Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-06-28
From The Journal Of Commerce.
The Osteud Conferences.

We need not reply to the imputation of in
consistency charged upon us by the Express,
because we chose to give Mr.. Buchanan the
benefit of the actual record of his participation
in the Congress of American Ministers convened
to discuss the relations Of the United States
with Spain, rather than unite in the cry OF con-
demnation which ignorantly identifies that
Conference in motive and action with the iii-
clustering organization and movements that
have, for the last six or eight years, aimed to
make the Island of Cuba the prey OF individual
ambition and rapaciy. We are quite content
to be judged by the language we employ; and
our sentiments on the policy ofthe government
connected with the foreign relations of the
Republic, and on the specific acts of the national
Administration affecting that policy, are too
familiar to the public to admit of their being
either misnterpreted to our injury, or perverted
to the disparagement of our influence by the
success of an attempt to attribute them to the
dictates of political craftsmanship, instead of an
honest conviction of what the interests of the
country point out and the obligations Of justice
and truth demand. If the doctrines, characters
and qualifications of statesmen employed in
public life, were as little likely to be disparaged
by unfair comment undeserved censure, and
often INSCRIPTIONS calumny as those ofjournal-
lists whose every thought and action are kept
constantly before the public eye, we might leave
the worthy among them also, to the shield of
honest and patriotic purposes, and of faithful
and wise performances Of duties. But while in
the rapid march of events their acts are some
times forgotten or misunderstood political
rivalry and personal ambition are always busy
in diminishing the merits of their achieve
ments, in detracting from their wellearned
praise, and in disputing their claims to the
a,,1 oe 81 IA al,
rare good fortune of Mr.. Buchanan, to have
sustained long career of public life with such
singular discretion, integrity and ability, that
now, when he is presented by the great party
of the country as their candidate for the high
est dignity in the Republic, nothing is serious
ly urged by political hostility in extenuation
of his merit, save the alleged countenance to
filibuster enterprise and cupidity, inferred by
his enemies from strained Interpretation of
the recommendations and views of the Ostend
Conference. The letter on which the cavilers
rely to ground the baseless charge, as we have
recently shown by publishing what they stig-
Matte as its most Objectionable portion, by no
means justfies the impu;ation. 1t only pur-.
ports that, under circumstances threatening
actual danger to the Republic, and in order to
preserve its existence, the United States would
be Justified by the great law of selpreserva-
tion," in acquiring the Island Of Cuba without
the consent of Spain. In its careful precu-
sion of ilibustering intent and assumption, it
Pws the performance of a conservative in
H6ence in the Congress- which the country may
safely attribute to the weight of Mr.. Buchanan's
counses and character. 1t is obviously mani
fest from the tenor Of the document that the
construction so sedulously contended for by
the opponents of Democratic rule, is that which
was most earnestly deprecated by the prevail.
ing sentiment of its trainers. Events were then
IN progress, and perilous catastrophe seemed
TO impehd, that asked of American statesman
ship the exercise of oil decision, prudence and
energy at It's command, to regulate and guide
the one, in such way as if possible to stay or
avert the other. The local administration in
Cuba had become alarmed for its safety, and in
huenced by apprehension and terror of Ameri-
can filibusters, had already adopted measures of
undiscriminatng aggression upon the United
States government, by disbonoring its flag and
violating the rights of its citizens, which if per-
sisted in, would inevitably have led to war.
Nor was this the only danger; for it was in
dustriously affirmed in the interests Of Spanish
rule, that the Island was to be "Africanized,"
and delivered over to can internal CONFUSION
which should renew the horrors aud the fate OF
st. Domingo"-an event to which, as Mr..
ish and French Ministers declining the pro-
posed alliance to guaranty Cuba to Spain, both
France and England would prefer and change
in the condition Of that Isand-not excepting
even its acquisition by the United States.
Under the circumstances nothing less than so
decided a manifestation Of determined energy
and purpose as was made through the instru-
mentality of the Ostend Conference would
probably have ayailed to prevent that very
struggle for the conquest of Cuba, which it is
now alleged to have been its purpose to pre-
cipitate. And, thus, as often hapens in the
conduct of affairs, the decision and firmness
which seemed aggressive and menacing facii-
tated pacific and satisfactory solution of diff
culties that threatened war.
Quoting our adoption of the argument ofthe
Ostend Manifesto, to wit-that if the acquisi-
ton of the Island should become the very con-
dition of our existence, then if Spain should
refuse to part with it for price "far beyond its
present value" we shall be justified 'in wrest-
ing it, from her, upon the very same principle
that would Justify an individual in tearing
down the house of his neighbor, il there was no
other means Of preventing the flames from
destroying his own home"-the Express in
quires-"Who is to judge of this condition?"
Who, indeedI Why, who always judges of the
occasion and necessity OF the act which is the
impulse of selfpreservation? Who but the
party whose existence is imperiled? The very
instinct of nature prompts and justifes the
action which can be delayed only at the hazard
Of destruction.
LADY ELLENBoRoUGH, wife Of the English
lord of that name, who was formerly Governor
General Of India, has been separated from her
husband for the past twenty years, and is lead
ing wild life among the Arabs She has mar.
ried an Arab Shiekh, who, it seems, protected
her from robbers during a visit she paid TO
Palmyra. Full of romantic gratitude for this
service she determined to marry him, but the
Shiekh ran away on learning it. She employ.
ed Arabs to bring him back, and, being worth
1880 year, she at last succeeded in getting
him to marry her in the desert in the Oriental
fashion. They live in elegant style near Da-
mascus. After her separation from Lord Ell
lenborough she married Greek Count, whom
she left. SO that she has now three husbands,