The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-13
MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1859.
RELEASE OF THE SPANISH GUN
ROATS

BOATS.
The gunboats recently built at New York and
Mystic for the Spanish Government were re-
leased on Saturday last, on motion Of the United
States District Attorney. This action is said
TO be based on o withdrawal of the pretext
nrged by the Peruvian Minister. They were
originally seized at his instance, because he
alleged that they would probably be used in
She prosecution Of Spanish hostilities against
Peru; but he now processes to be perfectly
satisfied that they are not intended for this
purpose, and this acknowledged removal of
the cause of the seizure is speedily followed
by their release, 80 that they will soon be
on their way to Cuba to render efficient
service in extinguishing the rebellion. For
a time sne hope was entertained by the Ameri-
Co.. advocates of the Cuban cause that a new
excuse would be found in our neutrality laws
for continued detention of these effective
sdjuncts of Spanish power, but no such effort
was made. This neglect, coupled with the
refusal of the President to recommend, in his
message, the recognition of Cuba, and with
the determination Of the House Committee ON
Foreign Affairs to pursue similar policy of
noninterference and strict neutrality, render
the success of the insurrection more doubtful
than ever; and while Spain will be melted to
renewed exertions by the action of this
country, the rebels will be confronted with
increased and apparently insurmountable
difficulties The ultra champions of free
Cuba iercely denounce the indifference mani
tested by our Government, and they
are disposed to hold it respon-
sible for the failure of the
patriots to overthrow Spanish power. But
these denunciations will have little weight
with those who consider how little the Cubans
have accomplished, by their inherent strength,
during their protracted struggle. They have
never gained undisputed possession of sin
gle recognized seaport, and their leaders seem
to have anticipated that their final triumph
would be won by American aid rather than
through brave and persistent exertions of the
Creoles. Of the latter, thousands who pretend
to be Jealous champions of Cuban indepen-
dence have voluntarily expatriated them
selves, and when they return to the ever faith
full isle it is rather to make to Spanish Off
cials false protestations of loyalty to prevent
the confscation of their estates, than to do
good service in the patriot armies. 1t is not
singular that struggle maintained in this
style should be attended with too little posi-
tive success to justify the recognition of
truly neutral nations. Whatever may be our
sympathies, we cannot safely depart from our
traditional policy to play the part of knight
errant; for in exhausting our energies to
secure the liberties of foreign countries, we
would scarcely fail to lose our own. And in
considering the propriety of recognition, we
must be governed not by our feelings, but by
the facts, whether they accord or clash with
our wishes In this instance, even our SYM
pathies are to some extent divided by the
vigorous efforts to liberalize the Spanish
Home Government, and the growing disposi-
tion to establish in Cuba, as we'll as other por-
tions of the Spanish dominions, many of the
reforms that would have only been attainable
in past t~es by O revolution. While this
fact has exerted no little influence in check
ing the vigor of the insurrectionary move
ment, it will do much to assuage the mortii-
tion of its defeat, and to prepare Cuba for
the truly republican government which,
sooner or later, she will establish.