The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-29
Cuba-Thc Great Opportunity OF General


to perpetuate his own popularity and to secure
lasting fame as statesman is in treating the
Cuban question in accordance with popular
sentiment broad American policy and the
interests Of the country. This is really the
most important question of the day. II
involves vast commercial interests, the sympa-
thies of the American people, the cause of
republican liberty in America, the natural
growth and progress of this republic and the
position we are to occupy hereafter wi til
regard to a. questions pertaining to this Con
tnent If the government should resolve to
| ignore Cuba and either to permit the Cubans
to be crushed or the island devastated it will
abandon the cherished principles upon which
| our own independence was claimed and
! secured, it will become the friend and
ally of European despotism on Ameri-
can SOIL it will do violence to the
| feelings, sentiments and love of freedom
Of the American people; it will renounce the
Monroe doctrine, it will degrade the country
in the eyes of the world, and will, for the first
time in our history, inaugurate policy mimi
! cal to republican institutions and in the inte-
rests of monarchicai and European govern
ments II, on the other hand, the government
should determine to seize the opportunity
afforded by the instruction in Cuba to pro-
mote the canse Of republican freedom on
American SOIL to extend our influence, power
and commerce in this hemisphere, and to sever
the bonds that hold part of the American
people and territory under European rule, that
would be a fresh starting point for grand and
comprehensive policy in accordance with our
growth and destiny 1t would show Europe
that we comprehend our high position as one
Of the foremost nations of the earth and the
law of our existence, and must in the end
inspire the respect Of the whole world.
Hence we said the Cuban question is the
most important one Of the day. More than
that, it is the only one that presses for imme-
date solution. Reconstruction of the South,
upon which Congress and the public mind
have been occupied, is about finished; the
various questions pertaining to The national
finances require time for consideration and
have not become urgent, because neither the
revenue nor country will suffer from the neces-
sary delay; the Alabama claims will not, and,
perhaps, cannot, be brought to a decision for
some time to come, and they are used only as
a political hobby by Mr.. Sumner and Mr..
Secretary Fish; all other questions of domestic
or foreign policy are either no. pressing or can
be solved without difficulty. The only live,
urgent and important question at present is
that Of Cuba
The initial American policy in the case of
Cuba, for such we may call il, reaches far
beyond that island or the present time. 1t is
the key of our destiny over the whole of the
Antilles, Mexico and Central America, and in
a measure, over South America also. 1t
will fix in the public mind of both this
country and Of Europe what is to
| be the future course policy of the
American republic in this hemisphere
and especially as concerns European domna-
| ton, influence or rule here. There never has
been more determined or heroic struggle for
republican freedom, and against the most
atrocious European despotism in America, than
that which the Cubans are making; no. not in
1
never was better ground or as good reason
for this country to recognize the independence
of an American people The course of the
government, therefore, in the case Of
Cuba will be regarded as the policy that is
to be pursued hereafter on all American ques-
| tons in which European nations are concerned
| or choose to interfere. II will teach tho popu-
| lation and States OF the American Continent
and its islands either to lean upon this great
republic and to look to it for support and
! guidance, or il will disgust and drive them to
seek closer relations, commercial and political,
with Europe. Not the brave Cubans only,
but all the people of the two continents OF
America are watching with intense interest
the course Of our government with regard to
| Cuba Shall we abdcate the high position we
have all through our history taken? Shall we,
| in the day of our might and strength, when
no nation has the power or dares to
thwart our policy or destiny, abandon
| the cause of republican freedom in America ?
| To do so will be to dishonor the fathers of the
| republic and our statesmen of former times,
ana VIII prlug everlasting uisgrace upon toe
| country.
General Grant in his heart sympathizes with
| these views we have no doubt, for they are
| American, republican, national and liberal,
and throughout his whole public career he has
shown the most elevated patriotism and broad
| American views. But in the case Of Cuba he
| has been trammcled there is reason to fear,
by the weakness and narrow-mnded policy OF
the Secretary of State, and perhaps, also, by
the senseless prejudces Of other members OF
his Cabinet. Possibly Mr.. Sumner, in the
excess OF his vanity about his Alabama claims
speech and from his desire to make political
| canital onl of that may have had some inlllI-