The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-06-11
The War Cloud In tho south-A Word In
Time 90 tho Administration.

~ war Stoua IN the SOufh.A Word In
Time 70 tho Administration.
Cuba, aanked by Peru and Chile, looms up
in our southern prospect with dark threaten
ings Of war with Spain, to be carried on
within the waters of the Atlantic. The
memory of the bombardment of Valparaiso
and of the attack on Callao by Spanish feet
has not faded from the minds of Spanish
Americans, and the chances for retaliation
which are offered by the revolutionary move
ment In Cuba are too good to be readily aban-
doned. Negotiations for peace between the
South American republics and Spain have
been initiated under the auspices of our
government, and the representatives of the
belligerents are to meet In few weeks in
Washington to consider the terms. In view
Of the recent recognition of the belligerent
rights Of the Cuban republic by Peru and
Chile we do not consider that the chances for
peace with Spain are very promising, while
Il seems evident that both the Spanish
American States are ready to admit different
result.
This complication of affairs gives an in
creased importance to the efforts Of the Cubans
10 throw of the yoke of Spain, and new
element Is now brought into the field by the
action Of the armed Spanish mob which has
taken possession Of the government in Havana.
We give little importance to the rumor that
the volunteers who have driven General Dulce
from Cuba intend to establish a separate
autonomy in the island, under triumvirate,
or that they contemplate preventing the land
ing Of the coming Captain General Rodas, or
proclaiming the ex-Queen Isabella or her son,
or In any way seek to sever the ties which bind
them to the mother country. 1t seems to us
more likely that events in the western portion
Of Cuba will take grave domestic aspect,
which may weaken still farther the precarious
sions The avowed motive of the usurpation
is the corruption Of the officials who have
recently come from Spain, the accusation
being that they have sold victory to the
patriots and robbed the revenues of the gov
eminent, leaving the treasury without means
to prosecute the war.
In this condition of affairs the temporary
government OF Havana is seeking to inaugu-
rate renewed activity by ordering all the
troops to the field and garrisoning the towns
with the volunteers, as will be seen by our
telegrap hc dispatches to-day. Such o course
requires more money than the government
now possesses, and the volunteers will soon
find that they must split upon the rock of
poverty In the treasury, or resort to some
new plan to obtain supplies. These cannot be
found in the exhausted treasury of Spain, and
the only possible resort will be impressment
of supplies and forced contributions Of money.
When we remember the bitterness with which
the volunteers reviled General Dulce on every
occasion when he sought to observe the pub
lie law of nations, either in the delivery to
oreign representatives Of parties arrested or
he liberation Of others who had been pro-
innocent by the courts, We cannot
ook for any very nice discrimination In their
eizure OF goods or their demands
or money; and we believe II the
Spanish Minister at Washington to-day were
.sked II his government would respond to ours
or the safety Of American lives, or the Sc
,urity of American interests In Havana, I'M
Ter the present state Of affairs, he would be
forced to acknowledge that the power Of Spain
has ceased to be respected In Cuba, and could
in no wise be brought to account for what may
occur there.
Thus we have upon our immediate border
the questions of foreign war and domestic
anarchy. II such conjunction were to occur
in any country in Europe the Cabinets Of con-
tiguous nations would not only demand guaran-
tees from the fomenters Of disorder, but would
prepare to interfere in the interests of human
kind. The question is purely American one,
and we are the controlling Power in America.
Should England or France intervene we should
at once protest and prepare to protect our own
interests. With such duties and such i'm
pulses 1t becomes us TO inquire what
steps has the administration taken to be pre-
pared for future contingencies. There Is but
one answer. Mr.. Fish has made himself active
in listening TO the complaints OF the Spanish
Minister about the shipment Of q few rusty
small arms Secretary Boutwell, has busted
himself with stopping steamships engaged In
legal traffic, and the politicians In the Cabinet
and around II are scheming TO raise the cry Of
q war with England, in the hope to catch the
Fenian vote and sway the fall elections. Such
ignoring Of great events at our own door and
magnifying distant molehills into mountains
would be ludicrous II 1t were not contemplate.
When the echoes from the guns OF the
Spanish and Peruvian iron-clads In American
waters shall waken our Rip Van Wrinkles In
Washington TO q contemplation Of the rude
facts Of the present. day, when the gathering
fleets Of France and England In the West
Indies shall show them the estimation In which
European statesmen hold the present great
question Of America, then will they come to
knowledge Of the opportunity they have