The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-09

hereafter to arise between them and rs: 80 that
the reparation may follow the in ury without
unnecessary loss Of time. Acc riding to the
best information we can obtain, this request is
refused.
Again, we have strong circumst intial evil
dence in the DEGREES recently issued by the
Spanish government in relation to Cuba, that
England is exercising paramount influence at
Madrid. Those DEGREES are framed to suit the
views Of British state men, and are, we know,
entirely opposed to the whole tenor Of Spanish
policy. Now when the British an French
governments applied to US to enter into atreaty
with them, whereby all three Powtrs were to
bind themselves not to interfere with Cuba,
they based their application On the assumption
that the exercise of paramount influence in
Cuba by any one of the three would be dan
gerous to the other two. But if tie exercise of
paramount influence by the United States in
Cuba would be dangerous to Great Britain and
France, how much more dangerous to W. the
protectorate which Great Britain seems TO have
obtained over the island Ii Lord John Rus
sell yentured to intimate that England would
prevent our interfering with the colonial gov
eminent Of the island in what terms ought we
to express our sense Of the British usurpaton
os which these DEGREES are the first evidence?
We must not confound these DEGREES with le-
climate measures for the suppression Of the
slave trade. They are LINED far less at the
traffic than at the institution: are intended to
make free negroes. not to diminish slavers. 1t
is estimated that one-half the present slave
population Of Cuba will be liberated by the e.
feet Of the registers. Now, in two points Of
view, this result will be an injury to US. The
history Of Jamaica enables us to say confident
ly that the emancipation of the slaves in Cuba
will des troy the value Of the island, and with
it, our prospects of adding fine State to the
Union. Furthermore, the erection Of a second
San Domingo on our Southern shores would be
an obvious thorn in the side of the Southern
States.
With these facts before u, we have TO de-
eide whether we viii in our present negotiation
with Spain pursue our former policy of con-
Citation and concession OF act az Great
Britain would do. were she in the like pc ition.
Had we such man, for instance, as Lord
Palmerston at the head Of our foreign affairs,
there cannot be doubt that Spain would be
driven from her position in month at farthest,
or Cuba would be ours. Even with the admin
istration we have. we think it by no means I'M
likely that something serious may grow out Of
the present complication of affairs. Unless the
President and his Cabinet are prepared to
swallow any insult, and submit to any injury,
some step must be taken ere long which will
materially alter our relations with Cuba. In
circumstances like ours, rashness il often for
given to government; timidity never. Presi-
dent Pierce had better err on the bold side
Than on The weak one Vacillation will only
strengthen the hands Of England, and embolden
Spain; firm energetic course Of conduct
the repeal Of the neutrality laws--the recall Of
our minister-might attain the end we seek
without bloodshed and might secure Us the
possession of Cuba. Either of these termina-
tons TO the imbroglio would be benefit and
20 long as England ami France are at war, no
Other need be feared.