Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-10-06
General SiGkies' N0tG 10 the Spanish
Government.

AN Occasional Correspondent Of the
London Times, writing from Madrid
90 September 10Th, says;
General Sickles' note is long docu-
ment, and though couched in the most
respectful and conside1ate language, is.
full of circumstances and appeals
which are rarely seen in official COM
munications between friendly powers.
With some people there is nothing like
plain speaking, and the American gov
ernment seems to have though SO of the
Spaniards, for the note is in reality
dressing such as Spanish pride never
received before. ! am not quite sure
that it does not go little TOO far in this
respect, or whether the government at
Washington would have ventured a
similar note TO any Other power but
Spain. which she knows is in no posi-
ton to resent it, nsideriag the work
she has now on hand in Cuba, and the
desperate state of public affairs in the
Peninsula.
General Sickles reminds the Spanish
government of the scrupulous 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 flibustering, as a proof of their
reluctance to embarrass Spain in the
efforts to refrain her ancient possession.
He argues that if they had acted upon
recent presidents laid down by some Of
the nations of Europe they would have
recognized the Cuban insurgents as
belligerents 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
allegiance, and over which forces they
had gained at times some considerable
successes. He hints at the fact that,
with two-thirds of the island in the
power Of the revolters, they ought hard
" to be styled rebels or insurgents, but
that they ought to be looked upon as a
people struggling for their indepen-
dence. He alludes to the growing force
of public opinion in the States in favor
Of recognition, an opinion the govern
ment may find it impossible to res
train, &c.
But the most serious part of his note
is his allusion to the manner IN which
the war is and has for some time past
been conducted. He condemns in strong
language the cruelties and barbarities
of the military executions, always sum-
mary, aad often without due inquiry
He tells The Spanish government that
tho Cubans, even though they be in
revolt, are brave men struggling Tor
freedom from thirty years Of colonial
nisrule, and their treatment when the
fortune of war throws them into the
hands Of the government forces ought
not to be such as to shock humanity,
but such as beftted the rulers of great
country. He cites the case of Ameria
can citizens, frequently non-combatants
who on mere suspicion, have been exc
cuted, and particularly two who were
lately shot at Santiago de Cuba without
any form of trial whatever. He sug-
gosts to the Spanish government that
they should not be hard with brave
people, who are only trying to do what
Spain herself did on the goth of last
September, namely, throw off yoke
which had become irksome to her, and
for which the United States govern
ment was the very first of all the othe
governments to recognize the revolt
;on. He speaks of the paralyzation 3
The immense trade of the island of Cub
in which there are so many America
interests involved, and hints at tho CO.
tinuance Of the war, with its waste all |
desolation, leading to its complete ad
utter destruction. All these considea-
tions seem to be forcing public option
in the States in the direction of aoes-
towal Of belligerent rights on the GU
bans which the government may 9ad,
themselves unable to resist. lie tof-'
clude by telling them he speaks frankly
'as soldier to soldiers, and trusts his
oouusels will be taken into considera-
ton