The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-19
THE UNITED STATES AND CUBA.


From the NJ Y. World.
The large number of Cubsns who are ar /
irving in this city, and the zeal and activity
with which they are attempting to propagate
sentiments favorable to Cuban independence,
keep alive and enhance the interest which our
people spontaneously feel in the pending
struggle. These Cubans express dissatisfac-
ton at what they consider the apathetic course
of our Government, and great impatience
at every expression in public journal un-
favorable to the immediate recognition of
Cuban independence. Americans can easily
pardon this eagerness on the part of foreign
ers, who know little of the history and tradi
tions Of our Government and its customary
manner of proceeding in similar cases. Our
people have always taken the liveliest inte-
rest in every struggle for independence or for
free institutions in any part of the world;
but our Government, on every such occasion.
has deemed it its duty to stand cautiously
aloof and avoid committing itself by any pre-
mature steps. Every body recollects the great
blaze of enthusiasm which broke out among
us when Kossuth visited this country as the
representative of Hungarian independence.
But although he was wonderfully eloquent
himself, and caused great gush and outpour-
ing of eloquence from our popular speakers,
the wild enthusiasm of the numerous meetings
they addressed did not move our Government
to yield to Kossuth's opportunities. After
raising what "material aid" he could by pri-
vate contributions, he stole out of the country
in disguise and disgust. While our people
have always given their sympathy, our Gov
ernment has never given it's aid, to revoIu-
tionary movements in their early stages.
1t would be instructive to examine, in this
view, the public documents and state papers
which have most powerfully electrified the
country by the boldness of their tone towards
foreign governments. The ablest and most
remarkable of the class is undoubtedly Mr..
Webster's celebrated reply to the Chevalier
Hulseman. We will quote from that powerful
and stirring letter some passages indicating
its general spirit, and at the same time show
ing how steadily and firmly our Government
has always discharged it's duties Of neutrality
while asserting the right of our people to
manifest their approving interest in rev0lu.
tionary movements abroad
'"The Government and people of the United States"
said Mr. Webster 'ke other intelligent governments
and communities, take lively interest in the move
ments and events of this remarkable age, in what
ever part of the world they may be exhibited. But
the interest taken by the United States in those
events has not proceeded from any disposition to
depart from that neutrality towards foreign powers
which is among the deepest principles and most
cherished traditions Of the political history of the
Union. 1t has been the necessary effect Of the I'M
eXampled character of the events themselves which
could not fail to arrest the attention Of the contem-
porary world; as they will doubtless fill a memorable
page in history. But the undersigned goes further,
and freely admits that in proportion these extra
traordinary events appeared to have their origin in
those great ideas of responsible and popular govern
ments on which the American constitutions them
selves are wholly founded, they could not but
mand the warm sympathy yr of the people Of this
they SO desired suppress either the thoughts or the
hopes which arise in mems minds in other countries
THIS example 5 P free
States have abstained at all times from acts of inter-
ference with the political changes of Europe They
cannot however, fail to cherish lively interest in
the fortune of nations struggling for institutions like
| their own. But this sympathy, so far from being
| a " tbn
ties to these great national struggles is quite
sistent with amicable relations with them ALL" :
| foreign countries, without any such interference,
spontaneously moving towards the adoption of inst-
tutons like their own, 1t surely cannot be expected
| of them to remain wholly Indifferent spectators"
We have preferred to present the American
doctrine and practice by quotations from this
celebrated letter, rather than by cold cits-
tions from our neutrality laws and the pro-
clamations issued by our Presidents, because
such documents show nothing but a naked
recognition of neutral obligations, while the
Hulseman letter sets forth also the glowing
popular feeling and intense sympathetic favor
which render the duties of the Government in
such cases 30 difficult. 1t was the manly and
spirited assertion by Mr. Webster of the right
OF our people to indulge in these natural feel
ings which caused that letter to be applauded
beyond any document of the kind that was
ever printed. The point on which we wish to
fix the attention of readers, and especially of
those who are impatient that our Government
does not promptly recognize Cuba, Is that, in
the most glowing and eloquent vindication OF
their full right of sympathy, the boldness and
national pride of the writer could not 0veIleap
the barriers Of International law, but was COM
PEELED to recognize the duty of strict neutrality
on the part of our Government
The duties OF neutrality do not preclude us
from recognizing the independence of Cuba,
when II is achieved, or even as soon as our
Government shall be satisfied that Spain will
never succeed in subduing the revolution.
Most assuredly, we are under no obligation to
wait until Spain herself relinquishes her claim
to sovereignty. We recognized all the South
American republics while Spain still
claimed them as colonies; and we violated no
neutral obligation in doing SO. In like manner,
we recognized the independence OF Texas while
Mexico still asserted her claim; and we, OF
course, shall not wait for the consent OF Spain
} before We welcome Cuba into the family Of ma
tions, II, by her own bravery and persistence,
! she shall make 1t evident that the mother
, country will not finally subdue her. Bat until
the Cubans shall give us solid grounds OF
satisfaction on this point, 10 ID our clear DUTY
? to stand apart and watch the progress OF the
0 struggle, giving our sympathies as freely as
3 erpment TO an embryo independence which
: may turn out to be abortive. The door will
r doubtless be kept open for recognition II the
d progress of events shall justify 1t.
8 But even assured Independence ana our re
coQnition of IL would not release us from the
IS duties az Neutrality. In the event OF success
Q Cuba. AN independent nation, would be at wal
y with Spain. another independent nation, bOti