The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-27
IN IA TOR or FREE CnRA

Out peIHpn Out pl u QuDulOu whose O6bTI UOeS
not sympathize with every nation or people
struggling to be free and it is Just about that
proportion OF the American people who are not
well-wishers of Cuba. It has not been centuries
since our own foretatbers we're struggling TO
gain liberty. The dust Of ages has not had time
to settle upon all the traditional sympathies Of
that era and to hide from public gaze the warm
sensibllities Of our people for the oppressed
Time and time again has it sprung forth. Greece
received through the eloquence of Clay
q tribute which aided her in her struggle. Hun
gary had our moral aid, and her patriotic sons
when defeated, found q refuge here. Poland
was to us as q twin sister, and we sympathize
with everymovement on herpart. And VIC have had
in later times cases nearer home. Mexico not only
received our professions of support, but we gave
the foreign invader to understand that ii was
only because of our own war that we were pre-
vented from aiding with an army our neighbor.
To-day Cuba is engaged in a struggle for free
DOM and the same ready sympathy heretofore
extended to others is offered to her. But we
hope that our aid will take a more practical
shape than mere expression of good feeling.
Our hands are not tied to-day. We have no in
testine foe to check lis in all our actions. We
can act as our hearts dictate, and need fear no
evil. Because ali the people wish it, and be-
wish, we urge the recognition of the Cubans by
the authorities of the United States. tits mat
ter of feeling, it is a matter of sound policy, and
one which is called for by the laws of nations
and of Christian charity. We will cite few Oh
yious reasons why Cuban recognition as bellige-
rents is just and proper.
First. It is sound policy on the part of the
United States to secure success to the Cuban in
surgents. We are in the habit of talking loosely
about Cuban independence. There can be no
such thing az Cuban independence. Cuba freed
from Spain means Cubd Gnnered to the United
States. Without costing us cent for pur
chase, the long-coycted island will become our
own. Does any one suppose that nation could
be maintained on Cuban soil !: Has it ever been
known that an island of that size did establish
and maintain free government! No such
q thing has ever been in the past, nor do
we see any reason tor supposing that any social
miracle will make Cuba exception. 1t is
therefore, to our selfish interests to aid the in
surgents. We thereby secure territory which,
in the days of Jefferson, would have taken from
our pockets &1O000.O00, and which would
be cheap at S100.00O,OO0 to-day, and
at the same time we rid ourselves of one of the
| European powers on this side of the Atlantic.
! 1t has ever been our settled policy to seek to
free the New World from the presence of the
mOnarchical governments of Europe, and now
| is rare and convenient chance%,ftorded. Fate
| certainly is propitiOus. The decayed relics of
! prejudice and cruelty which constituted the
Spanish monarchy have fallen beneath their own
weight. Instead of republic there will be
erected in its place more vigorous monarchy.
At present Spain is in transition, and no
Spanarn can tell whether he is a loyal sub
iect or traitor. Now. then. is our time. A
judicous recognition would he an Invaluable SER
vice to the struggling Cubans, would do much
to secure their ultimate success and to
bring about their speedy annexation to
our native land. If no other reason existed,
policy alone would call for recognition.
Second. There should bea recognition accorded
them for the sake of a common humanity. We
hear comparatively little of the treatment
which the Spaniards meted out to the rebels.
but we hear enough of it to shock our moral
sensibilities. We hear of their being shot down
on capture-we hear of their being transported
to Fernando Po perfect feyer-bed of disease
and death--we know that they are treated like
animals, not like men; and, knowing this, it is
our duty TO shield them. A recognition as bel
ligerants from a weak power is a very little
thing. II does not much matter whether Bel
gium thinks people ought to have the rights
of beligerents or not. But recognition from
great power is a very great thing. Until the
recognition comes, no United States an-of-war
can harbor or receive, or in any way acknow-
ledge the existence of the rebels They must sec
them shot down or hung up, without power to
aid or rescue them. But when a recognition il
accorded and man-of-war is in every port
there will be material check to these murders
under the title of justice. Recognition means
protection to the helpless and check to bar.
barity.
Third. The people of the United States want
a recognition of Cuban independence. 1t is
always good thing and a safe and wise thing
for government to follow the wishes of the
great masses of its citizens, and we do not sup.
pose that any one will question that recogni.
tion by the United States of Cuba would be re.
ceived with great JOY from ocean to ocean. The
voice of the people is the voice of God and they
arc to-day asking this action from General Grant
We believe that it will come, and that right
speedily. The theory of the administration il
that the will of the people is the law of land
and we believe that that will, so clearly ex.
pressed by the House of Representatives, and SC
universally echoed by the journals of the coun-
try, will speedily secure the desired policy in
regar to our struggling neghbor.
The New FREIGHT RAMRoAD.-A specia
hnlnA nfalf fpn,., H.