The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-24
Tho British Capture and Release Of che
Cuban SHIP LILLIAN.

Cuban Ship LILLIAN.
The Cubans, so far, have been very unfor-
tunate 10 their efforts to make an appearance
on the high seas. Their steamships, the Cuba
and the Lillian, have both been seized. The
difference between the seizure Of the vessels
has been that the Cuba was taken In charge
by the American authorities and the Lillian by
those Of Great British. The case, however, Of
both vessels in the main was similar, but the
treatment they nave undergone was different.
The Cuba put into Wilmington, N. c., to coal,
and the Lillian approached Nassau for like
purpose. The two ships were brought to on
the plea of being Cuban privateers, or blockade
runners, and were held to await the action of
the authorities on these charges, If there was
sufficient evidence to make these arrests the
proceedings were correct, but no time should
have been lost in testing the reasons upon
which such proceedings were founded. The
steamer Cuba has now been in charge OF the
nearly three weeks, aud yet we are as far
from solution of the difficulties of her case a.
we we're the second day after her seizure
Why this delaye The people of the United
States are anxious to be informed on this
subject, and they also desire to have
the case of the Cuba attended TO with
promptness. This red tape, do-nothing
policy, which characterizes the treatment Of the
Cuban question, is humiliating. If the steam
ship Cuba was seized as a privateer, on that
charge she could be rightfully held, but
only 80 long as was necessary to test the allie
CATION against her in the courts. A prompt
decision was looked for by the people. This
has not been DONE and should tho vessel DO
subsequently discharged it places the United
States in very awkward position.
How differently was the steamer Lillian
treated by the English authorities at Nassau.
While approaching the island Of New Provi-
dence she was brought to and overhauled by
the British gunboat Lapwing and taken into
the harbor Here she was held until her case
was decided. The letter from our correspond
ent at Nassau, which was published in yester-
days HERALD, informs us that the vessel was
seized on the 10th inst The case was i'm
mediately laid before the Attorney General,
who, after mature consideration, decided that
the government could not legally hold the
vessel, and she was accordingly released We
are further informed that on tho l8th as the
New York steamer Eagle was leaving Nassau,
the Lillian was getting under way and that
the Cuban flag was flying at her peak
From the prompt manner in which the
authorities at Nassau have acted in the case
of the Lillian it would seem that the English
government does not regard the case of tho
Cuban patriots as altogether hopeless. 1t
seems almost superauOus TO state that British
colonial agents understand thoroughly the
policy Of their government In matters of this
nature, and possibly English statesmen, per-
ceiving in the future the rise and growth Of
new republic in the islands of the West
step that might operate against British inter-
ests hereafter.
In contrasting the case of the Cuba with
that of the Lillian the picture is not crafty
Ing one for the American people. President
Grant, we feel satisfied, sympathizes with the
Cuban struggle and in this respect he is in
sympathy with tho wishes OF the people. A
bold, decisive American policy is what the
country desires. Under such circumstances
we should have none Of those petty annoyances
which the detention OF the Cuba may yet
submit She country TO- The English author-
ties at Nassau have set an example worthy of
emulation.