The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-10-22
Aatiuual Aepnblifau
QUIZ RELATIONS Win SPAIN.

rRIohy MpRsiha ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS n. ,sp.
QUIZ RELATIONS WITH sPAiN.
The Offer ofMediatis. Betves spain
and Cuba-Its aecret Hissery-9e..
pvtm the Prime Mever--Why He
Changed HIS Position-rhe nsmevs
ofComing Trouble.
A special correspondent Of the New York
Times writes as follows to that paper; s
wlsHIsoroS, TUESDAY,. oct 10, lsp.
The latest dispatches received from Gen.
sickles announce tho withdrawal Of the offer
OF mediation between Spain aud Cuba, made
by the United States some two months ago.
The negotiations being thus finally closed,
the State Department has abandoned Its at.
titudo OF reserve, aud Inquiry In the proper
quarters has ELECTED the following facts In
regard to the natter The offer of mediation
was founded upon an unofficial intimation
received at Washington from General Prim
himself that such. an offer would be ac-
ceptable to Spain. Mr.. Paul Forbes, Of New
York, an old an intimate friend ofthe Count
Of Rcus, was the medium through which
the intimation was conveyed to Gen. Grant.
Mr.. Forbes was furnished with the views Of
this Government. and returned to Madrid to
arrange the details Of the bases to be agreed
upon between the two Governments. Soon
after he sailed, Gen. Sickes was appointed
Minister, and furnished with full instruc-
tons. His first Instructions comprehended
q full statement OF the Impressions OF the
United States Government In regard to the
war In Cuba, and the basis upon which the
mediation OF the United States was offered.
These were, In brief,
l. The Independence Of Cuba.
.. An indemnity to be paid by the Cubans
to the Spanish Government, secured by o
lien upon their revonues-tho United States
to guarantee the payment Of this sum, In q
nduciary capacity.
8. An armistice pending the arrangement
of these details.
General Sckles was to read 10 the Minister OF
State, and Of which he was to give him
COPY. Before he sailed, however, he re-
cciycd further Instructions, authorizing him
TO consult with Mr.. Forbes on arriving at
Madrid, and to be governed by the situati on
at the time being In regard to the manner In
which he should present tho views Of the
Government.
Mr.. Forbes had been in Madrid few days
before the General arrived. He had seen
and convcrsed with Priul, and found this dis
tiuguished soldier and diplomat far less open
and frank than formerly. In fact, Prim had
probably come to thn conclusion that the
terms he had himself proposed were such as
would not be acceptable to the Jealous, ig-
nornnt aud utterly unreasonable public SEN
timcnt OF Spain. The result has proved how
correct was this surmise. He pronounced
the basis proposed by Mr.. Forbes, which
were the same as those contained In Sicllles'
Instructions, impossible to be accepted.
Sickles, Informed Of this state Of things,
used the discretion allowed TO him, and did
not Immediately present the note Of Secrc-
tary Fish, but offered the good offices OF the
United States to terminate the war, TO check
the ehusion OF blood, TO give more civil
lied aspect to the struggle, and urged upon
the Spanish Government an immediate armis-
tice to arrange terms OF final settlement. He
had long, cordial, and frequent interviews
with the Minister Of State, Mr.. Silvela, and
with General Prim, President OF the Council
and Minister Of War. These gentlemen,
while accepting formally the good Offices Of
the United States In q Humanitarian point OF
view, were nevertheless unwilling to consen,
to an official Experimentation Of any
foreign Power In a matter purely domestic
rs they called tho Cuban question. Tn,
State Department at Madrid confined itselI
TO this Wow OF the case, but General slckIes
continued his confidential negotiations with
General Prin, who, In point Of fact, was
almost absolute In tho Government, and at
last succeeded In ellcltlng from him a state
ment OF the bases on which the Cabinet Of
Madrid would accept the mediation Of the
United States. These bases were:
l. The insurgents, under the advice Of the
American Government. to lay down their
arms.
.. An immediate general amnesty and dis.
armament of the volunteers.
.. Election of Deputies to the Spanish
Cortes.
4. Pleblscitum by FREQ suffrage on tn,
question OF independence.
8. II the Cubans desire independence, In
demnty TO be paid to Spain under guarantee
Of the United States.
These bases were telegraphed by General
Sickles to the United States. Secretary Fish
promptly replied, rejecting them as utterly
impracticable, and directing Gen. sickles "a
insist upon the terms originally proposed by
the United States. At the same time, abou
the first Of September, as | am Informed b,
members of the diplomatic body here, Mr.
Fish sent for Mr.. Roberts, the Spanish En-
yoy, and Informed him that unless the prop
Ositions OF the American Government wer
Immediately accepted by Spain, that recog
milton of the Cuban insurgents as bclliger
ents would promptly follow.
This startling summons was at once trans
mltted to the Government at Madrid, and
reached them about the time Gen. Slckles
presented his note. This, learn, was not
the dispatch of Mr.. Fish, ipsissimis rsr6is,
but contained not only that dispatch but the
additions and notifications of 1t which had
been made by subsequent dispatches.
The substance of these communication,
having transpred in Madrid, the free pres,
of the country dashed itself Into white heal
of fury over the occurrence. Don Qulxot,
mounted his ROsinante again and challenged
the world and all Its windmills to do battle
The War Department bestirred itself to send
"vast and overwhelming" achievements &c
Cuba-and some 5000 actually sailed, who
will be greatly needed before long at home
The Government, which really wanted u
get rid Of Cuba II possible, was struck will
CONSERVATION by the popular clamor, an,
for while Joined with the current. Robert
was directed to make threatening demon
STATIONS at Washington In case the Spanish
gunboats at New York were not relea sed-
or In case the insurgents were recognized Al
belligerents.
While this tempest was blowing the Min
lister of Foreign Affairs sent for Genera
Sicklcs and Informed him that the Govern,
ment had no lot nor part In this clamor; thai
they desired the friendly Offices Of the United
States In the termination Of this Cuba ques
tlon, but that In the present state OF popua
feeling In Spain, the basis proposed by tn
American Government could not be accepte,
by the Cortes or the people. They, therefore
begged that his note might be withdrawn.
General Sickles, while declining to with
urhW us nOtt, NhlCH cOntulutu tue Inatuf
and conscientious yieY OF the United State
Government upon the war In Cuba, and wa
offered In spirit of friendship to both Spaii
and Cuba, promised to inform his Govern
mcnt Of the views Of the cabinet of Madrid
Upon this the Secretary of State, on con
sultatlon with President Grant, directed
General Sicklos to withdraw the offer oil
mediation rendered by the United States
which 1t seems has been done; the United
States not retiring any expression 1t has
made Of Its views, either written or verbal,
but simply Withdrawing Its tender Of friendly
offices, because they were not accepted on
the basis required by the Government OF
Washington, and rcserving for future event.
ualities It's full liberty OF action.
AS to other rumOrs, Of European alliances
with Spain In case of war, &c, the State De-
paitment is Informed by General sickles that
these are utterly without foundation, and
were probably invented In New York for
gold speculation. If Spain wants to pick a
quarrel with US shC will have to do It alone,
ana no one knows this better than Spain.
MRS. ABRAHAM LISCOLS.-The wife of n
prominent Philadelphia, writing from Ba.
den-Baden, says, abiding to Mrs. Lincoln
"WG have passed many happy. sad hours