The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-30
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
Editorial Opinions of the Lending Journals
Upon Current TOpics-CompiIed Every
INV for the Evening Telegraph

WHO CAN MAKE BINDING AGREE
MENTS IN BEHALF OF FREE CUBA?
Fro,n the ~ Y. World
Our proposition that Spain advance step
bevond the suggestion OF Castelar,, IN the
Cortes. and give independence to the Cuban
colonlsts-they, in turn, making due pecu-
mary stipulations in payment for the public
nronertv of Spain on the island-has pro
duceS result which weforestw and intended.
IL has promoted inquiry among rejecting
journalists whether there be any eXistingpower
or organization in Cuba competent to speak
and act in the matter in behalf OF the lnhabl-
tants The New Orleans Pjcayune, com
menting on the proposition OF the W0r@,
makes the following pertinent suggestions
0snain may be willing to sell Cuba to the Cubans,
Int who are the Cubans? There must be some au-
thority competent to buy, and with power to pledge
the consent of people, and with the means OF re-
deeminp that pledge. There nothing in the present
condition of the island to show that there Is such
harmony among the inhabitants that the concession
of independence would tnd them in frame of mind
towards each other to create new government that
would 90 peacefully into operation There are ln-
ernal factions raging and it is not to be assumed,
as matter of course, That they VIII drop all AMI
mosites at the moment When they are IeiI Iree rom
external pressure to contest for the mastery among
themselves. with which of these factions VIII Spain
treat and what chance Is there tlat II sle De Wiling
TO treat she can find governing Dody competent TO
contract or, after contracting, to administer the
island with that degree of peace and good order
which is necessary for the lulnlment OF ODgatons,
and is in fact the humane end for which the propo
sition for sale is advanced and recommended?
0If these difficulties could be removed or provided
for and sale of Cuba be effected with the reason
able certainty that it would be an end of strife and
Opening of career of peace in the island, and If 1t
failed it were believed that the United States do not
recommend the sale, anticipating condition of
things on the island which would compel the CdNsans
to throw themselves the protection of the United
States for relief, then Spain might be disposed at
once to close with the propositions and leave the
Cubans to work out their own ends best they may
Perhaps, in consideration Of the manifold and OPP
norfune advantages to herself she NAV be willing TO
20 he
temptation of the consequences. But even in that
event il is a very serious question for the United
States, whether they ready and willing to con-
tribute to such results, with full view Of all the
embarrassing consequences that are to follow. 1t is
something to be thought OF with great deal OF de-
liberation
These are some of the perils of free Cuba
to which we alluded, a day or two ago, as
coming to the surface here in the quarrel
brewing between Mr. Lemus and Mr.. Macias;
but if it be fact that an overwhelming ma
iority of the inhabitants of the island (exclud-
ing the Africans) desire to be completely rid
of Spanish control, and that is their upper
most political thought think the perils
may be practically avoided. If, on the other
hand it be true that, by reason of the exist
ence of imeconcilable factions amongst the
colonists, or for any other cause, there Is not
and cannot be at present on the island any
power representing the people which is COM
petent to receive from Spain the boon of
political freedom, do acts necessary to secure
it, and maintain in the future . liberty pro-
tected by law" then our plan cannot be car
ried out, even if the governments at Madrid
and Washington consent and cooperate.
The view of the Picoyllle necesstates a Sc
rous consideration of the pretensions of Ces-
pedes and his so-called insurgent government.
Whom and what does it IN fact represent ?
Can it be made the nucleus of "a governing
body competent to contract or, after con-
tracting, to administer the island with that
degree of peace and good order which is ne
cessary for the fulflment of obligations, and
is, in fact, the humane end for which the pro-
position for sale is advanced and recon-
nended" by the W01Jd? If it cannot, then
the popular emotion in the United States
in respect to the existing seditiOn on the
island has no basis of fact or reason; Cespe-
des with all his allies or supporters, is an
idle, aimless wicked disturber of the public
peace and tranquility; and it would be an
outrage for the United States to accord to him
belligerent status. Thus far, to be
sure, there has been little evidence as to
when and how political power was, by popu-
lar consent of those concerned, given to the
Cespedes government, and as to the manner
in which it has been exercised. Even the
locality of the new government is not clearly
established We have statements of forty
thousand men being under his command, but
no explanation of where they are making
have fought no battles where the record of
killed or wounded on either side would indi-
cate an engagement of magnitude. Neither
have the insurgents captured any considerable
town, nor do they hold free access to the
ocean. In word, they are now wanting in
most of the elements which, in the domain OF
international law or according to the prece
dents the UnitedIStates has established, would
justify this nation in recognizing them as dt
.fact0 belligerent State. But, Notwithstanding
all this, we have been under the impression
that there was on the island a repressed con
dition of feeling and opinion which, on pro
per mediation of the United States will
Spain, would quickly spring up, organize, ant
demonstrate its competency to assume ant
meet all obligations necessary for new gov
ernment.
We quite agree with the Picay1tne in respec
to the undesirability of Cuba, at this time, a
portion of the United States.