Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-09-08
Gbs freeman.
MONTPELIER, W.:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8, 1869.
suain. Cuba and the United States.

Spain, Cuba and the United States.
While the insurrection in Cuba remains
in about the same condition as for months
past-not achieving much success, but main
tanning a sort of guerrilla warfare against
the Spanish troops-we are treated to a new
crop of rumors as to the attitude of our gov
ernment in respect to Cuba. Although there
has been no official statement to that effect,
it yet seems to be generally believed that our
government sent, some time since, Mr.. Paul
S. Forbes to MADRID, on some sort of a mis-
sion connected with Cuban afairs-and now
we have a telegram from Washington that
Mr.. Forbes has written that Spain is willing
to treat with Cuba upon the following
terms:
"First-The Cubans to lay down their
arms.
Second-After peace is restored, the Gu
bans to vote upon the question Of their own
independence.
Third-If at such an election they vote to
sever their connection with Spain, then a
sale of Spanish property in Cuba is to be
made to the Cubans by Spain.
Fourth-The United States to guaranty
FIX dL1C6LA VI AAChSJ @0S 0R1AH vi SNp0
resulting from such a sale"
Other kilograms from Washington state with
assurance that this government substantially
proposed the above as a settlement of the
Cuban troubles but if Mr.. Forbes has any
authority from home, there can be little
doubt that it amounted to nothing more than
to make an inquiry as to the conditions upon
lii c. --u.lI .ooo-S tbo rnol.of;on of
the United States in Cuban affairs and sup
posing that to be his errand, there is no i'm
probability in the report that he has commu-
nicated to his principals the terms as above
set forth.
We are quite unable to understand how
our government can see its way clear to offer
itself as a mediator between Spain and one
of it's revolted colonies. Such an offer as
sumes at the outset that Cuba is to become
independent in some way and if We can put
ourselves back SIX years we can understand
something how we should have felt towards
England or Frunce, if either of these powers
had then offered to mediate between the
rebels and the federal government and the
character we should then have ascribed to
such offer of mediation ought to throw some
light upon this offer to Spain. Nothing
would then have been regarded as more I'M
friendly to us and the history and expert
ence of our rebellion ought to be fresh enough
in our recollection to remind us that with
nations as with individuals it is a good rule
to do to others as We would have others do to
US. But as it may be replied to this that
Spain is quite willing to accept our offer if
she can fix the terms, it may be not %untimely
to consider the terms as stated above for
the experience of the country in the treaties
negotiated by Mr.. Seward admonish the peo-
pie, that it is not too soon for public opinion
to find expression when We get the first ru-
NOR of new foreign complications.
Of course the people of this country can
have no objection 70 any arrangement which
Spain and Cuba my make. mutually salts |
factory to themselves, for Cuban indepen-
dence. Whether Cuba would be any better
off under Cuban rule than it has been under
the government of Spain or not, it can hard
ly be in worse condition than it is in now
and as the Cubans, or some portion of them.
desire to be independent of the Spanish
SIOhAg II IN AHdJOiiLJ VI luCm buOuGQ fOtt
for independence and Spain should concede
it, they might at least make a trial of their
capacity to govern themselves. But we be-
lieve that the thinking people of this country
have a decided opposition to our government
guaranteeing any of the purchase money
which the Cubans are to pay for their indie
pendence. Already we hear that Spain asks
a hundred millions of dollars for Spanish
property in Cuba and whether, if a trade
could be made, she would insist on that
amount, or take a much smaller sum, it is
as certain as any future event can be, that
the Cubans would never pay the debt in
other words, if we guarantee the obligation
we shall simply add SO much to our debt, and
increase so much the burdens of our people.
In return for this we might, to be sure, get
a first mortgage on the island, but if we took
the island on the mortgage We should be
worse off than before, as we should thereby
only add to the annual expenses of the gov
eminent the amount necessary to maintain
order and administer the laws in Cuba.
In every aspect, therefore, we can but re-
gard any intermeddling with Cuban affairs
as leading directly to most mischievous re-
suits. We trust it may turn out that Mr..
Forbes has been an agent of the Cubans
rather than of our government, and that the
authorities at Washington have confined
themselves strictly within their duties as neu-
trails but as we know that strong efforts
are being made from some quarters to COM
init this government to such a policy toward
Cuba as shall, in the end, pledge us to the
fortunes of the Cubans, and give us a mort
gage on Cubs to be foreclosed at an early day,
it is not too soon to admonish the people of
the possible danger.
Tennessee.