The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-10
Protection of American Citizens
i'm the Cuban Waters.

From the ". \. World.
We lately attempted to set forth the proper
attitude of our Government in respect to the
Cuban insurrection. We presented the subject
in its simplest view, disentangled from compli-
cations arising out of any injustice that might
be practised against our citizens or any injuries
to our commerce, by the Spanish authorities.
With simple insurrection we had nothing to do
but to stand aloof and maintain our neutrality.
The practice of our Government in all such cases
has been uniform, and has been regulated by the
strictest principles of international comfy. The
doctrine on which it has always acted has been
frequently stated in authoritative public docu-
ments, and never perhaps with more per-
spicuity than in the proclamation OF
President Van Buren, warning our citizens
against aiding the rebellion Cor patriot
War, as ii was called) in Canada, in the winter
of 1878. The rebellion had many points of
similarity to the present nsuTecton in Cuba.
That, like this, was rebellion in II colony; was
an effort to break the connection with the
mother country and render the colony indepen-
dent resisted by the local authorities; was
encouraged and abetted by native insurgents
who came to the United States and attempted to
strengthen their cause by getting up demonstra-
tiOns of American public sentiment, and lawless
American expeditions in aid of the insurrectiOn.
President Van Buren,, in the face OF the most
active sympathy all along the frontier thought
it his duty to issue proclamation, from which
we make the following eXtract;-
''If an nsurrectOn existed in Canada, the amicabe
dispositions of the United States towards Great Bri-
tain as well their duty to themselves would lead
them to maintain strict neutrality and to restrain
their citizens from all violations OF the laws which
have been passed for its enforcement But this Gov
yernment recognizes still higher obligation to re-
press all attempts on the part of its citizens to dis
turb the peace of country where order prevails or
| has been re-cstablished Depredatons by our citi-
Zens upon nations AT peace with the United States,
or combinations for committing them, have at all
| times been regarded by the American Government
and people with the greatest adherence Military
ncursions 10y our citizens into countries 50 situated
ana the commission OF acts of violence on the MEM
bers thereof in order to effect change in its govern
ment, or under any preeNt whatever have, from the
| commencement OF our Government. been held
equally criminal on the part OF those engaged i'm them
| and as much deserving Of punishment would he
the disturbance of the public peace by the perpetTa
| ton OF similar acts within our territory.
Our Government has never held any different
| doctrines and we have selected this particular
| expression of it, because the case to which it
was applied tallies so perfectly with the present.
| So long as the Spanish authorities do not molcst
or injure our citizens we have no call 10 inter
| meddle in the dispute between them and their
insurgent subjects If the Spanish authorities
| are foolish or mprudent enough to trespass
against our rights, we are bound to mterpOse for
| protection and redress, and the redress must be
| suited to the nature Of the wrong The sending
| of Admiral Hoff to the Cuban waters and the
| accumulation of troops on the Gulf are, under
| the circumstances, wise measures OF precautlon,
rendered necessary by an insolent and menaclng
decree of Captain General Dulce, issued ON the
| oath of March. We copy translation OF the OBJ
| jectionable part of the decree as tOllows:-
"In virtue of the extraordinary and discretionary
powers invested in me by the supreme government
of the nation decree as follOws:-S
'Ihe vessels that may be capturedn Spanish waters
or on the free seas adjacent TO mis- sland with car