The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-26


another couun. Coffee firm, with moderate sales.
The stock of Rio embraced only 1862 bags, while the
stock of Java included So 075 mats and $3.50
bags Total packages Of all kinds, 1907. Freight
gagements were moderate and rates steady.
Sew ard ard the slidcn Proposition-Where
the Black Republicans Stand on the Cuba
Question.
The introduction of the Slidell bill into Con-
gress, looking to practical action towards the
acquisition Of Cuba, has stirred up host OF
doubts and discords among all parties, but more
particularly among the black republicans, whom
it has thrown into utter confusion.
This is clearly shown in the speech made by Mr..
Seward, endeavoring to define his position on
the question of the acquisition of that island.
He is too shrewd politician and too close an OBJ
of the set of the popular mind to 60 against
the measure. So he admits that political ne
cessites will cause Cuba to gravitate to this con-
tinent" hut thinks that she is not so near gravi
tating in that direction now as she was ten years
ago; aud he therefore objects to Mr.. Slidell's
plan of greasing the ways Of her gravitation.
He thought too that Cuba had never had an
opportunity to gravitate, does not believe that
we should give her one now and ridicules the
proposition to buy the island as "unwise and
ridiculous" In this curious speech Mr.. Seward
evidently wishes to kill two birds with one
stone-to be on both sides of the Cuba fence so
as to run either way for 1860.
1t is evident to us, however, that the black
republicans are endeavoring to get their forces
into line, under the pretence of opposing the
measure of Mr.. Sldell simply on the ground that
the measure is not opportune at the present
time. Fearing to oppose openly so bold an issue
as is the question of the acquisition of Cuba they
would defeat it by feigning willingness to accept
the measure itself, and constantly putting it off
till some more convenient season. In order to
carry their point they will resort to the usual
parliamentary tactics. Cunning amendments of
all kinds will be proposed in order to defeat the
object in view or to swamp the bill. Objections
will be raised on all the minor points, Its Ian
guage will be cavilled at side issues ofpolicy will
be raised; but the ultimate result will be that the
black republican leaders will carry all the forces
they can into the war against the acquisition of
Cuba.
This is the true question presented by the pro-
position of Mr.. Sldel and it is the only real and
national popular issue we have had since
the bank question was discussed with
so much power and bitterness 1t is not whether
the time is favorable to buy Cuba or not, or
whether Spain will accept proposition if one is
made The points to be discussed are those
which will be affected in our domestic policy by
the acquisition of Cuba. These involve social,
political and industrial questions Of the highest
order. They will be discussed in thousand
phases before the peoples and if Congress fails to
put on record the sanction of the national will
to its peaceable acquisition, no power on earth
can prevent its being taken up by the people and
forming the great issue of battle in 1860 IT. on
the other hand the sanction of the representative
voice is given to the policy of purchase, and Mr.
Slidell's bill for giving the President authority
and money for that object be passed, the laboring
oar will be placed in the hands of the President
and the question cannot come before the people
until he reports to Congress his final success or
failure.
One thing is very evident to every rejecting
mind If the Slidell proposition is rejected by
Congress- it would be worse than futile for the
President to take any step in the diplomatic
field for obtaining the peaceable acquisition of
Cuba Wherever he should attempt to open
correspondence on the subject he wonld
be met on the threshold by the opposing
fact that Congress had refused to sanction bis
views. But if Congress accepts the present pro-
position, and gives a national sanction to the
project of acquiring Cuba, that idea will then
become a substantial part of our policy, and pre-
sent the Cuba question to the cabinets of Europe
in very different position from what it now &C.
cupies. Hitherto it has been the cry of filibus-
tiers and windy politicians. Individual minds
have advocated the acquisition of Cuba, but the
national voice has never spoken in the matter.
When it does speak it will command respect; and
that it will eventually speak, and speak in favor
of the measure no man can doubt. Every great
statesman that we have had in the past forty
years has looked forward to it as q thing that
must occur, and which, when it does occur, will
be conducive to the benefit of the highest int.
rests in the country. Seward and his followers
will oppose it either openly or treacherously, for
it involves the most conclusive and utter defeat
to his brutal and bloody manifesto at Rochester
He understands this well, and will, therefore do
all he can to stave off the question in its present
discussion in Congress.
WANTED, TRANsrAToR-A day or two ago
an advertisement for translator appeared in
the HERALD. No less than thirty answers were
received almost Immediately after the pubica-