The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-04

The Cession Of Gibraltar.

The cession OF Gibraltar to Spain is fast becon-
ing the question OF the day. Admirals, generals and
other correspondents filling the papers with
letters about it. The editors in labored leaders, are
discussing it. pro and More significant than all
else the question has been debated in court circles
and apparently decided in the affirmative
Mr. Arthur Helps the well known author, is also
well known courtier. He is the clerk OF the Priyy
Council and the literary assistant OF the Queen
Now, Mr.. Helps has just published very
capital book called "Realmah,n In which he
endeavors to resusctate the lost history OF
the people buried under the lakes, and
especially the career and describe the vir
tues OF a certain imaginary king, who is OF course,
depicted as a sort or Queen Victoria in trowsers.
The book wanders about, without any apparent
moral until just at its close, when we find this
imaginary sovereign advising his people to cede
Just such fortress Gibraltar to just such people
as the Spanish. The whole book leads up to this
one point; and it is generally regarded and ac-
cepted as hint that the Queen herself and those
who surround her are personally favorable to the
cession OF Gibraltar. l have reason TO know that
this inference is quite correct
The Times naturally takes part in this debate;
but 1t is a very curious and characteristic part.
Instead Of stating any opinion or advocating
any view the Times publishes all opinions
and states the views OF all sides, and then
pleads for delay, as II feeling about for some firm
ground TO stand upon, surely Ean rogram ann m must
engaged 10 write leaders for the Times Foreign
observers English politics must be impressed We
should Think says the Thunderer OF this morning
.sby the discussion on The suggested cesson OF Glib
raltar.r That Is very much IN Mr.. Bricks style
Zone thing may certainly say and that Is, that
no other people in the world would ever have enter
tanned such q proposition for q moment" That Is
chrisssnde ~ Which would so much as debate the
question OF surrendering strong military position
and throwing away grand historical trophy, out Of
pure Difference TO the assumed suscepubiltes OF
otners.n The Pecksnifian hypocrisy OF this asser
ton Will soon be made apparent
Let US briefly review the whole question. GiDral-
tar an English fortress, captured from Spain IN war
and once believed TO be impregnaDe, lies OF the
spanish coast once guarded the entrance to the
port OF Cadiz. 1t was formerly useful 10 England
as coang station, as depot for supplies IN case
of war and as harbor Tor vessels lime, the In
facture OF immense riaed cannon have changed all
this. Gibraltar IS no longer improbable An
American or French lronclad fleet could lay on at
sale distance and batter down all Its defences II
no longer commands the port OF Cadz; for last war
II no longer offers safe harbor for vessels since the
roadstead Is open 10 tie winds and sea
sne sRa s armed . with n ona rsnae runs
Consequently IN case OF war, Gibraltar would De OF
no use to England as coallng station, q depot
hArOor or fortress one large irol-clad Ike the
Dunderberg anchored opposite TO II would render
practically useless
The statement prominently put forward In the
English papers t1as tae presence OF English troops
anI the BRUSH nay az Gibraltar wounds tue suscepti.
blties Of the spanish people Is all preience. The
real grievance Is that tie English make Gibraltar
nest Of smugylers, wno openly violate spanish laws.
diminish the spanish revenue and bring the spanish
government into contempt and that whenever
spain attempts 90 pu sue and punish one OF these
smugglers Great Britain inter.eres. busters and
bullles spain and threatens to lombard Cadz.
This Is the real wound TO Spanish sus-
capabilities. have been upon the spot iaked with
the spanish officials and citizens along the coast and
invesigat the alleged cause OF complaint and
know that England would suppress the smuggling
a. Gibraltar ana the smaggers who come from Glib
raltar no Spaniard would care pin about the
presence OF British troops or the display OF the
British fag-which, in fact, very few OF them can
dplomas,s to shlt the eyes OF the public to these
facts and TO represent that the whole Spanish nation
is crying Gibraltar. sulklng because Gibraltar
is not gwen up and L. hurt its pride because Glib
ratar Is IN foreign HANDS. Therefore, they say Glib
sideration mind, for q consideration. This consid-
Grafton is the turning point OF the whole AFFAIR.
lie suggestion OF the cession OF Gibraltar was
first broacled at the time when Queen Isabella was
dethroned and then II Was TO be the price paid for
the elevation OF Prince Alfred OF England TO the
Spanish throne. The Spaniards dd not ASK It. The
Engl sh themselves suggested 1t. The HERALD pre-
dicted that Prince Alfred would not be asked to take
the spanish throne, and this prediction has since
been verified by events. Consequently that bargain
fell TO the ground for want OF customer. But dur
ing the gossip about that bargain the facts in regard
TO the usefulness or Gibraltar were prominently
noticed in the press, and after 1t was DIS
covered that the Spanish did not intend
even though he brought an Ola, worn out
obsolete fortress by way OF bribe the English
dipomatists cast about for some other plea for get
ting rid Of the rocky elephant on their hands and
securing something more valuable In return. They
could not swap Gibraltar for tne spanish throne 80
now they are trying 10 swap Gibraltar for Ceuta.
Ceuta Is a town and harOor on the Moorish coast .
and was captured from the Moors by Spain, to which
nation 1t now be,ongs 1t has a good. commodious
harborage. and at q comparatively small expense
could be converted INTO safe depot for naval and
there and with the modern system Of fortiacations
and heating batteries the place could be rendered
impregnabic as Gibraltar once claimed to be. Whatts
English ask Is that spain snail give them Ceuta In
change Tor Gibraltar, and shall also give sufficient
money ito boot TO erect the necessary Qualifications
British '.magnanimnyr THIS is the generosity
which Is 70 considerably impress foreign OBJ
servers" This ira ie barter, swap In whlcn Spa,n
gets useless rock in exchange FOR a marnIncent
harDOr, IS termed .'surrendern1 a strong mllitary
ont and a 1 ny away grand Historical
capabilities OF othersV since the wily magician
came to Aladdin's palace CRYING New lamps for
old' there has been such oleslded bargain yelled
under the him hypocrisy Of magnanimity, beneyo
lence generosity and al the other virtues.
IL is 10 be hopcd that the spanish government will
not be taken In by this snrewd scheme. Gibraltar
as fortress VIII be Of 10 possible value to spain
Ceua. both as town and u seaport may be I'M
mensely valuable. In the hands Of England or any
other Power Ceuta might be made 10 dominate ali
the coast OF SPAIN Past privateers issuing thence
could cripple al spanish commerce In the Mediler-
Tanean, and feet could be lifted out there TO bonn
bard Ciuiz and Malaga. II, through the necessities
or The spanish treasury, Ceula s now ever shall
be IN the market the United states need station IN
the Mediterranean now quite Us much as England
And could AFFORD 10 pay hard dollars for II instead
oil The hard rocks that England offers. Ii seems to
me that IN the present provisional condition OF the
Spanish government and taxing into account the
republican ten lenc,es Oh the spanish people and tine
Intimate rela ions wAicn eist are being strength
ened between span ana the United states It Is at
once tue privilege and the duty OF secretary seward
u interfere Ia tins matter by a word oil advice ami
warning 70 tie alisn Anbas sador at Washington.
and thai IL IS equally the pftyuere ana the 1lfv of
tue American press 20 expose tnis Contaminated
bargain Which Ne.y closely resembles q br.tlsn
sAiuIle.
The Evils Of Voting by Ballot