The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-22


General Howard the Commissioner Of the Freedmen's
Bureau has issued circular forbdding Investments in
the planting interest with citizens by officers agents
| OF the Bureau
The Battle at Callao-spani sh Barbnrity
and seward's Diplomatic DuplicIty.
Spanish barbarity on thc South Pacific
coast is only equalled by Spanish ignorance
and imbecility. The bombar lment of VAL
paraiso was inhuman and treacherous; the
attack on the formidable batteries at Callao
was SIMPLY suicidal. The unenviable success
OF the Spaniards at Valparaiso excited only the
contempt of civilized nations their unquali-
fed and total defeat at Callao will be hailed
by the Same nations as well merited punish
ment for their inhumanity.
The full details which we publish from our
several correspondents are of absorbing inter-
est. The Spanish Admiral, Nunez raised the
blockade of Valparaiso ON April ia, and
steamed for Callao with the intention of BON.
harding that city. But as will be seen by the
ACCOUNT which We publish, no bombardment
took place. The Spanish Admiral soon found
that he had "come to be eaten instead of to
Peruvians proved too much for the Spanish
fcet In q fight of FIVE hours duration,
maintained with great vigor, the several
vessels Of the Spaniards were disabled,
the Villa de Madrid and Bersnguela being
pierced through and through, the heavy
iron plating Of the boosted Numancia being
perforated, and the Spanish Admiral badly
JnJ O,o IL
and another accidentally blown up. There is
yet another act of this drama to be played. The
Spanish feet, disabled and short of ammuni-
ton, powerless for offensive operations, must
now either seek the safety Of a neutral port or
meet In open combat the formidable Peruvian
iron-clads Huescar and Independence, which
are doubtless already In the Pacific Ocean. The
result of such an encounter will be, without
doubt, the humiliation OF the disabled Span
iards. ~
But whether the Peruvian and Spanish yes
sells meet or not, the war against the allied
republics is at an end. The Spaniards have
been ignobly defeated and are powerless for
sympathy in this country. Spain no longer
commands the respect of civilized people.
Once she was an enterprising and chivalric
nation, but within the last century has grown
more and more debased, until she has come
to be ranked only with barbarous and pira.ical
nations. She no longer commands the respect
even of her own agents and officers, and Ad-
miral Nuhez, while blindly obcying his infa-
nous orders to lombard Valparaiso and Callao,
expressed his adherence of the mode in which
the war was being carried on.
But If we condemn the barDarity of Spain,
what shall be said Of the not less disgraceiul
attitude In which this country has been placed
upon this question by our Secretary Of Statcs
This country was and il the real srbiter in the
Spanish Chilean difficulties, as she is in all dis
putes between foreign aggressive Powers as
against the republics OF this continent. The
United States is naturally the guardian of her
smaller republican neighbors The Monroe
doctrine is but tho iteration Of this idea; and
until lately that principle was with our people
Seward has brought Il into contempt by his
double dealing and dupliOity, and partics-
larry by his failure to enforce II by interview
ton in the affairs Of the allied republics. He
promised enough, but performed nothing,
when word from him 70 the Spanish Minister,
spoken with official earnestness, would have long
since settled the whole affair. But, instead Of
speaking that word when II would effect some
thing, he went to San Domingo and 81.
Thomas, TO talk with Baez and Santa Anna about
the duty Of this country as protector of the
infant republics Of the continent in the same
sense that great fortress protects its outward
buttrcsses; and then, returning, has, by his
inaction left this people in the disgraceful atti-
tude Of garrison of main fortress abandon
ing the smaller garrisons Of Its approaches TO
fall into the hands Of mutual enemy Mr..
Seward has acted with great duplicity and very
unlike statesman in this matter AT the very
moment that Spain was preparing TO bombard
descnceless city he went 10 Havana and pub
licly asked the blessings Of Heaven on the de-
generate Spanish nation and the perpetuation
OF ib dominions on this continent He has ever
since been called "the greatest statesman Of the
ager by the Spanish whose praise is worse than
half scandal II is positively damning to an
ofBclal Of republican principles. lie makes
this country falsely appear as the ally Of Spain,
and the South American republics, some Of
which he refused 70 recognize, and all Of which
he criminally and against the principles Of this
people and government refused to aid. rcallv