The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-30


point to another to make it appear that he
is consistent in his Inconsistencies. A short
time ago he placed his opposition to the Cuban
cause and the recognition Of the Cubans by
the United States on the ground that slavery
had not been abolished by the insurrectionary
government, or that there was no evidence TO
that effect. This appeared to be the only or
principal cause for his opposition, for ne inti-
mated that if he were satisfied that the Cubans
had abolished slavery he might give them
encouragement or support. This seemed to
be the sire qua non, and it was quite con-
sistent with Mr.. Summers lifelong hostility TO
slavery and special regard for the negro.
Wen, overwhelming evidence came, and that in
official form-in the constitution of the Cuban
government-that slavery was abolished and
would only exist where Mr. Summers Spanish
friends held the power to maintain 1t. True,
the Senator pretended to disbelieve this for
some time, though everybody else aoknow-
lodged the fact.
Driven from this untenable ground, the
Senator next pretends that there is no evidence
of war, worthy of being 80 called, in Cuba.
In refltatIon of this assumption General Prim
acknowledged publicly in Spain that the
Spanish government had been compelled to
send forty thousand troops to Cuba, and that
the shipment of more has been constantly
going on. This looks something like war,
though Mr.. Sumner pretends not to see the
fact. Indeed Spain has been straining all her
efforts for some time to put down the insurrec-
ton. But if there were no war, or an In
significant one merely, why build thirty gum
boats in the United States, and why send out
large armies and fleets to operate in and around
Cuba? The assumption that there is no war,
or only On insignificant one, is ridiculous in
the face of such facts, and it is surprising
how man in Mr.. Summers position could in
suit the common sense OF the American people
by the statements he has made. Then, the
news we are receiving from time to time,
though mostly through Spanish sources, shows
that serious war, covering large part OF
the island, Is going on, and that, though the
policy of guerilla warfare which is best for
them, and which nearly ell people fighting for
their independence have followed, they are a
match for their enemies whenever they meet
them in the field, and that they have been gain
ing ground aud strength all through the fifteen
months contest The mere assertion of Mr.
Sumner or of any one else that the insurrec-
ton is growing weaker proves nothing, is
without foundation and contrary to the facts.
Indeed, all tho evidence goes to show that the
insurrection, as was said, grows stronger from
month to month.
Now the Senator changes his ground again.
Not daring to declare boldly that he is the
friend OF the Spaniards, or that he is oppos ed
to people heroically struggling to free them.
selves from the most atrocious despotism on
earth-for such an avowal, though true, would
shock the American people-he now says he
does not want Cuba to become part of the
United States or the Cubans to be annexed
He prefers that the island aud people
should belong to Spain, no matter how
cruel the despotism over them or how
they may suffer. And this is the pretended
great apostle of liberty; this is the man who
has heretofore pretended to sympathize with
all people struggling for freedom; this is the
ancient champion of negro emancipation. He
has no bowels of compassion for the eight
hundred thousand white people Of Cuba who
have been ground to the dust by Spanish
tyranny and he seems no longer to have any
hostility to negro slavery as long as It ia main
tanned by Spain. He does not want the
Cubans annexed because they speak foreign
language and, as he says, because the mass Of
them know little about our customs or institu-
tons. Does Mr.. Sumner not know that nearly
ell the leading Cuban patriots-the men to
whom the people look up for guidance-the
men who must control the destiny of Cuba
should it become free-were educated in the
United States and understand our institutions
well? Does he not know that the Cubans
stand second to none In intelligence OF all the
Spanish-American populations of North and
South America? Mr.. Sumner was not so par
ticular about making American citizens of ignor-
ant people when he put the ballot in the
hands of the negroes of the South
and made Legislators of those who hardly knew
their right hands from their left.
But away with such subterfuges for they
are nothing else. Mr. Sumner, it seems, is
opposed to all progress of the United States
southward-to the acquisition Of any territory
in that direction. What pity Cuba could not
be moved bodily and hitched on to Massachu-
sets That would make all the difference in
the Senator's sympathies and views about
liberty. Yet he talks about the destiny of this
country in ultimately absorbing the West
Indies, though it is certain he intends to put
drag upon that destiny as far as he has the
power What mass of inconsistencies man
runs into when his objects are in conflict with
his professions or theories! Who does not