The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-08

public duty were supreme as TO che necessity or
propriety of such an act and that spain was
only entitled 60 hold us Responsible Tor faithful
execution of the neutrality we had declared
Would not every self-respecting nation be bound
to make such reply?
The friends of Cuba need TO reflect what will
be the consequence of recognition of belligerent
rights in the Insurgents and q declaration of
neutrality on the part of the United States, il
President Grant, unlike Earl RUSSELL is honest
in maintaining the thing declared Impartial
neutrality between the insurgents and Spain
might not after all, be pleasant for the former
or their friends. Our neutrality laws, enforced
with much vigof as Mr.. McKeon executed
them as Federal Attorney in this city in Nicara-
qua times, would put the agents of the Cuban
Liberals in New York, who hire or enlist per-
sons here to fight against Spain, in an awkward
predicament. When President Grant declares
war to exist in Spain, with full belgerent rights
to both Sides then Spain can stop and search
our ships on the high seas for contraband of war,
which now cannot be done; and even institute
a blockade of the island, with power to pursue
and capture on the ocean all who attempt to
violate 1t. Honest neutrality is of very little
advantage to an insurgent people and very little
injury to the parent government. 1t is only
dishonest neutrality, like that of England from
1861 onward, which works the opposite results.
There was time, however, when Great Bri-
tain did not permit her territory to be made
base and starting point for military expeditions
against q friendly power, and her conduct then
may be worth the study of President Grant. 1t
was in the struggle between Donna Maria and
her uncle Don Miguel, for the throne of Por-
tugal. Great Britain recognized the former as
rightfully queen, and proclaimed neutrality. An
expedition sailed from Plymouth, ostensibly for
Brazil, but as it afterwards appeared, really for
Terceira, an island belonging to Queen Maria.
When the Government ascertaned that the eX-
pedition was hostile to Donna Maria, had vio-
lated English law, infringed its neutrality, and
fraudulently escaped, it despatched naval force
with orders to intercept the expedition and pre-
vent its landing, and this was done (blank shots
being unavailing) by firing balls by which per-
sons were killed. The expedition did not land.
The act was brought up in Parliament, but the
Ministry defended it on the ground that the eX-
pedition was warlike fitted out fraudulently,
and neutral obligations compelled preventing
of the Decentralization of the force. A decided
majority in each house of Parliament sustained
the Government.
How strikingly different was the conduct of
the Ministry in reference to those Anglo Rebel
cruisers fitted out in England in violation of
information and municipal law, and received
with open arms of friendly hospitality in her
ports after their career of plumber and death
In the affair of the Terceira expedition, the
Duke of Wellington part, if not at the
head of the English Ministry. viii President
Grant follow his example of the way to promptly
discharge neutral obligations in respect to the
recent Cuban expedition from this port?