Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-19
Ss- For miscellaneous reading see frs
and fourth pages.
OUR DIFFICULTIES WITH SPAIN.

ell 10 our readers some OF our views upon this
all absorbing question. We endeavored briefly
TO show then that Cuba was from an anomal-
Gus combination of circumstances, the chief
cause of all the difficulties which surround our
relations with foreign powers. We endeavored
also to show the difference between what is
popularity known as flliJusterism and true
ana proper regard TO orr national rights and
national honor. We further purpose to show,
IN the same article that the temporizing policy
OF the present Administration upon this cues
ton was highly reprehensble, and seriously in.
Jurous to any prospect Of a just and proper set
Element OF it with Spain, and predicted that the
continuance Of such course ,oould ENCOURAGE
the Spanish authorities in Cuba to repeat those
outrages upon our national and CONNER
cial marine, and the personal violence and bar
oarity to our own citizens sojouning within
the limits OF Tue Island Although week has
just elapsed since this prediction, it has already
been sadly verified. The great difficulty with
Inc Cuban question lies in the frivolous and
hckle manner in which it has been treated. Ii
IS one OF prominent national solemnity, and
should not be made light party plaything-
stu less Cabinet bone Of contention FOR presi-
Dental rivalry! To blow hot and cold about
IT. just as the transient exigencies of popularity
may SEEN to require, unsettles public iudg
ment and drives its grave merits out of sight.
1t is simply, in plain English, sinful thus to
tribe with SO momentous u question: ques
ton vastly more momentous, in its indissouble
connection with, and direct bearing upon, the
safety, peace, and duration, OF the Union, than
a score OF such administrations as the present
one can possibly be.
The matter has two fronts; one looking upon
all our highest domestic interests, our consti
tuition, condition of labor, and commerce; the
other looking broadly upon what is due to
| good faith with the rest of the world, to the
opinion of Christendom, and hence to our
| honorable fame. Now, we believe that what
'cds required, was simply that our Government,
should have pursued steady, calm, selfcon-
WINGED course, by which the latter of these
fronts should be brought in perfect harmony
with the former. Hence we believe the plan
so suddenly started last summer and SO sud
denly and unaccountably abandoned, as Mr.
Marcy tells rs in the Ostend correspondence
was the true plan. Nothing of that nature
could be made more impressive, nothing could
convey our national convictions more frankly
and emphatically -nothing could be equally
sure of commanding the attention and respect
Of Europe. Suppose it failed-what Of that?
IL d'rested our Vish 70 purchase Cuba Of ere,
ne appearance Of intrigue, ararice, or ambi
ton. 1t warned the nations Of the earth tina
uncomfortable circumstances rendered our pos
session OF 1t, as thing to be controlled erclu
surely by ourselves, absolutely necessary.
And above everything else, this course o
action opened the opportunity ard means .
formally and finally purging our Government
Of the imputation of fillibusterism. We hay,
seen, however, the uncertainty Of human hope
IN the abandonment not only Of this plan, bu
the more shameless abandonment Of our diplo
matte representatives abroad But we TAX,
the ground, and we believe we can successfull
maintain il; first, that We have wrongs anC
outrages in the interruption to our commerce.
by Spanish crusers-atrocities committed b,
Concha, who ike true Castilian subordinate
has been insolent and cruel to the lives anc
Liberties Of our citizens, which would Justify u,
in a resort to the most hostile measures Of 70
dress. And second, if we we're disposed Il
overlook those mild offences, those ftfuI follie
Of Cuban police, amounting to nothing grave
than the cutting of the heads OF our own peo
pie, and sending 32-pounder at every yesse
OF our own that passes-there are still ingre
dients in this great question Of selfprotectiy
and preventive character that strengthen on
demand for hostile measures. This Island has
position capable of immense hostile porer 4
us-her population serving as a pretext 70
English philanthropy and French insoence 4
our own institutions. She must ever be th
source of continued annoyauces to us unde
her present condition. The nuisance must b.
absted. We do not boast, nor are we am
bilious Of that stilted and self complacent con
seryatism Of some Of our contemporaries which
seems to require them lothnk their own cosn,r,
never injured or their own country never rigtt
We believe it were as futile and as destructiy
to attempt to live longer in such contiguty /,
the Island Of Cuba, under its present relation
with Spain, as it would be silly in man {,
settle with his negroes in a nest Of Aboltionists
II we are to have nothing positipe from tn,
Administration, then we say, we consider tn,
exercise Of the "righ Of Uisit" merely eract
ing from our civihty an early and appropriate
RETURN, eren If Be done By our o,cn people
"Whereas war exists by the act Of Mcrico," wa,
a sentiment not more true than might have
been proclaimed in dozen instances by the
"dcts" Of Spanish insolence and atrocity
american blood has been shed" not on Ame
rican soil, but under the more dastardly circum
stances of selling innocent and helpless for
eigners on their opn soil, with no arms for
their own protection or law for their defense