Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1869-04-29

CUBss ISpxPESpxxcE The London
Times Of The 18th inst contains 8 co.,
umn editorial on the rceen, action Of ii e
House Of Representatives Of the United
States in relation TO the prospective re-
cognttlon Of Cuban independence. from
which We make the following ex;rac.
The House of Representatives at Wash
ing'on has closed its session with char
scteristic act. It has passed prospect
we resolution for the recognition of Cuban
independence by majority so large that
one report describes It as carried unani-
nousiy- More than month ago similar
resolution Was adopted by the late House
Of Representatives and strangely coupled
with professional sympathy With the Rev
oiutIon IN Spain. In both cases the vote
could have none but 4 moral effect, since
Tue constitutional responsibility rests with
the President. who has already received
memorial on the subject from the Cuban
insurgents. The House of Representa-
nves, however, assures President Grant
Of It's support in the event of It's seeing fit
to recognize any de facto government
IN Cuba based on republican principle.
The belief of the American people that
Cuba must sooner or later. fall into their
hands has long been all but openly zvow-
ed. Not only the intrinsic value of tho
island, but the consciousness that il might
be worth infinitely more to Amerca than
to Spain. irresistibly recommends the idea
OF annexation. Far be ii from
rs to represent this action, however pre-
mature, as moral enormtv or as an in
territorial insult to Spain. Even if it were
an Intentional insult it might we'll have
been provoked BY certain high handed
proceedings of the Spanish feet. which
concern ourselves as we'll as the I'm bed
States. What is too self-evident TO ba
denied is that it IS utterly and fagrnntlv
inconsistent with the grounds upon which
the Alabama claims have been always
supported BY American iiplomatists The
complaint against Great Britain is that
we conceded bellicerent rights to the Con-
federa5es Tith undue haste, though not
till after belligerant rights had been as
sumed by the United States government
through proclamation of blockade With
far weaker Justification the American
House of Commons now urges the Presl-
dent TO take far stronger course. So
far as she facts are known there is no
comparison between tho position of
Cuban insurgents aud that of tho Con-
fecerates in the first year of the
wg. The utmost that is alleged on
behalf of the former, in the address to
President Grant, is that two-thirds
Of he island is under their control, and a
majority of the population in their favor.
IN .espect of capacity for self-goycrn-
mert, the are immeasurably behind the
Southern whites, and nothing but the in
ternl embarrassments Of Spain has cna-
bled them to hold their own against Gen
eral Oulce. ! at it is proposed not only
TO recognize them as belligerents, but TO
recognize them rs an independent State,
without awaiting the ssue of the contest
Again, We say, this may be right, but II
It De right, how frivolous are all the
charges against The British government
Southern Confederaoy? Let rs imagine
a similar resolution having been carried
in our own House OF Commons and COM
municated 10 Mr. Seward There is
difference. indeed, IN constitutional pow
er betwe, n the House of Commons AMI
the House Of Representatives,, and the
DOS ibie secession Of Cuba has long been
familiar TO the American mind, but all
other differences tell on the opposite side.
1t vi! greatly surprise us if Mr.. Motley
does not cmphat cally repudiat2 this e,c
post facto precedent and give up its de-
fence in despair. We freely admit, on
our part, that President Grant IS IN no
degree responsible for 1t, and Is perfectly
free TO open negotiations on Mr.. Seward ;
basis. as if it did not exist. We only
commend it to the attention of those VINO,
forgetting what passed when Hungary
revolted, draw unfayorable contrasts be-
tween American and English observance
of neutrality n the diplomatic inter
course of great nations tn quoqte argu-
ments are wholly out of place. If Eng
land has done = wrong to the United
States subsequent wrong done By the
United States TO Spain cannot be set off
against it. The real moral of the case IS
that, SO long az governments act honora
bly, BY each other. too much weight should
not be given to manifestations OF feeling
in popular assemblies