The New York herald., 1867-04-14

England and spaIs-A Little speck sf War.
The complications which have lately arisen
between England and Spain, relative to the
claims Of England for redress in the cases OF
the Tornado and Victoria, promise to grow
into speck Of war probably little bigg or
than mans hand.n A British feet has been
sent to Cadiz TO demand q settlement Of the
difficulty; and while the Spanish government
Ia unquestionably not in position, financially
or otherwise, to provoke o war with England,
that fact may operate In directing the action OF
the English government even to the point Of
ordering bombardment Of some Spanish port,
In the expectation Of bringing the controversy
to speedy conclusion. Spain, unsustained
by powerful ally, may succumb to avoid that
bloodshed on her own soil which she did not
hesitate to encounter In her present quarrel
with the South American republics on Ameri-
can soil. The internal condition OF Spain, in
political sense, Is just now very insecure.
There are dangerous revolutionary elements at
work there; and inasmuch as history frequently
recounts such incidents as foreign war acting
as potential remedy for internal discomfort,
by centring popular sympathies around even
feeble government, 1t may be that Spain, in
risking collision with England, has calculated
upon this result as means to unite the COM
mon sentiment Of the country upon its ma
tional safety, and thus completely counter
balance the agitation Of the liberal party.
But supposing that Spain is not without
secret ally-assuming that Napoleon, who
has another "grand idea" in embryo, con-
cerning o new Iberian kingdom, and scheme
for the supremacy of the Latin race, which
failed so miserably in Mexico, should be
fomenting this difficulty for the sake Of embar-
RAISING England. as preliminary measure to
his possible hostile ENHANCEMENT with Prussia
and Bismarck, or other unforeseen reasons,
the refusal of the Spanish government to yield
to the demands Of England may be accounted
for. There certainly has been something ap-
parently rash and almost suicidal In the rec ent
policy Of Spain, embarrassed as she Is with
war in South America, very disturbed popu-
lar sentiment at home and beggarly ex-
chequer. But the solution Of that policy might
Napoleon for the reasons above stated. At
least there is probability in the speculation.
A despatch from Washington received yes
terday adds another chapter to the story Of
this Anglo-Spanish complication. 1t Is to the
effect that rumor was rife in diplomatic cir
Spanish possessions in the Philippine islands
as reprisal from Spain. Whether this is
measure resolved upon In ad vance Of the reply
of the'Spanish government to the demand for
redress in the Tornado case, or whether 1t Is
new idea transmitted to the British Embassy at
Washington by cable as q threat to Spain, We
do not know. The Philippine islands are re-
garded as the brightest jewel in the Spanish
crown, next to Cuba. They are, in fact, with
the exception of the Queen Of the Antilles, the
most important Of her foreign possessions since
she lost her dominions in South America. They
number in all some twelve hundred islands lying
in the China Sea. south Of japan, in north
latitude from Eve to twenty degrees. They
embrace an area OF hundred and twenty
thousand square miles, with . population Of
fifty millions, of whom two hundred and forty
five thousand are of European extraction. The
principal islands are Luzon, Masbate, Min
danao, Leyte, Palawan, Bohol, Samar, Zabu and
Panay. The chief products are gold, copper,
iron, COAL sulphur, coffee, sugar, spices Of all
kinds, cotton to some extent, tobacco, fac
timber Of vast growth, rice, an abundance Of
tropical fruits Of all varieties, hardy race of
horses, and fish without limit As far back as
l762 British feet occupied for time the
harbor Of Manila, the capital city. Such
reprisal might we'll cover the injury dona to
the Tornado, and it may not be difficult for the
English Heet in Indian and Australian waters
to lay an embargo upon the whole of these
islands.
However, the threatened conflict between
England aud Spain, trivial as its proportions
seem now, may forebode general rupture in
Europe for when continent is ripe for war
it matters little where the difficulty commences.
In the present disturbed condition of the Old
World, it is impossible to say whether this
apparently Insignificant quarrel about couple
Of English ships nay not precipitate war in
which neither nation Is directly involved
beyond its own immediate interests. A soil.
tary match ii ignit,d will explode Q mine.
A little unseen chemical action in the bow els
Of the earth will produce destructive
volcano.
The Blockade Runners Before the Judiciary
Committee.
The Charleston members Of the famous
blockade running firm, Frazer, Trenholm 4 Co.,
have been served with subponas to appear
before the Judiciary Committee On the 10th Of