The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-31
The + uroPean Cutlery against the President,
Me ssags-Csn Cuba be Purchased!

The excitement that has been caused in Cuba
hy the bold and energetic language of the Presi
dents Message is but an indication of the outcry
We shall have from Europe in few days, from
the same cause.
From Madrid, Paris and London we may look
for general outburst against the American poll
cy that has been SO ably laid down by Mr.. Blu
chanan. But this is nothing more than what we
expected. The conservators Of European theo-
ries AM the sycophants Of European despotisms
are fierce haters ofeyery thing that smacks of Ame
rican progress; and they howl and hiss whenever
the United States takes a new step in advance,
or annunciates principle to be sustained before
the world. The noise of their outcry and the
fierceness Of their anger are always in exact pro-
portion to the true value Of the act or principle
sustained; and therefore we may know from the
measure Of their attacks the worth of the prin-
ciple they oppose. Some of our own old fogy
journals who habitually side with those of Eu-
rope whenever question Of American policy is
concerned, have recently awakened to the fact
that the policy proposed to be established by the
administration of Mr.. Buchanan may not quite
suit the Derbys, Walewskis and ODonnells of
Europe and they have begun to give play to
their natural instincts, aud howl against it,
But in proportion rs the cutlery comes from
the European interests against the policy Of the
Presidents Message, so will the support of it
from our own people increase in strength and
numbers. Before another year has rolled round
we may have an elucidation Of Robert J. Walk
er's idea Of what popular man is. On one oc-
casion, when Mr.. Polk was President. the Secre-
taries were discussing at Cabinet dinner their
respective prospects for the Presidency. In the
course Of the conversation Mr.. Walker addressed
Mr.. Buchanan pretty nearly in these terms =
"YOu are a prominent man, have q statesman's
reputation, fine intellect, broad knowledge
Of men and things in this country and Europe,
and are strong on all sides but you want one
great thing to be a popular man. What is
that" said Mr.. Buchanan. Why" said
Walker, '.you have not got the devil in you,
and no man can be popular unless he has the
devil in him." well" replied Mr.. Buchanan.
mo one knows where the devil is until he has
shown himself" In the workings of the policy
there is more Of the devil than any one an
ticipates.
Instead of reasoning on probabilities, We will
take one fact that has already developed itself
In speaking Of Spain, Mr.. Buchanan complains
that our intercourse with Cuba is subjected to
continual trouble, because Of the want of power
in the Captain General of Cuba to treat inter
national questions. The Captain General re-
plies. in the semioffcial press Of Havana, that
he is q subordinate to the crown, and asks If the
Governor OF California has any power to treat
similar questions. So far goes the theory. But
Let us look now at the practice. Certain diff
culties occur between the Spanish Consul and
merchants at Tampico and Governor Cara. The
Captain General Of Cuba sends Captain Topete
down there with two or three war vessels, and
orders him TO protect the Spanish merchants.
The difficulties are arranged between Cara and
Topete, subject to the approval of the Captain
General Of Cuba. No mention is made Of Madrid.
or the Queen, or the Court The Captain Gene
raj does not approve off and assuming to him
self the powers Of arbtcr and protector of all
Spanish interests in America, orders Topete TO
obtain the money or blow down the city. Here
We have theory and practice.
The olicy which Mr.. Buchanan would adopt
and which IL depends upon Congress to sanction,
would do away with oil this. The Captain General
Of Cuba should have the same authority TO give
satisfaction that be has to demand IL. and our go
vernmcni would do well to adopt the Topete
diplomacy in bringing the Cuban authorities to
account. When Gov CARA referred to his SUI
pcrior authority, the Spanish commander, acting
under orders. ignored all Presidents and national
Powers. Why should not We ignore kings
and queens In settling with Cubag The excite
ment caused in Cuba by the recommendation Of
The President to Congress to authorize its pur-
chase, and the appropriation Of sum for prelimi-
nary payments, shows that the measure recon-
mended by the President Il living measure,
and goes home TO the subject. II viii also cause
great commotion in Europe; and IL Congress
follows ont the suggestion ard grants the au-
tLority and money as cd for, II will make a still
greater impression there. We are told that we
cannot buy Cuba. Then there II no harm done In
giving the authority 10 purchase, and the money
will not be spent And If il docs not buy Cuba,
the very fact Of Congress approving the policy
will gain US something. Spain will see that we
are in earnest, and may ccme up TO the scratch,
and settle oil other points at issue between US.
But we are not 80 sure that Cuba cannot be
purchased notwithstanding the loud assertions
to that effect Mr.. Buchanan has asked for the
means to make preliminary payments, and he
would not have done this bad be not had good
reason to suppose that something can be done
with the Court Of Spain. Congress should, there
fore, by all means, give him the opportunity to
avail himself of the favorable conjunctures be
may see for carrying out this high step in our
national advance; and the louder the European
outcry against IL, the more is the reason why the
President should be armed with the money. IL