The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-27
SPAIN, CUBA, AND THE UNITED
STATES.

IHE european Journals continue to display
deep interest in the diplomatic relations be-
tween the United States and Spain They
are perpetually looking forward to the time
when this nation will become seriously in
volved in the great and petty squabbles
which continually distract Europe, and they
seem incapable of understanding our con-
tinued adherence to the policy established by
Washington of non-intervention in the affairs
of the Old World. The Cuban insurrection
is an American rather than European ques-
ton, in one of the most important aspects,
and our Government has very properly shown
that it was not Indifferent to the fate of an
island SO close to the shores of the great repub-
lie. And yet even the close proximity of Cuba,
and the strength of her claims to friendly aid,
have not induced our national authorities to
relax the neutrality laws in her favor or to take
any steps at Madrid which were not in reality
designed to promote the interests of both par
ties to the Cuban conflict America sympa-
thizes with every nation struggling against
tyranny, but she never interferes actively in
behalf of any oppressed nationality and while
this policy seems selfish and cold, it has always
heretofore been essential for our own safety;
for the countries which have undertaken to play
the part of knight-errant iberators have
rarely failed to lose in such struggles their
own prosperity and liberty. Bearing in mind
these well-settled principles of action, the
present administration has gone Just as far
and no farther, in its negotiations with Spain,
than the circumstances demanded American
mediation has been offered and conditionally
accepted; but instead of saying yes
or no to the propositions authorized
by the Cuban insurgents, the Spanish
government submitted new proposals which the
leaders of the revolt refused to entertain;
whereupon the American Minister at Madrid
again asked for a serious consideration of his
original proposition, and at the same time
declared that if this delay continued public
opinion would compel the authorities of the
United States to recognize the belligerent
rights of the Cubans. The full text of the
correspondence has not yet been published,
and some of the European journals allege
that General Sickles used language in COM
municating this idea which was tantamount
to a threat. AS he is not by any means a
weli-trained diplomatist, it is not improbable
that language was not especially guarded and
careful, and that he unnecessarily aroused the
naughty pride of those whom he addressed,
for Spaniards are quite as averse as Ameri-
cans to tame submission to a menace. But
since the first ebullitions of anger have died
away, the Spanish statesmen no doubt under
stand that Sickles had no authority to delibe-
rately insult them, and that the whole subject
may and should be considered on its merits,
instead of being rashly decided in a fit of
passion. They have so many difficulties to
contend with now, that they may we'll pause
before they raise up new enemies. Spain is
distracted by the intrigues of the reactionary
Bourbons on the one hand, and the vigorous
agitations in favor of a republic on the other.
If many more troops are sent from Spain
to Cuba, there is great danger that the pre-
sent authorities will be unable to maintain
their ascendancy at home, and if frequent re-
Inducements are not despatched the revolu-
alleged that seventy-fve per cent. of the
Spanish regulars sent to Cuba heretofore have
been lost in battle or by disease. Under
these circumstances, it is prejudice and the
aversion of the proud Spaniards to volun-
tary surrender of the last of their long cata-
logue of American possessions, rather than
reason, which make Serrano and his asso-
ciates hesitate about the acceptance of the
terms offered by our Government on behalf
of the revolutionists. Our administration
has really performed friendly act
for both parties, the only thing
open to dispute is whether our
Minister has performed the part of peace.
maker in discreet manner; but even il
hos oa1 n oh Il. IL.
Spanish Government will be guided in its
final decision on the present complication b,
its mature opinion ON the relative danger o
defiance of Spanish sentiment on the ques
ton of the surrender of Cuba, on the on
hand, and the danger of persistence in
desperate and exhausting foreign war, whe
all its energies and resources are needed q
home, on the other.