The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-22

their independence, but, on the other hand,
no considerable party in this country is in
favor Of our Government being made cats
paw of by Cuban patriots" who talk very
loudly about fighting for freedom, but do
not seem much disposed to join in the fight
The United States could not permit itself to
be dragged into war with Spain, and
stulhfied in it's own acts towards the rest of
the world at the instigation of an ire
sponsible clique, working in the dark, and
unable to show that the people of Cuba
either encourage OF approve of their under
taking.
The Government has done no wrong to the
Independence party, and still less has IL given
Spain any cause of olfense. If England had
acted towards us in reference to the ex-Con-
federacy as we have acted towards Spain in
reference to Cuba we should have been quite
content. We have defeated every effort that
has been made To infringe our neutrality.
We have stopped vessels reported to be fitting
out for service against Spain. without waiting
for indictments such as were preferred by our
Minister in England against the Alabama,
prior to her escape from Liverpool. The
Government has done all that a Government
could do to flustlate violations of interna-
tional law, and there is no reason to suppose
that General Prim and his colleagues, or the
Cortes, take different view of its course.
General Siclles has been severely attacked
for placing an "indiscreet and meddlesome
diplomatic note in the hands of the Spanish
government. But the Cabinet at Washington
are better able TO Judge whether the Minister'S
language was 'indiscreet' than outside OBJ
servers can possibly be, and it is satisfied that
he has not acted in a way TO compromise the
country. We all know that General Siclzles is
dlplOmatist made, not born. His Judgment
may not be iniallible But even if the tone
Of his note was as bad as his assailants allege,
1t was withdrawn, and there was an end of it.
The Spanish government made no complaint
about it, but on the contrary replied to it in
a courteous spirit. and thanked General
Sickles for his proffer of good offices,
which, in fact, was originally prompted
by the Spanish government 1t does not
appear that our Minister in any way exceeded
his instructions.
The United States Government has. then.
been just to all parties in this difficult affair,
and Secretary Fish has done nothing to pro-
woke those hostile criticisms of which the
secret enemies of the administration make
him the object. lie has strictly adhered to
the only policy which the nation could pursue
with honor. The Cubans are as much at
liberty as ever they were to achieve their in
dependence if they covet it. But the voice
of their great cities is still SILENT or is raised
against the insurrection. Cubans who APP
pear to be disinterested observers say that
the lnsurectlon Il only supported 10y the
class which has everything to gain and moth
thing to lose by social disturbances. The de-
mand for recognition" is therefore weaker
than ever It was, and although it is quite pos
sible that resolution on two may he intro
duced into Congress- next session in favor of
our Government extending belligerent rights
to the insurgents. it is quite certain that
the matter will rest there. The admin
istration will not be forced into false posi-
ton to please few hot-brained enthusiasts,
OF a handful Of adyenturers