The New York herald., 1869-12-17

kindness shown to the CubAns or the recogni-
tion of their belligorent rights might destroy
the effect Of his grand sophom orical speech on
the Alabama claims. There is the best reason
to believe that the President has been inhu-
enced indirectly and the Secretary Of State
directly in this manner; for both of them last
summer openly expressed their sympathy for
the Cubans and the opinion that the time was
approaching when tho United States must
recognize the belligerent rights or indepen-
dence of Cuba. There can be no other cause
for the change that has come over them,
because ii is well known and the Spanish gov
ernment is obliged to confess the fact
indirectly, that the insurrection In Cuba is
stronger to-day than it has ever been. Gene
raj Prim acknowledged that forty thousand
troops, besides an immense feet of war
vessels, had been sent to Cuba. and yet there
is the most argent demand for more. Is this
not a sufficient reply to the reiterated false
hoods that there is no war worthy of being
so called, and that the nsurrecton is losing
ground?
1t has been remarked that tho greatest
events in history sometimes hang, as il were,
upon the turn of q straw. We see here that
the action Of the government Of this mighty
nation, in matter that involves great princi-
pies aud interests, has depended upon the
influence of little lawyer, who happens to
be the son-in-luw of the Secretary of State,
and upon the prejudice, sellishness and
inflated vanity Of man who happens to be
Chairman Of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs in the Senate. And this Is what the
proud American republic has been brought to,
from such Insignificant causes, on the Cuban
question! Must not every American citizen
blush with shame for his country? These facts
may appear to some incredible; but it must
be borne in mind that systematic falsehood and
misrepresentation from those in high places,
or who have the ear Of rulers, deceive such
a weak man as the Secretary of State is, and
mislead one in the position of General Grant.
Mr.. Sumner, for example, stated in his re-
marks, in reply to Senator Carpenter, on We'd
nesday, that he understood the Cubans had not
abolished slavery, or that their decree to that
effect was only pretext for foreign consump
ton. Now, it is evident that this remark, like
the whole tenor Of what he said about the
Cnbans, was malicious and contrary TO what
he must know was the fact. He must know
that in the constitution Of the Cuban republic,
article twenty -four, adopted April 10, 1869, it
is declared, 9'All the inhabitants of the re-
public of Cuba are absolutely frees" and he
ought to know that the mass of the Cuban
people have been for long time past desirons
OF freeing the slaves that neither the
Cuban government nor people wish to see
slavery exist, and that il only exists now on
the island where the Spanish power extends.
So too, of Mr.. Summers other garbled csa
studied Misrepresentation to the sGect that
the Cubans have no regular orscc:zci or estab-
lished government snd that they have not
acquired the -,atus of beligcrcnts. II state
war in the world. The very fact that Spain
has been compelled 10 send out and to CON
tinuc sending out such enormous forces with
view to crush the rebellion shows that war
exists on large scale, though MOI. perhaps,
with largo organized armies at certain points.
II may b. more of guerilla warfare than
that which exists sometimes between the great
Powers of the world; but this is sort of war
which the American colonies waged and
that makes all people fighting for independ-
ence wage. The Cubans have, however,
according to the best information, some sixty
n. ~. a
Notwithstanding statements to the contrary. a
regular organized civil az well as military
government, to which all the people yield
willing obedience.
There is every reason for any government
that might be so disposed to recognize the
Cmbans as beliigercnts, evca upon strict
Interpretation OF what is termed International
law in such cases. But the United States gov
ernment has tae strongest reasons and motives
for even slrainng point in favor of the
Cubans. Their cause is the cause of republi-
can freedom and republican institutions on
American soil; it is one which the whole of
our citizens have 1T heart, and the commercial
as well as the political interests of this repub-
broad and iar-reaching policy Of our own in
the case Of Cuba-a policy that becomes such
a grea. nation, regardless of what Spain my
think or do or what Europe may say.
REPUDiATIoS has found strenuous but rash
advocate in Mr.. Mungen, democratic represen-
tatiye from Ohio, but the criticisms however,
in which he yesterday indulged on the financial
policy of the government were warmly opposed
by the democratic members of the House, who,
in the name Of the democratic party, repudi-