The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-06
a Bold National Policy Relative
TO Cuba.

From them Y. Herald.
The order of the President to Admiral Hoff,
In command Of our naval forces at Cuba, to
protect all American citizens, looks like bust
ness and q decided policy. The high-handed
0utrages on American citizens, to say nothing
of the inhumsn atrocities and uncivilized
mode of warfare Of the Spaniards, called for
this prompt and decided action of General
Grant. But It is to be hoped our Government
will 60 further than this and recognize the
independence Of the Cubans. The resolution
reported by the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs should be passed by Congress at once,
and the President should lose no time In aot-
ing upon It. Our oountrymen whose interests
or convenience compel them to reside tempo
rarily in Cuba are at the present moment
placed In the greatest peril through the bitter
hatred for everything American which ami
mates the mob Of volunteers now ruling the
Government and the island. To add to their
perplexity, diplomatic intercourse in their
behalf Is denied to our Consul General in
Havana, and they must either look for redress
In case Of wrong to the tardy action of a Gov
ornment three thous and miles away from the
scene, or cling to the action of our Govern
ment in their behalf. In the emergency 1t is
right and just that our naval commanders
should be authorized to interfere in behalf of
our oountrymen.
There can be no doubt that the people of
Cuba desire their independence and are deter
mined to acquire 1t at any cost. This much
at least has been developed in the progress of
the revolution. That fact alone should be suf-
hoient to call for the sympathy and support OF
the American Government and people. Then
the barbarity of the Spaniards in the war calls
for the protest or interposition of this neigh
boring republic, and, indeed, for the protest
of the whole civilized world. But there is
another important reason why the United
States should take a bold national policy with
regard to Cuba. We have vast interests at
stake-a large trade, and prospectivelya much
larger one, and broad American policy to
Garry out. The opportunity has come, as far
rs regards Cuba, to apply the Monroe doctrine
of excluding, as far as practicable, European
powers from this continent. What
would such man as Bismark do in such
case9 What would the man who seized and
annexed the small German States in carrying
out grand national policy for Prussia, do
nnder such circumstances What would Ma
polson, England, or Russia do? Proclaim the
Independence Of Cuba at once, and, if desira-
BILE, annex. There would be no halfway
measures or hesitation. What would General
jackson have done-that brave old American
who seized Florida when a colony Of Spain
on high national grounds? Let Congress and
President Grant take the same high ground
and settle the question at once Any halfway
measures of q quasi recognition Of belligerent
rights may lead to diplomatic complications
with Spain and other European powers. Gene
raj Grant has done well in his order to Ad-
miral Hoff. Let as see II he has the stuff of
Bismark or General Jackson in him to 60
further, and settle at once and forever the
Cuban question.