The Shasta courier., 1869-05-22
SHASTA COURIER.
wendell Philipps to the Rescue-He Calls
Upon the President to Ignore Interna-

tAOudl Lave
From the Anti-slavery Standard of May 9th
We print in another column Conway's let
ter, which states, with admirable clearness,
the position Of our Government as to Cuba.
1t has obeyed exactly the rules of interna:
tional law. We confess our entire willing
ness to have had the Government go much
further. The rules of international law.
devised by tyrants and usurpers to enable
them to perpetuate their n-power, have
little weight with u.s. So far as national
non interference means leaving the different
elements and classes of "a nation free to ar
range themselves and shape their own insti
tutions, we value and are disposed to respect
1t. But if it is strained to enact that we
must sit by, neutral and Indifferent, while
one race murders another, as in Crete, or
one class enslaves another, as in Cuba. we
say, away with such nonsense and Atheism
In the name of law. Wherever a man rises
for his natural right, we have a right to
sympathize with and aid him. Civil and
political rights must be arranged by each
nation according to its own ideas. Men out
side may, and ought to, leave such things
to settle themselves according to the level
of a nations intelligence. But natural rights
rest On different principles, and draw after
them different duties. A race or class bat
uing for them has right to all the aid we
can give it.
Hence there is no likeness between our
rebellion and the rising in Cuba. The Caban
patriot inscribes Justice and Liberty" on
his flag. and hence may claim the help Of all
the world. We would have our Government
not only promptly recognize the beligereucv
of the Cuban insurgents, but announce to the
10 oc
that any race rising against similar wrongs
should be recognized as soon as they had
fought long enough to be seen and heard five
hundred miles off. We deny the existence
of any Spanish institution in Cuba which, in
the light Of our century. deserves the name
of Government. A sysrm which keeps
one-halfofits subjects in chains is not Coz.
ernment- A system by which the bayonets
of men three thousand miles off keep a mil
lion of men in suhiection. robbing them of the
fruits of their industry (allowing them no
equvalent) is not Government. To be
worthy OF that name, and entitled to the
rights of a Government. the system must
discharge the duties of Government. 1t
must foster industry, promote civilization
protect life and property, and execute Justice
between man and man. No Spanish rule in
Cuba has ever done this. We proclaim the
right ofour nationality. based on justice, to
denyto Cuban despotism and harharism the
name and rights of Government. The
only rightful Government in Cuba is found
in the patriot camp We would have Amer.
ica acknowledge brotherhood with it.
We have no wish for Cuban annexation.
Let her lead the West India Confederacv.-
II, after trying that, years hence, she seeks
us. then will be time enough to entertain
the question. Our only present interest is
to help a nationality based on equality of
races and emancipation. The same rule we
have applied TO Cuba condemns the course
Of England during the last-nine years She
strained even the unjust aud equivoeal rules
of international law to find means Of helping
a slave holding conspiracy. Hating our
Government as a rival, she aided to establish
piracy and slavery as corner stones of a new
State. We will waste no time discussing
with her. Her offense is rank |
The atonement is to be full pecuniary rec,m
pense. and beside. a distinct, formal disavow-
al Of any right in future to act on the princi-
ples bv which she now seeks to defend her |
course. Her apology is to be consent to
the remodeling of international law. No
matter how long it takes publc opinion in |
England to reach this willingness. We can |
wait. Meanwhile it is for us no act respect |
ing Cuba, on these just and enlightened prin-
ciples. If Great Britain interferes, we have. |
at little cost, perpetual Alabama anchored |
OF her coast, just as near to Liverpool as
Dublin Is to that port.
Twenty millions of dollars will make Ire |
land our Gibraltar; every one of her in
Vulnerable harbors will be bases for our |
navy Twenty thousand men and 800. .0O0,- |
600 make Ireland our iron-clad and every |
lrishman the world over our soldier. What
interest is this to us? While this DANCER
lasts the House of Commons has no lack of
motive to do justice to Ireland "Bv indi- |
rection find direction out"-acknowledpe the
Cuban movement 1t frees 600, 900 Cuban
slaves. Let England ha ten to give Ireland
something that deserves the name of Gov
ernment, which Ireland has not had for three
hundred years. Let England know that the
very first moment she fires cannon to OBJ.
struct freedom or bar us from holding up
struggling nations. we shall encamp in Duh
lin. If the thought does no other good it will
hasten justice to Ireland. and meanwhile
preserve the peace and help nightly tow,
ard the enfrauchisement Of the world
WENDELL PHILLIPS.