The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-12
TIE New Minister 90 Spain, and What the
Mission Amounts IN.


Mission Amounts to.
The mission to Spain has been accented by Mr.
Preston, who will be sent out to relieve Nj
Dodge, but will probably not take his departure
from Washington until some time during the
coming winter, when it will be seen whether he
j. 70 be simply parade minister or something
more.
The appointment had been successfully offered
to Mr.. Mallory, Senator for Florida, and Mr.
Benjamin, Senator for Louisiana. Both of these
gentlemen possess the qualifications necessary to
make IN excellent minister If there were any
work to be performed but they both looked into
the matter and came separately to the same con-
olusion, that in the present position Of affairs
nothing could be done, and that they had not
the capacity to do nothing at ALL in way which
should be honorable TO themselves and useful TO
the country. SO they declined it. Mr.. Preston
has accepted it, with the chance Of being pa
rade minister. We do not know how far
his qualifications, in the possession of the
Spanish or French languages. will assist him
in those arduous duties; but in other respects
he is a gentleman, with fiae personal appear
ance-no small advantageby the-bye, at the Span
ISL courts fluent eloquence when speaking in
the vernacular from the stump. and pleasing
address. ....-...
| Our principal subjects for diplomatic treat
| ment with Spain are, the question Of the cession
| Of Cuba TO us, and the settlement Of numerous
! claims of our citizens against the Spanish gov
| eminent. The latter may be said to be a conse-
quent of the former, for there is not the slightest
| appearance Of a chance Of their ever being
l;quidated except out Of any purchase money
| We may agree to pay for Cuba. This then, is the
1 question on Which the work Of our minister to
| Spain must turn. We have demonstrated re-
Gently, on several occasions, that no progress
| whatever can he made towards the acquisition OF
| Cuba until Congress has taken some action upon
it, and announced il officially as part of the
policy OF the country. We must come out openly
and above board with the announcement that we
look to the acquisition Of that island as a measure
necessary to the commercial development and
military defence Of the Union, and authorize the
Pr sident TO negotiate for it. Then our position in
the question will have a weight, ard command an
influence in Spain and throughout Europe tc
| which il has never before been entitled. Hitler
to ii has been looked upon only as popular
thing-one which it would be well to achieve
and whose achievement would confer honor upon
any administration. The moral possibility OF oul
acquiring Cuba has become an admitted idea in
Europe; but it has never been looked at practi
cally. II is time now that it should assume Q
practical and tangible form.
In order that it should be brought into this
shape, il is requisite that it should be presented
by the President to the attention of Congress,
and that that body shall act upon it. There will
then be something for minister to do in Spain.
and he would so out from here with something
at his back to support him. If no action is taken
| by Congress, Mr.. Preston might AZ well be APP
pointed Minister to the moon as Minister to
Madrid, so far a. practical results 60 When it
is brought into a practical form the President
! should not only have authority to appoint COM
missioners, but an appropriation should also be
made TO meet the first payments that will have
to be made The whole future Of the question is
now too indefinite to be worked at with any hope
| of success.