The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-21

literary society Tor Sc2 mental Improve men OF the
Hebrew community, took place last evening at the
society rooms
Cuba-General Cess Lord Clarend0n's
"Hsppy Accord diplomacy OF Chevalier
| WiisoR and, Chevalier Webb.
| We publish this morning the speech of Gen.
| Cass in the Senat ~ Washington, yesterday,
| on LeHd Clareni0n declaration in the British
| Parliament las sammer, to the effect that the
existing alliance between England and France
extends not only to the balance Of power ia
Europe, but in. all other parts Of the world
By whgt the younger Weller would call "a
singular coincidence" this speech in the Senate
comes to US upon the heels of the startling news
from Hevana, that the Captain General has de.
| clared the island Of Cuba in state of siege,
and under blockade; and that brace Of British
vessels Of war were in port, rendering him such
laid and comfort" against rebels and filibus-
ters as the occasion appeared to demand. This
coincidence givespeculiar interest to the speech
OF the venerable Senator from Michigan, at this
time, and establishes palpably the correctness
of his definition of Lord CLarendon's mani.
testo.
1t were work Of sUpererogation, with the
remarks of the Senator before us, TO fortify by
| proofs the American solution of this diplomatic
| notice from the allies II IL tantarount to q
warning that after having regulated the metes
and bounds of Russia, they intend IA establish
| their balance Of power IN this Westef- iemi-
sphere; aud that, in the interval. they Will not
| permit any disturbance OF the existing order Of
things calculated to give dangerous prepon-
.derapce to the naval and commercial power Of
these United States.
We have seen this policy illustrated in the
recent interference Of the French add English
in the affairs of the Sandwich Islands, the Hay.
ten Republic of Dominica, Central America
and Cuba, assuming the form Of diplomacy,
| protest, or active armed Intervention, accord
ing to the exieencies Of the case. The ac-
cord' OF the French and English fleets with the
proceedings of Gen. Concha is practical il.
lustration Of the fact that this offensive aud de-
fensive alliance of England and France is sub
stantislly the same in the Gulf OF Mexico as in
the Black Sea or the Baltic. From the
appointment OF filibuster as our minis
ter TO Spain, and from the movements OF
Sonle and the Ostend conference Louis Nspo-
leon and the British government appear to
share in the plausible idea that the conspirat ors
for the overthrow Of the Spanish sovereignty in
Cuba are not confined to the Creoles Of the
island and the Cuban juntas Of New Orleans aud
New York, but that certain active influences O.!
cur Pierce administration connive at their pro-
ceedings, with the view of an ultimate appro-
priation Of the spois. This may have bsel the
case; but eince the late anti-slavery elections in
the North upon the Nebraska BILL the admins
tration has abandoned the policy of rupture
with Spain, and the danger has thus passed
away. This important omission in the review
Of Gen. Cas- we have thought proper to supply,
SO that any existing apprchensions OF the part
of the Western Powers concerning the presen.
Cuban policy Of Mr.. Pierce may be quieted.
We come now to the material feature of this
speech of Gen. Cass, to wit, the explanations
advanced by the Chevaler James Watson Webb,
of the Courier and Enquirer, touching this uni
versal policy of the French aud English alli-
ance. Gen. Cass very properly suggests that
the reputation of the meaning attached to
Clarendon's declaration in Parliament should
not have come through letters to our
State Department, nor through private
dinner table conversations with The Cheva
lier Webb; but that If the said declara-
ton had been misconstrued into an offensive
warning 10 the United States, il was the duty
of Lord Clarendon to explain himself ia the
House OF Lords, where the offensive declara-
ton itself was made. Having failed in this, we
can excuse the conclusion Of Gen. Cass, that
'there il no misunderstanding the nature" Of
the manifesto. IL proposes to arrest the extern
sion Of Russia on the one hand, and the expan-
sion Of the territorial, commercial and naval
power Of The United States on the other.
This solution may afford to the allies key
to that otherwise inexplicable composure of the
public sentiment of this country concerning
the issues OF their present struggle with Russia
We are a "chip Of the old block; we are at
taehed to France from our revolutionary obli-
cations; but when French and English alli-
sDce comprehends not only the reduction of
Russia, but, as the next step, the establishment
Of the territorial and commercial boundaries OF
this republic, our hereditary sympathies fall
back upon the Monroe doctrine, and, to some
extent even upon Russia, as our active ally In
the field.
J In this practical view Of the subject, It is,