The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-25
The Presidents Message In tho Spanish Col
tes-Mml shal OsDonneu on Maintaining SD,

tes-MnI shall O'Donnefi ON Maintaining Spa-
n,sh Honor.
Marshal O'DOunell, the present Prime Minister
Of Spain, made recently a speech in the Spanish
Cortes upon the subject Of the Message of Pre-
sident Buchanan, and in particular upon the
question Of the sale of Cuba.
We are not at all surprised that the Presidents
Message Las caused sensation in Spain, just as
Il has in Cuba, in England, in France, in Rus
sia, and above all in the United States. But this
very fact proves that the Message had something
in it that went home to the bosoms Of men, and
stirred their very hearts. If it had been a COM
monpace document it would have created no
sensation whatever. And in the fact that
the policy Swallowed forth in it awakens
both violent opposition and warm support lies
the best oof that great statesman has touched
living question. Let us see, now, how Marshal
O'nonuelI carries the Spanish side of the CUES
ton. He tells us that his government is "dspos-
ed To dem, nd due satisfaction for such an insut;r
that he thought the relations of his government
with the United States were cordial, though
he had had but few conferences with the Ameri-
to be circumspect, moderate, reserved, but al
ways dignifed and frm;" that the period of war
and disunion had ceased in Spain, and she sis now
positively in ON era of developement and verita-
Die ressc, a,ion," and that he will always endea-
vor 20 IL. intain Spanish honor ''intact pure and
immaculate"
These are strong words when taken, rendered
as they are, literally, in our vernacular. But in
order to understand them properly they should
be read in the original, and they should not con-
vey to The mind of the reader a stronger impress
sion than any similar high flown language from
Spanish lips would convey to Spanish ears. Thus
when Spaniard tells you his house is sat
your disposal" you must understand him in the
Iberian and not the Saxon sense. When he sud
denly stops in the midst Of some explanation, and
exclaims II lie,' you must not suppose that he
means you to believe that he is lying in the sense
that we would understand that strong phrase;
and when he closes commonplace business
epistle to you with the assurance that he "kisses
| your hand" you must remember that he only
means to convey to you the same idea that is
expressed in our characteristic yours, &C., John
Bull The truth is that Spanish affairs and the
among US, because, with our Teutonic matter of
fact directness, we do not make sufficient allow
ance for the Oriental love of hyperbole that
forms so large an element Of the Spanish mind
With this premise let us see what Marshal
O'Donnell really says.
No ~ fha ,b
believes that Spain is really going to call the
United States to the bloody field because Mr.
Buchanan, before entering upon the discussion
of the Cuba question as an international ques-
ton, prefers to have it decided at home in its
domestic aspect; and not even Don Quixote
ourselves mortal affront to Spain. Few,
again, will suppose that Marshal ODonnell, in
speaking Of the relations between the two 90
vernments, meant that they were marked with
the greatest cordially" in the English sense,
particularly when he adds that in the little
intercourse he had with Mr.. Dodge he had
''always been circumspect moderate, reserved
dignifed and firm These qualities do not
compose what we understand by ''the greatest
cordiality." His determination "to maintain
Spanish honor intact pure and immaculate
we leave to be interpreted by Spanish history
for the last three hundred years. And this
brings us to the real point in Marshal O'Don-
nell's speech to the Spanish Cortcs.
He tells us 1.-The period Of discouragement
caused by war and disunion has ceased in Spain
Our country is now positively in an era of deve-
! lopement and veritabe restoration" There is
truth and philosophy in this remark-more, per
haps, than even Marshal O'Donnell himself sus.
poets. To understand it fully one should be
able to go into an historical gallery of portraits
ofSpanish rulers, such as are hung in the halls Of
half the Ayuntamientos Of Spain and Spanish
America. There he would see the eras of
SPANS history truthfully depicted. Spain her
self dates back to the union Of the crowns of Cas-
tile and Arragon in Ferdinand and Isabella. The
gallery of historical portraits will show during
their reign and that Of Charles l. the era Of the
soldier; under Felipe II. the toga and the cowl
suddenly displace the coat Of mail; with the
Bourbons these give way to the courtier, spark
ling with ribbons and stars and with Ferdi-
dinand VII comes again the soldier; since
when Spain has been ruled by axioms learned
in the camp and not in the Cabinet Spain
is now just beginning new "era of de-
velopement." An army Of engineers
has invaded the Peninsula, with picks and
shoyels, iron rails, steam engines, and all the
paraphernalia of material development. The
time of "veritable restoration" has begun, though
the soldier rule OF Spain fought desperately to
prevent it.
The material interests of the Spanish people
must now rule the counsels Of their government:
and these do not lie in the forced retention of
Cuba in colonial slavery. First among the
emotions that lie in the heart of the Spanish peo.
pie is hatred Of the CONSUMPTION, that tribute of
blood" as they style IT," which has carried 80
many Of their young men to die in the colonies.
This will be saved TO them by a severance of the