New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-21
TIE CUBAN REVELATIONS.

TIE intimation in these columns more than
n ninth ago of the Presidents wish, if not
intc1t, to balance the release of the Spanish
gunBoats by the recognition of Cuba, finds
prcent confirmation in what is reported to us
iron Washington. The Cubans have already
asserted in their organ that the Secretary of
Stae pledged them recognition, and that
the President, on frequent occasions, had
declared that the patriots would in the end OBJ
tain more than they expected Our present
advies amplify and emphasize these state
mene. Secretary Fish is represented as hay-
ing Inhesitatingly avowed his purpose to re-
cognze Cuban bellgcrence in the event of
rcfual 10y Spain of five propositions made by
him. and President Grant is reported as hay
ing determined to issue proclamation of bel
ligerncc rs earlya as the 30th of September last
Nevertheless, at date of September %, Mr..
Fisl denies the stated intention of the Govern
met to grant belligercncy. at would" he says
to Minister Roberts, "bc more perfect an
"swr to say that no such intention has been
"relchcd.'
Tlcse assertions may he incIact in one or
mon details, but they clearly concur with the
gendal Cuban belief that recognition was
promised on the failure of Gen. Siclles's pro-
posls, and the body of American opinion that
boil President Grant and Secretary Fish,
rigily honorable as they have been in the per-
Torrance of our neutral obligations, have been
earpstln their desire to do justice to Cuba What
hascaused their sudden reservation OF alleged
promises and pledgesi Our Washington dis
patdes give us to understand that Mr.. Summer
has declared substantially that recognition of
Cub would involve us in an ocean war with
Span, which would be n serious responsibility
to meet with our great debt, our much impaired
Shipping interests, and scattered domestic dis
affedion. We need not remind Mr.. Sumner
that Spain has her debts, her disatlec-
tions her disntegratons, her robbers,
bigot, Carllsts. lsabellists, Republicans,
and anarchists unbiased. We imagine
that our distinguished Senator has curiously
studid Mr.. Robeson's showing of our naval
resources, and calculated that not even to save
Cuba are we justified in rislling war with q
powr which cannot make itself worse thereby,
and may injure liz considerably. Spain has
nevd been so honored before, if Mr. Summers
apprhensions have been ut all represented 4;
but let us vindlcatc him by adding to his
motives of policy his well-known fear to do
wrdg, his high respect for the truth, and his
natural ndisposition to sacrifice what is right
to What is expedient.
Along with the news which we have dis
cused appears to-day the documentary evil
deice of the Cuban question, transmitted from
tn, State Department ut request of the SEN
ate. 1t includes letters from Secretary Fish,
Gm. Sickcs, Minister Roberts, and our Con-
suls III Cuba, but its revelations are compare
tTely meager. Mr.. Fish, on more than
orc occasion, reminds the Government
Of Spain that the United States arc
even yet suffering from the premature recog-
milton of the South sixty days after Rebellion.
Minister Roberts seems to have had the assllr-
ance to object to the holding of mass meetings
in favor Of Cuba, yet admits that the Govern