The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-18

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improve, ard that q. fntnre snction sales Of such
The turn Of the market viii likely be IN favor OF
selers.
The Rumorsd C.ssioa Of Cnbn ~ ',sstion Of
LOUIS napoleon sad sne Allied Powers.
| There are two r eat oliticsi lrobems to be
! solved by the pre.ent generauon--two uues-
| tons in government. or more properly, in the
progress OF manstbd, which are ,nss beginning
| t. excite universal interest,", and whose termi-
nation will, more than all other events OF this
age affect the destiny Of Europe and'Amerca.
We mean, Of course, the fate OF Turkey and o,
Cuos-two interests wholly distinct and oeau-
pying geographical extremes. II themselves
they arc Of no very great consequence. Con-
nected with her governments they represent
,, a great principle and II remains q be seen
how far they are capable of calling ont the
great Powers OF the earth to sustain them in
their present condition, in opposition to the
simple laws of population.
Recent ruDors declare that the Spanish gov
eminent has concluded convention with the
Minister Of the United States in Madrid ceding
to us the Island Of Cuba. These rumors come
to us with more than ordinary drectness, and
bear many marks Of probability. 1t is not
important whether their truthfulness be deter
mir cd row or next week perhaps, not very
important wheth.r they have any foundation
at al. The current OF events which moves us
towards Cuba, or brings that island to US is
both rapid end certain. We use. no cant Ameri-
canism when we say that destiny has sealed
the fate Of Cuba nor is it the language of
aggression to declare that we IRE called upon
to administer upon the effects of tie Spanish
monarchy, SO far as that interest Is concerned,
in anticipate Of the demise OF its nominal
proprietor.
There are, however, many reasons for believ-
ing that peaceful cession Of Cuba has been
made or will at no distant period be consum
mated. by the ordinary course of events--that
is, by The non-inervention Of European powers
such O result might be deemed certain
France and England have offered the only OBJ
stacles heretofore to the cession Of the island
The known position OF these governments has
sustained public sentiment in Spain against
such cession. They have absolutely controlled
the press and the executive authority at Ma
diid, and have formed the popular mind of that
country on the basis Of utter hostility to the
acquisition of the island by this government.
The more rapid our advancement in material
wealth and power, tho more bitter and unscru-
pulous has been their effort to defeat us in this
project The decline Of Spanish interests in
America, and their absorption by the spirit of
enterprise eyinced by our people, are lessons
which have been wholly overlooked by Eng
land and France. Their controlling idea has
been the Asiatic dogma Of the balance of power,
and their effort has been to fix this principle OF
immobility upon the western and eastern con-
tinent j Ike. For this The great struggle now
in process with Russia was undertaken. For
this tie quintuple treaty was agreed upon
that subtle combination Of all the great Power
having in view the application Of their ideas OF
government to the affairs Of this continent
The rapid increase Of our maritime strength,
md It's threatening dominion over the seas,
gave the first signal Of alarm to Great Britain,
and drew from the prolific fountains Of its d.
plomacy the union Of all the great governments
Of Europe against US. Later ia the day, and
confident Of peace in the unity Of those
GOVERN ents, France and England presented
US with the tripartite convention, proposing
the direct application Of the balance Of power
in America-the guarantee Of the leland Of
Cuba to Spain. Mr.. Fillmore's administration
rejected this proposition. 1t was the first open
act Of European Intervention on this side Of the
water, and ne do not doubt was intended to ex-
press determination on the part Of France aud
England, at whatever cost, to apply the doc
trines Of that convention to Spanish American
interests.
Meanwhile, the Russian war, SO long post
poned by the Aberdeen ministry, who no doubt
foresaw how fatally 1t would operate upon
ADglo-Amerioan interests was forced upon tse
Western Powers. Notwithstanding the formula
bic character Of the preparations and the limit
less means at the command Of the allied govern
monts, it soon became manifest that Russia was
an antagonist requiring oil the disposable
material of the aseailants. II was enough to
enforce obedience in the East without engaging
the West. More than this, every effort was
made to conciliate the United States. We neel
not recount the measures adopted at once. aud
with such apparent generosity and good feeling,
affecting neutral interests, by far the greater Of
which were American. 1t was the Inauguration
Of new policy, having in view protracted
var with Russia, and understanding that a CO.
tcmporaneous struggle with this Union would
he fatal to the allied cause.
In the progress Of events and the discussion
elected In this country, upon the Eastern con
hoversy, II became evident that tue Southern
States, hritstec by the systematic efforts in
Great Britain to weaken the bonds Of the Union
by agitating the slavery question, were fas
embracing the side Of Russia, and throwing he
moral power Of the government, and, perhaps
ultimately, in The elimination OF affairs Ia Caba