The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-16


Whenever an ambitious political aspirant is
DESTROYS of obtaining any particular office or
public position, his friends always bring for
ward the assertion that he has the ability to do
some great achievement in connection with the
desired appointment which no one else can per-
form and which, if be il not appointed, will be
eternally lost to the country.
The annexation Of Cuba having been long
popular measure with the masses and the polti-
clans, there has not been an applicant for any
mission or consulate abroad that did not pos
-ess, in his own estimation, some particular
qualification or ability TO further that measure
at the post he desired to obtain whether it
were q mission TO Timbuctoo or consulate in
Kamschatka. As for the mission to Spain, the
number of applicants that claimed to be the
man and the only man who could carry that
measure with the Court Of Madrid has been past
computation and all OF them possessed some
peculiar ability that no one else had To say
nothing Of those who went before him, there
was Mr.. Soule. who spoke three or four Ian
guagcs, was a smooth and polished dplomatist
knew all about Queens and Court
anu NHOrG hi'uNs WIN LUU-
fidcnt that IL he did not succeed
no man could. Every one knows how
lie came back with dropping feathers most
utter failure. After him came Mr. Dodge, who
in the wisdom of poor Pierce and Marcy was
supposed to be lust the dodge" How he has
been snubbed by the polite Dons IL matter of
public notoriety We are no nearer the pur-
FL. a. Al.
ago.
After all the mischances that have befallen
us in this matter, il would naturally DC sup
posed that we should set ourselves to study
Spanish character and history, and see II there
was not something in them that prevents our
succeeding in the negotiation for Cuba But
that Is not The case. Everybody still retains
unbounded confidence in his plan to effect the
purchase. provided always that he he appoint
I'd to some snug mission for which he IL peculi-
arly fitted The latest phase which this mania
has taken is exhibited in the friends Of Mr.. Bel
mont urging him for the mission to Spain,
while Mr.. D. himself opines that il would to
useless to shelve him in Madrid. but that If be
were sen' as Minister TO Paris. there. in connec-
ton with "our house." the Barons Rothschild.
he could buy and sell Cuba and half the crowned
heads in Europe. Now, although we have good
deal Of confidence in Mr. Belmont's ability az a
financer, and II Il demonstrated In his successful
speculations abroad ~ detailed in our
Washington correspondents letter to-day. We
believe that be il just the man to fail in an at
tempt TO purchase Cuba whether he be made
Minister to Madrid or Paris His nationality
and his peculiar connection with the leading
Jewish house In the world would make him
peculiarly distasteful 10 the sensitive and
most Catholic" Spaniard, who would reject
with scorn the idea that Jewish banker could
perform what the ablest dplomatists Of the age
have failed In
But there i no necessity for discussing Mr.
Belmonts Disqualification for the mission to
Paris or Madrid. The question Of the acquisition
Of Cuba must be viewed from higher grounds
than that Of personal merit or demerit Who
ever will glance fof moment over the pages