The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-23

preparations now being made to relieve the
Island Of Cuba from the oppression of Spain.
1t appears that the allied republics of Chile,
Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, not content with
defeating the Spanish feet, have determined
on offensive movements against Spain, and
have been for some time past endeavoring to
extend their alliance to the neighboring States
Of Venezuela and Colombia, in order TO gain,
on the north and east coasts Of the continent, a
base for active operations in Cuba. Fearful Of
the threatening proximity Of the formidable
Spanish feet, Colombia and Venezuela have
wisely hesitated heretofore to enter upon
treaty offensive and defensive with the allies;
but with this feet now destroyed and Spanish
power in the Pacific broken, their reluctance
to join such powerful and perhaps dangerous
neighbors will doubtless be overcome. If this
alliance be extended to these States it will be
the downfall Of Spanish power on this CONT
nent; and we may soon expect to hear that the
allied fleets are blockading Cuban ports, or
landing troops upon the Cuban coast. An
allied army would meet, it seems, with hearty
welcome, for the native Cubans and blacks,
who have, ever since the successful revolution of
Bolivar been disposed to revolutionary ten
denotes. are now well prepared to vigorously
aid in the work of throwing off the Spanish
yoke. The fires Of revolt are still smouldering
in that island, and at any moment may break
forth in their fury. With the aid of the allied
republics there can be little doubt of the ulti-
mate success of the Cubans in gaining their in
dependence. This proffered aid from these
States to the native Cubans is what the latter
had good reason, from our declarations and
professions, to expect from the United States.
In other words, the South Pacific States are
simply enforcing our favorite Monroe doctrine.
In the meantime how does this country stand
towards those States in the hour of their trou-
bles? The sympathies of the people of the
United States are wholly with the republics
and the liberals of Cuba as with those Of Mexi-
co. The forms of government of those States
now established are based on our own, and
their domestic institutions are in every respect
similar to ours. We look upon those govern
people as republicans like ourselves. Our
sympathies are entirely with them in this strug-
gle, and he much mistakes the spirit Of this
people who supposes otherwise. Yet it APP
pears that Mr.. Seward, our Secretary of
State, is such sadly mistaken ind-
vidual; and worse than this, that nc
has ignorantly or designedly (and either
ignorance or design in such case is criminal)
placed the country in the false light Of having
repudiatcd tho Monroe doctrine "a applicable
to the South American and West India repub-
lies. II cannot be that this has been done at
the instigation of Mr.. Johnson, who ID known
TO be strong and consistent advocate of the
Monroe doctrine. AT any rate, even if by au-
thority of Mr.. johnson, it has not been done
by the higher authority Of the people, and Mr..
Seward may rest assured that he must renounce
his present diplomacy, or the people will repu-
date him. His offences in this particular
already appear too heavy for forgiveness He
refused positively to recognize the government
of Prado the President of Peru, who, no mat
ter under what circumstances of revolution he
came INTO power, deserves consideration and
respect, inasmuch as he has shown himself
bold, sagacous, upright, humane and enter
prising. Mr.. Seward is even now, in direct an.
tagonism to the feelings and desires of the
American people, forcing the embarrassed re-
public of Ecuador, engaged at this time in
war for existence, to pay the first
nstalment OF the amount Of the award
of 1862, when ne should have assured
that country that the American people could
To-l 10 e.
responsible, as we have before declared, for
the Spanish outrage at Valparaiso, Chile II
the bombardment Of that city was an act indie
fensible by Nuhez and his government,
how much less il the failure TO prevent il indie
feasible by Mr. Seward and this government?
International law is explicit in declaring that
a bombardment is lawful only when the city
to be attacked is fortified or otherwise de-
Tended, or has been guilty of criminal act
and refuses to make atonement. Nufiez bonn
barded Valparaiso, violated law and leopard
lied the lives Of women and children; but
Mr.. Seward, with minister and feet on the
ground, with every incentive to interfere, by
bis orders to them to stand aloof outraged
humanity and jeopsrdzed the honor and dig
nifty Of the country, and is equally guilty with
the actual perpetrator Nuiiex came out OF
the disgraceful affair with some respect but
Mr.. Seward has gained none.
But these are by no means the most dis
graceful acts Of Mr.. Seward in repudiating the
Monroe doctrine. That doctrine was deliber-
ately enunciated by the American Congress
Immediately after, and was really inspired by,
the successful revolutions of Simon Bolivar
in 1921, and intended t, apply to these
same States now forming the alliance
undor identically The same circumstances
as those now surrounding them. Then
they had just gained their independ-
ence; now they have just repulsed their
old aggressive enemy and arc preparing to ex-
tend aid to their oppressed brethren in Cuba.
Then Mr.. Monroe asserted and Congress re-
solved that s'thc American continents, by the