The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-19
mE CUBAN REyOLUTIoslsTs.
Letter from Mr.. John 3. Thrashcr.
NEW ORLEANS, June 10, 1904

Tho favor TO notice letter of mine to Samuel J. Pc
ter, Esq., on the effect which the independence or
the annexation of Cuba might have upon the inter-
ests of Louisiana.
The sole object of that letter was to set forth my
views of the results that might attend the success Of
a political measure which l advocate, upon the
economic interests of a community where am
deavoling to raise money for the purposes of the
Cuban revolution.
You there ask me for an expressio Of opinion on
the following SUBJECTS
Can Mr.. Thrasher answer will there be war message
sent to Congress within the ten days or shall we
have war with Spain From his long residence in Cuba
and his intimate knowledge of the affairs of that island
we think Mr. rhrasher ought to be able to
these points
While thank you for your kind expression of
opinion regarding me, am under the necessity of
declining the effort to answer the first part of your
question, because the short limit of ten days which
you impose upon me has already expired, and the
question Is decided. As, since the asking of your
question, the administration has shown very differ
ent feather from that which the query anticipated,
perhaps you viii allow me to express an opinion
upon different subject
am engaged, as have already said, in an effort
to raise money for the purposes of the Cuban revo
luton. / avow this frankly, for know of no law
the gold eagles to Cuba if should succeed In get
ting them, is not misdemeanor. There are many
things there useful to the revolution which may be
had for money; for instance, the Spanish army.
Ihave been much surprised to learn through the
reclamation of our worthy President-none the
less worthy for being President-that sundry per-
sons are engaged in organizing aud fitting out
military expedition for the invasion of the island of
Cuba" and rejoice that he has issued his instruc
tions to his marshals collectors &C., to stop all
such movements. rejoice in this promptitude-
some might call it the part of the admins
tration, for should regret exceedingly that " sun
dry persona should succeed in liberating Cuba be-
fore and my friends ready to act, and thus
riousy embarrass the active measures which my
friends and are taking
lam truly glad to learn, also, through the volun'
teer kindness of the President, of the preparations
for military expeditions" for with all my dill
gence to keep myself posted up in everything
relating to Cuban affairs had signally failed to
learn that any such thing was on foot. This is an
evidence of the great advantage of being in high
places.
It is to be hoped the Presidents men will succeed
in putting stop to such an expedition" hope
so, with all my heart, for have some little designs
myself; and, now that it occurs to me, don't know
but that wei and the a]ministration-ha better
unite forces for that purpose. Can you not use
your influence at Washington to bring about this
alliance between US?
Should you accede to my request, beg of you,
in making the effort, not to bind me to any fixed
principles, for l would like to be as free in my
policy as the administration itself; and I am told
that what is gospel with the Cabinet one week is
heresy with it the next.
As a guide to you in this matter, let me suggest
to you few points about the first proclamation we
might issue against "sundry persons" Unless we
were sure these "sundry persons were we'll advan-
ced in organizing and fitting out military expe-
dition," should not deem it polite to issue tn,
written proclamation We might talk privately
against them and use the means Of the government,
secretly of course to find out what they were about;
but procamatons expend their force in a short time,
unless the parties issuing them have great moral
strength Of character-which, in confidence, neither
the government nor I can say we possess-and it
would not be consonant with the honor or the dignity
Of the alliance to repeat the act as it would be pal
pable confession on our part that first procama
tion had failed to attain its object. Besides, it
might give sundry persons" Especially if they
were ev.disposed, as do not doubt they are. from
the fact that the President ais all good citi-
zens to dscountenance" them, and he would not do
that if he did not know the evil disposition of these
:. sundry persons') reason for saying that our al
lance wished to favor them by issuing procla-
nation too soon, and thus avoiding the necessity Of
our action at more opportune moment
would also suggest to you, as should to myself,
great caution in the Of language. For instance,
should be very chary of styling any other than one
OF ourselves " o friendly power,"-(you may ask,
why protect any other than ." q friendly power ?''
but that Is none OF your bnsness,) for it might be-
come necessary to speak, in message to Congress
OF some one who did not know what the blgations
OF good neighborhood are, (see the Presidents mes
sage to Congress on the Black Warrior affair." and
at least, should blush to be caught eating my own
words.
would like to be free also to use the same eau.
tous language, as does the administration now,
about these "sundry persons" for / may want
to the calling of them bad citizens, except by in
direction, as does the cabinet in calling upon all
good citizens to circumference" &c. You may
say, however that / shall be just as indignant as
the administration Is, If anybody but ourselves shall
presume to have even an opinion on /" the great
question of peace or war - and that it shall be
cardinal point withme, as it is with the admnistra-
tion, 70 deem no one good citizen who shall have
the audacity to differ with us in opinion.
Leaving this important matter in your hands, /
shall now endeavor to reply to the second part of
your question whether :" we shall have war with
Spaini' can at once say I do not think we shall
but perhaps you may want my reasons for this
belief. They are quite simple.
The unanimous opinion throughout the country is
Lnal the 'uulty CADlnet OF the PRESIDENT has
lain fixed principles Of action; that two OF its
members think alike on any one question, they take
weekly-(don't let the printer make mistake, and
print that word weakly)-turns at fixed policy.
Now, there are eight members, including the Pres-
dent, and presume he is allowed to have his turn,
80 that the "war policy" stands chance of ruling
during only one week in each eight weeks; and Sc
ven days are not quite enough to carry this country
into war.
Besides, am told the Cabinet is afraid Of the dis
cussion OF its measures in Congress and before the
country. Now, all the world knows that General
Pezuela has authority TO issue the decree enamel.
pating the slaves in Cuba the declaration by our
government Of war against Spain, and that he has
openly said he would do 1t. Mr.. Clayton in the
Senate has also said that Caderon de la Barca late
Spanish Minister at Washington, and now Minister
Of Foreign Affairs at Madrid has personally given
him the same assurance. Thus, war with Spain
would bring on the decree, the decree would bring