The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-13

The declaration of Spain now is, that Chile
has "obstinately refused TO make amends for
wrongs done to the Spanish nation during the
Peruvian difficulty" This boldly and openly
falsiies the whole history Of the ease. Chile
did make amends for those so-called wrongs,
and made them 80 as to satisfy the Spanish
agent sent to consider the subject. The trouble,
therefore, that grew out Of the conduct of Chile
during the Peruvian difficulty is out of the
question, and it is at once silly and false to pre-
tend that II is the occasion of the present atti-
tude of the two nations. But the trumping up
Of this pretext is worthy of notice as an evil
dence that the Queens Ministers did not dare
to state TO the COrtes the real cause of the war.
II vas evidently thought not safe to say, "We
have no real cause Of war; II is matter of
punctilio and dignity only; another case Of
our dear old Quixote and his windmills. Those
Chileans printed In their papers insults against
her Majesty and we must punish them Per-
haps even Spanish members would have smiled
at this. and the. more when her Majesty said in
the next paragraph that she had signed treaty
with San Salvador because she was "desirous
Of respecting the Independence Of. the States Of
South America, founded on the ancient colonies
Of SPAIN" :
Spain. Their, Il fairly embarked upon war,
the cause OF which the Queen dares not state
10 the Cortcs How will she carry ii on!
Another paragraph of the Queens speech
treats OF the unsatisfactory condition Of The
Spanish cxchequer. The national revenue does
mi ks lance iho >, a rio - n xcocd;t,,.a u..,:.
taxes must be laid on the people. aud the ex-
penses must be on, down. These are the sug-
gcstions made In speech that announces thu
commencement OF the most absurd aad useless
a wars. Spsin's impotence 10 carry on q war
this side OF the Atlantic has just been shown in
~. Domingo. Spain has just been compelled
70 rclinquish her hold on San Salvador. She
sees that she Ia bankrupt that she must in
crease her taxes 10 pay ordinary expenses. and
caa only carry on = war by contracting new
debts, aud. since her credit il 30 VIGOROUSLY
bad. can only contract new debts on the mosl
dificuit ,erms. With all this abe plunges
hesdlong into war with Power thousands OF
miles away on point Of punctilio.
This war may prove TO be the last ounce for
poor old Spain. In this attempt 10 assert her
dignity abe can only prove her seniIe impo.
teuce aud reap disgrace. The simple fact OF
the distance between the two countries win
balance their powers, and the Spanish iiigsies.
however zine they may be ia the Spanish poris.
will be useless hulks on The Pacific, unless
Spain can make some better arrangement Cor
coal in this Chilean trouble than she did in
thai with Peru. Full coal bunkers are even
more important than heroes in war like this.
and naval depot on The Pacific Is an absolute
requisite 10 carrying ON naval operations there.
Spain may lombard two or three ports and
get bad name In the world, and what ;lcn
Win that satisfy her? Perhaps so. But even
that Is expensive. Il piles The debt higher aud
already the Spanish nation IL uneasy. the par
Ties are restless. sad il IL thought necessary 10
adopt new and siricicr regulations for the
guard Of cities. u would not, perhaps. be-
wonderful II the Queen asserted her dignity
10 Chile Of the expense OF her throne in spain.
CruHrnY To EuaRAsrs.-'rbc policy Of our
government is 10 encourage emigration from
all parts OF the world. and anysl'isg tending 10
check il operates 20 the disadvantage of the
country. To keep up the tide OF emigration TO
our shores il IL not only necessary for the new
corners 10 feel secure OF finding employment
and comfortable homes on their arrival here.
but also that they will encounter no unueces-
sary hardships on their passage hither. But ifl
we continue TO hear Of such diabolicsl proceed.
ings as occurred on board the ship Neptune.
Captain Enoch W. Peabody, on her last passage
from Liverpool TO this port. we shall not be |
surprised 10 learn that the desire to emiprate
to America has become considerably abateS |
among the population Of Europe The afro
cious conduct Of the surgeon OF the Neptune
demands The severest punishment the law can
impose. The captain Of the ship is tightly rs-
prehensible for allowing such outrapes upon
common decency TO occur on the yessel h.
commands But II IL NOT the officers alone.
much less the Commissioners Of Emigration.
who are TO blame for these shocking barbara
ties. The owners OF the ships, The affiuent
merchants who have realized princeb fortunes
from the transportation Of emigrsuts should he
held responsible both for the comfort and Sc
curity Of passengers and the character Of the
officers they employ. Kthey knowingly employ
az master of ship man notorious fos his inhv,
msnity OF see they should be held ansnsole
for his scs and share his punishmsst There
is altogether too much cruelty prsstised on
shipbosrd by commanders Of vessels, and Too
much neglect shoNh ths emisrapt passengers J