The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-04-24
The UnpEeassntucss with spain.

Elsewhere we have referred to two
grievances which this Government has
against Spain in reference to Cuban
matters. There is third ground of
difficulty between the two countries,
and perhaps the most serious one. mat
is Spain's grievance against us, In that
we permit the organization on cur
shores OF assistance to the revolution in
CUBA. There is little doubt that the
charge is we'll grounded; and less that
in permitting it our Government is
guilty of plain violation of interna-
tional Law. If the United States refuses
upon proper representations by Spain,
to suppress all unlawful expeditions
designed in aid OF the Cuban rebels,
Spain would have cdSuS 6eLki and could
hardly do less than declare war. IL ID
the duty of our Government to make
every exertion to prevent tilllbuster1ng,
to prevent the departure from our
shores OF any expedition set on foot
against power with which we are at
peace. Whatever may be the sympa-
thies of our people, or the predictions
of the administration, this rule OF
action, which is the law, ought
TO be relentlessly enforced. or course
Fl war with power like Spain,
in ordinary times and for just cause
would not be a very great under
taking for power like the United
States but while no great power ought
ever TO bully weak one simply because
it is not afraid to, there are more than
ordinary reasons for not provoking a
war with Spain at this time. The United
States are under bonds to keep the
peace not only with Spain but with
everybody else, so long as she can hon
orably and justly do SO. Those bonds
are heavy they amount 10 over two
and a half thousand millions of dollars.
While our Government should be- eal-
Gus of the national honor and vigilant
in protecting the rights OF her citizens,
and should protect both at every neces-
sary cost, she ought to be scrupulously
careful to give no other country just
cause for quarrel with us; that is we
should not wilfully violate the law or
comfy subsisting between nations at
peace with one another. While the
SuN ~ CA4A 40 AHNSo
ed with an army OF tax'gatherers,w we are
in no coalition to go capering around
the world inviting somebody to tread on
our national coa5-tail.
We are doubiy debarred from pro-
vo9iing war with Spain by violations
of neutrality. We have a heavy score
to settle with England for aid given
by her to the Confederacy during the
American rebellion. She did for the
Southern rcbels just what Spain charges
us with doing for the Cuban rebels.
She made herself what Mr.. Sumner
called the naval base of the rebellion.
And for this our claim against her is so
vast that the administration hold it
cannot be paid III money. Now, con-
sidering the real insignifcance of this
struggle in Cuba, considering the char
acter ofthe people who are fighting to
throw off the Spanish yoke, is it not
too great sacrifice tor this govern
ment to make, TO do for these insurrec-
tionists Just what England did for the
Confederac1? Because in doing so, we
should surrende. all the advantage of
position we now hold in the Alabama
controversy. How could we enforce
principle against England after we had
violated it ourselves as against Spain?
1t would he an abandonment of the i'm
pregnable position we now hold before
the world. We cannot afford it, Be
sides. II we should upjusIly provoke
h"stilii,es with Spain it might lead to
serious complications if not open war
with other powers, which every die ate
of prudence warns US - avoid.