The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-07
Spain and the Now World.

By the cable we have had news that Spain Is
about to increase her feet in the Pacific. From
Cuba, also, our correspondents has stated that
there is.a great activity among the Spanish men,
of-war; that the vessels already at Carthagena
are to be strengthened by others which have
sliled to join them, and that the Navas de
Tolosa will sail for the Pacific. This looks like
an active campaign and the spiteful lombard
ment and destruction Of more of the Pacific
ports. II is not very strange that Spain clings
to this last straw while she sinks out of sight as
nation desiring 10 advanc with our century.
Since 1910, when th. Bonaparte invasion Of the
Peninsula resulted In the loss of her colonies,
the efforts Of Spanish rulers have been
unceasing In the attempt to regain little Of
the colonial territory which gave her the silver
harvest that in the time Of Charles v. domi-
mated Europe. Seeing no hope of life and
vigor from the internal elements Of her priest
ridden nationality, che leans entirely on the
New World. Cuba, young, vigorous and pro-
ductive, furnishes the nucleus Of all her New
World efforts, and supplies all the wealth for
the enterprises against the Spanish-American
republics.
From Havana was supplied the feet that
landed the Spanish contingent in the Mexican
Intervention, and, as we have lately seen,
Admiral Nunes was obliged to make . circuit
his new expedition to the Pacific. Not satisfied
with this West Indian treasure house, Spain
makes dash on Santo Domingo-fails; then q
dash on Mexico to restore at one blow
Spanish monarchy and Church and State
again she fails; another trial: she seizes the
Chincha Islands without provocation. and tests
the strength Of Peru-another failure; she
DULLES the proud little republic Of Chile. COM
mits one Of her most noted acts Of barbarim
in the New World by bombarding the finest
South American port ON the Paciflo-and again
fails to gain q foothold In the coveted territory
of her old colonies Poor, almost bankrupt
the despised Of nations, and the pest Of the
Spanish-American republics, the time is rapidly
approaching when the United States must tell
her that she must cease to interfere with repub-
lican progress on this continent; for we are
all marching together, and blow at one Of us
is blow at the whole.
The most vulnerable point Of Spain is Cuba,
and il is here that the South American repub-
lies should aim at her. They should imme-
diately hold a general congress and appro-
pirate o fund to arm and set afloat some fast
steamers from the Caribbean ports to destroy
the Spansh-West Indian commerce. A few
iron-clads, we'll handled, will, in less than q
year, teach Spain lesson never to be forgotten
and, If strong effort be made, Cuba itself may
be revolutionized. II is notorious that Cuba is
already rapidly gravitating towards repub-
lcanism and that little outside pressure
brought to bear would overthrow the present
colonial government Cuba might then live
for herself instead Of living for worn and cor
rupt old monarchy that now crushes out her
treasure and impedes her advancement The
sailing of the Spanish mcn-of-war for the
Southern Caribbean indicates that such move
ment is really feared but If the republics will,
as in their war of independence, make united
effort they may very soon rid themselves Of
their detested enemy, and at the same time
crown their war with the freedom Of the last
colonial possession Of Spain in the New World.
Chile, Peru, Ecuador, New Granada and Ven
czuela should no longer defer their proposed
congress-they should lay aside their petty
differences, discard home revolutions-which
have thus far prevented unity Of action-and
consider that when they remove Spain from
their path they remove one Of the principal
barriers to their progress.