New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-24
ORR SPANISH RELATIONS.

The determination of the Government in the
matter of the Spanish gunboats is made clearer
by Yesterdays action. They are to be duly
libeled in the u s. courts, on the charge that
they are fitting out to make war, either on
Peru or on the colony of Cuba, with both OF
which the United States is at peace. The
united voice of the Cabinet is declared to have
impelled this decision, the news OF which IS
CONSEQUENT upon the personal application OF
Attorney Pierrepont for definite Instructions.
The concentration of an unusual force Of the
American Navy in tropic waters is stated to be
in anticipation of any hostility on the part of
Spain.
Should this statement prove correct, the Gov
eminent will have assumed an attitude of bold
and unmistakable yigor Spain claims the
right of friendly nation to build and TIT out
ships of war from our ports. Peru, another
nation with which we are in amity, complains
that nothing exists to prevent these vessels
being used against her except our rigld fuihll-
ment of neutral obligations. II it is contend
ed that the pretext of Peru is shallow and
void, let it DO remembered that this Republic
has deliberately made herself a party to the
Cuban instruction, and accepted all the con-
sequences of war by hostile.act OF recognition.
What man will dare affirm that il the Cuban
rebellion were in a month or two suppressed oy
the aid and comfort given its tyrant from our
ports through feet of peculiarly dangerous
gunboats, the Spaniards would not turn their
attention to Peru What guaranty exists In
law, the dead letter of which every national
shyock makes his bond, that Spain will not
carry on war against Peru, which is avowedy
at war with her 7
That the prosecutor of Cuba viii now be ready
IN accuse the United States of conspiracy
against its power we may imagine. But the
plain and ayowed truth is that the American
Continent is q standing conspiracy against all
usurpatons aud despotisms planted on
it's soil. A Government of hard-hearted
spectators with human liberty can have
nothing TO hope for at our hands except
the strict fulfllment of our international Obli-
cations, which, more than to Spain, wo owe to
ourselves. More radical justice, as between
men who hate slavery and those who sustain 1t,
might have ere this arrayed us in perilous oppo-
sition to the brutal rear guard of retreating
tyranny on the American Continent. 1t
is well, however, that time and justice
and n ripe occasion shall decide for us. Not
being in possession of every fact necessary to
an opinion, we cannot say that our hour OF
decision has struck-but assuredy it is near.
Four, perhaps five, republics of America have
decided for Cuban recognition one or two are
virtually at war with Spain; and now it
il asked whether the Government of the
United States will release thirty gunboats
against the positive protest of friendly
power, albeit the sworn enemy of Spain. The
world may view, what the gods may admire
the spectacle of q brave nation, with great
heart, engaged in the honest work of self
repression, while the pirate of nations plumbers
the traveller whom the good Samaritan is pow
erless to assist. Has the day for deliverance
comet
We do not ignore, in these views, the grave
and weighty nature of the possible conse-
quences. What we know of the late negotia-
tons, what we know of the present temper of
SPAIN and especially what We know of the
Regency's necessity, may well inspire at least
delberation. 1t is never safe to reckon on the
forbearance Of a Government that has nothing
to lose by war. The men who rule Spain have
nothing TO lose We must not be swerv6;, Az
iota from the path of National duty by such
considerations; we must not on the other hand
be 90 imprudent as to shut our eyes to them
AZ a "---- aa "a
There is a style Of amusement of which the
South retains monopoly. In those latitudes
,they resuscitate the medieval tournament The
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