The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-30
FIRST EDITION
S 7 c TX 4 E S. N O r E.
What it Really Contained-our Minis
ter's Respectful Remonstrances
"A Criticism by the
"Thunderer's" Cor
respondent.

Gan Occasional Correspondent" of the Lon
don Times, writing from Madrid ON Sept. Is,
says:-
General Sickles' note is a long document and,
though couched in the most respectful and con-
siderate language, is full of remonstrances and
appeals which are rarely seen in official COM
munications between friendly powers With
some people there is nothing like plain speak
ing and the American Government seems to
have thought so of the Spaniards for the note is,
in reality, dressing such as Spanish pride never
received before i am not quite sure that it does
not go little too far ia this respect or whether
the Government of Washington would
have ventured q similar note to any other power
but Spain, which she knows is in no position to
resent it, considering the work she has now on
hand in Cuba, and the desperate state OF public
affairs in the Peninsula. General Sickles re-
minds the Spanish Government of the scrupu-
lous manner in which the Government of the
United States have hitherto observed the laws Of
international neutrality, and of the pains they
have taken to put down and prevent flibuster-
ing, as q proof of their reluctance to embarrass
Spain in the effort to retain her ancient posses
sion. He argues that if they had acted upon
recent precedents laid down by some of the
nations of Europe they would have recognized
the Cuban insurgents as belllgerents long ago,
for the latter had managed to resist for over
eleven months all the forces Spain had been able
to bring against them to reduce them to allie
glance, and over which forces they had gained
at times some considerable successes He hints
at the fact that, with two-thrds of the
island in the power of the revolters,
they ought hardly to be styled rebels or
insurgents but that they oHght TO be
looked upon as a people struggling for their in
dependence. He alludes to the growing force of
public opinion in the States in favor OF recogni-
ton, an opinion the Government may find it i'm
possible to restrain, etc. But the most serious
part of his note is his allusion to the manner in
which the war is and has been for some time
past conducted. He condemns in strong Ian
guage the cruelties and barbarities of the mill
tary executions, always summary, and often
without due inquiry He tells the Spanish Gov
ernment that the Cubans, even though they be
in revolt are brave men struggling Tor freedom
from thirty years of colonial misrule and their
treatment when the fortune of war throws them
into the hands of the governmental forces ought
not to be such as to shock humanity but such as
beftted the rulers of great country. He cites
the case of American citizens, frequently nom
combatants, who on mere suspicion have been
executed, and particularly two who were lately
trial whatever He suggests to the
Spanish Government that they should
not be hard with brave people, who are only
trying to do what Spain herself aid on the 29th
of last September-namely, throw OFT yoke
which had become irksome to her and for which
the United States Government was the very first
of all the other government to recognize the
revolution. He speaks of the paralyzation OF
the immense trade of the Island of Cuba, in
which there are many American interests in
volved, and hints at the continuance of the war,
with its waste and desolation, leading toits COM
plete and utter destruction. All these considera-
lions seem to be forcing public opinion in the
States in the direction of a bestowal OF bellige-
rent rights on the Cubans which the Govern
ment may find themselves unable to resist. lie
concludes by telling them he speaks frankly las
soldier to soldiers, and trusts his counsels will
be taken into consideration.
Another Account of the Presentation of the
Note.
We find the following in the New York Times
Madrid correspondence
General Siclzles' note to the Spanish Govern
ment is i may say, very long and handsomely
couched. He utters no menace, no threat, bu
calmly and dignifedly in the name of his coun
trymen, expresses their regrets at the continu
ance of the war in Cuba, and especlaiiy at the
barbarous mode in which it is conducted. He
protests, in the name of humanity, against the
atrocities of the troops and volunteers and OF
the military executions without trial, or with
the most summary of trials, II any. Especially
does he instance the case of American citizens
who have been shot without any trial at ALL "a
Santiago de Cuba and elsewhere. He suggest
to the Spanish Government that they should not
be hard with the brave men who fell into their
hands as prisoners nor with Cuba generally, for
trying to do what Spain herself did a year ago,
viz throw off yoke irksOme to her. He reminds
them that the United States was the first Govern.
ment to recognize the revolution, and that If
they had followed recent European precedents
they would have recognized the insurgents in
Cuba as belligerents long ago, for they had
attained n pOSlJOn enllllllS Lnclh W ~ ny IuC
mere fact of having been able to resist the Gov
ernment for eleven months He intimates that
the force of public opinion in America may com
pel the Government to recognize the Cuoans II
the war is not conducted in more humane
manner and is not ended soon. He objects to
use the term "rebels' insurgents" as he
says they are brave people struggling to free
themselves from thirty years OF Spanish colonial
misrule. He utters not one threat, nor does he
allude to any purchase or sale OF the island In
fact. he denies in the most emphatic manner
that the United States Government have had any
idea of buying Cuba or OF guaranteeing the pay pS
ment for it, and he claims for his friend, Mr..
Forbes, the same exemption. He is annoyed al
all the stories which have got about to this effect
both by the American and the European press
He has removed the United States Legation tc
very handsome quarters in the Prado. lie is son on
the best personal terms with the Regent with
Prim, and all the other Ministers, and in al
his intercourse with them there has meyer ye
been one unpleasant word He has told then
the United States were ready to proffer thei
good offices whenever the Spanish Government
and the Cubans desire their mediation. But thu
time for that has not come yet