engineer and two firemen were
considerably scalded" is undeniable truth; but
| unfortunately it was not the whole truth. Let
the whole truth, whatever it may be, or wher-
ever it may bear be brought out.
CUBA AND THE SLAVE TRADE.-The most
transparent farce of the last year or two is the
humbugging game now going on in Cuba, of a
pretended cooperation of the Spanish authori-
ties of the island with the British cruisers in
the suppression of the African slave trade.
Spanish vessels of war are actively cruising
along the coast in search of slavers from day
to day; but they have not yet, as far as we are
informed, brought in any prizes, or reported
any captures, or any suspicious ships stealing
into the coves or creeks Of the island We are
not aware that single slave trader has ever
been molested in his piratical calling by the
Spanish feet or by the local authorities. They
are all in collision with the Queen Mother,
Christina, whose perquisites from the landing
of cargo of Africans are more matter of
personal interest and official duty to her daugh-
ter's agents in Cuba than good faith in the
suppression of this outlawed and detestable
traffic.
The Imprisonment of Zulueta in one of the
forts Of Havana for his participation in the car
go Of the Lady Suffolk, is most unblushing
piece Of mockery. He is treated more as
favorite Of the crown than as a slave trader
and yet his Imprisonment it is thought will serv
to blind the eyes Of John Bull to the trick. We
shall be disappointed if the experiment succeed
England is evidently pushing this question to a
final issue. The local authorities of Cuba are
vainly endeavoring to shuttle out Of the scrape
In the meantime, we are informed that the ad-
ministration at Washington is watching the
movements between the Spanish officials and
the agents Of England with anxious vigilance
Spain must stop the African slave trade with
Cuba. That's fat But if in doing it she at
tempts to substitute the British emancipation
and apprenticeship system our government
may be expected to put in a word or two of
timely warning Thus the destiny of Cuba is
approaching its final solution. Great events
are at hand.