The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-14
The West India Naval Expediiion-spain
and Cuba.

1
| A formidable squadron of United States war
shps-frst class monitors, steam frigates,
| &c.-will soon be gathered in the West Indies.
| 1t will embrace the Dictator, the Miantonomoh,
| the Swatara, the Nantucket, the Severn, the
Yantic, the Albany, the Powbatan, the Semi
mole, the Tuscarora, the Nipsic and the Kan
sas-a force sufficient, as Secretary Robson
has laughingly expressed it, to "blow up the
whole Spanish navy" Some of these vessels
are now on the station, 9th ers have just gone
down, and others will shortly follow. What is
the object Of this imposing warlike array? We
are assured from Washington that it is not
intended for the occupation of the black repub-
lie of Hayti, or the yellow republic Of Domini-
ca, or the Bay of SANTANA, or anything of that
sort; but that the design is to have this large
force on hand in the West India waters ito be
ready for anything that may turn up, and to
act as naval corps Of observation" The
reason assigned for this powerful precautionary
movement is that ''the administration knows
not what day may bring forth" and is
resolved to be prepared for any contingency.
We may reasonably infer that things are
approaching crisis in reference to Spain and
the island Of Cuba. The administration has
failed to make any impression upon the gov
eminent at Madrid in behalf Of the Cubans
All the approaches of General Sickles to the
Regency looking towards Cuban independence
have been emphatically repealed. Spain will
devote her last ship and her last man to the
maintenance of her dominion over the island
She is resolved to subdue or exterminate the
Cuban rebels by the bayonet, and they have
resolved to expel the Spaniards by fire. We
know that the sympathies of General Grant,
meantime, are with the Cuban cause; but
that he has not been clearly satisfied that,
under the law of nations or the constitution,
he can, upon his own Judgment, concede
them belligerent rights. We think it not
improbable, however, that he has made up his
mind to submit certain recommendations in his
annual message to Congress in relation to
Cuba, and that, in anticipation Of affirmative
action upon them by the two houses, he has
thought it expedient to prepare for possible
rupture with Spain.
We cannot believe that General Grant is
playing in this naval movement the puerile
game of the King of France, who,
with forty thousand men,
Marched up the hill, and then marched down again.
On the other hand, when the administration
''knows not what day may bring forth, we
apprehend there is some ultimatum in view
which may bring peace, but which is more
likely to bring war. But, after all the general
denials at headquarters, may not the real
object Of this expedition be the occupation,
with authority from Congress, of the republic
of Dominica on the basis Of treaty Of annexa-
ton? We were given to understand at the
last session of Congress that Dominica was
ready to come into the Union, and Hayti, too,
and their annexation was actually proposed
through the House Committee on Foreign
Congress Baez, President of Dominica, has
been kept pretty busy fighting the revolution
airy party of Cabral, and that in Hayti the
black dictator Salnave appears to be driven to
his last ditch; but as the leading men Of all
parties and all colors in both divisions of the
magnificent island of Hayt are DESTROYS Of
annexation, we have only to say the word to
the de facto governments to secure at any time
possession of the whole island.
Hence we say that with all the general
denials at headquarters Of any purpose of
occupation Of Dominica or Hayti, or any part
of either Of those republics, by this great
naval expedition, the object u.s. perhaps, to be
on hand for the formal occupation OF one or
both, in anticipation Of the early adoption of
a treaty Of annexation by the Senate, on the
Since the abolition OF slavery and the estab-
lishment Of civil and political equality in the
United States the blacks Of Hayti and the
mulattoes Of Dominica, for their future peace,
safety and prosperity, desire annexation. Nor
could more decisive movement for convincing
Spain that Cuba is lost to her be adopted
than the annexation and occupation Of the
great neighboring island Of Hayti by the United
States.
AT all events we expect that in the forth
coming message Of the President to Congress
we shall have such recommendations bearing
upon both the islands Of Cuba and Hayti as
will speedily result in establishing the indie
pendence of the one as beginning, and the
annexation Of the other. Two States from
the island of Hayti-one from Dominica, the
Spanish speaking and mulatto republic, and
one from the Haytien, the French and black
republlc-will have to be organized, and
looking to 1872, they will be quite an acquisi-
ton to the party in power at Washington, as
will also be the State Of Cuba.
THE Custom HOUSE DRAWBACK Frauds
Deputy Collector Blatchford's leave Of absence