The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-21

snis rePuDno holds over all questions pertain
ing to the countries Of America. Its peddling
narrow-minded and timid course Is enough {,
make every American citlzen feel ashamed o
his government.
The most curious and significant thing about
this SANTANA business IL that the sdministra.
ton, or rather tho Secretary Of State, appears
very DESTROYS Of making great fuss about II
just now, and Of representing that leased pos
session as more important than the island OF
Cuba. If we relied upon the glowing accounts
given of the Bay Of SANTANA and the official
action so far concerning 1t, we might suppose
1t the most valuable possession In the Antilles.
Indeed, 1t has been stated that this bay would
be Of more advantage to the United States
than the annexation of Cuba. ID this absurd
statement another dodge to cover up the
weakness and miserable policy Of the admins
tration relative to Cubar Does the govern
ment suppose 1t can blind the American
people by any such wretched subterfuge
Yes, let us have the Bay Of SANTANA; but let
US get It in a proper way; let us buy It, and
not pay tribute to Few negroes or mulattoes
for permission to use it. Yes, let us have the
whole island II that suits our policy and 1t can
be made useful. We go as far as the farthest
in our desire to extend tho area and usefulness
OF our country. But let 1t be remembered that
St. Domingo Is sparsely settled by little more
than hundred thousand negroes and mulat-
toes, while Cuba has million and half
inhabitants, and out of that number seven or
eight hundred thousand of the white European
race. Let 1t be remembered that the
island Of st. Domingo is desolated and
produces little, while Cuba is one of the
most, IL not the most. productive country on
the globe. The Bay Of SANTANA may be a fine
harbor, and may prove Of value to us; but it
lies on the eastern and outer verge of the
whole Of the West Indies, and is almost fifteen
hundred miles from the nearest point Of the
United States. Cuba has many as fine or
finer harbors, and some Of them are almost
within sight Of the United States The whole
island stretches along and faces our border.
1t commands the entrance to the Gulf Of
Mexico; 1t dominates the channel of Yucca
tan, which connects the gulf with the Carib-
bean Sea, and it controls the windward pas
sage at the east end, and consequently nearly
all the navigation of the West Indian group
Tue idea Of comparing the value of SANTANA
with Cuba is simply ridiculous. Cuba for its
productions and trade, and from its important
position geographically considered, is worth
far more to the United States than the whole
Of the rest Of the West Indies put together.
So much, then for the speculative and glow
ing accounts of SANTANA and the supremely
absurd comparison of it with the rich and
highly important island of Cuba.
In connection with this subject /. will not be
out Of place to notice the peculiar position the
administration occupies at present on the
Cuban question. Looking at the refusal of
the Secretary of State to give Congress the
information asked for about Cuba, we are COM
PEELED to infer that negotiations are still going
on or have been revived with Spain for the
cession OF the island. The conduct OF Mr.. Fish
cannot be accounted for on any other ground.
We hope it may be 80, and that the terrible,
bloody drama and work Of devastation now
going on in Cuba may be soon stopped OF
course our government is honest In the matter,
shonld we be right in this suppositou But is
Spain honest? Are not Prim and his associates
humbugging our Minister at Madrid and our
weak Secretary of State? Do they not still
cling to the hope of crushing the Cubans, and
that by temporizing with the United States
And then, IL successful, would they not tell
their faithful ally that, the trouble being over,
Spanish honor and pride would forbid any
further negotiation for the cesson of Cuba?
In short, would they not laugh at us for our
folly, and should we not have to cooly pocket
the insult? Mr.. Fish may have confidence in
his Spanish friends, but we have not Eve hope
Congress, therefore, will stand no nonsense or
unnecessary palaver, but will bring this ques-
ton to a practical issue at once, and that in
favor Of Cuban independence and annexation
THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE SPANISH
CUBAN QUEsTIoN.--In our Washington
dispatches will be found in chronological
order the leading points Of interest embodied
in Secretary Fish's communications and
dispatches in reference to the Spanish Cuban
imbroglio with Minister Sickles at the Court of
Madrid and Consul Plumb at Havana. The
main questions touched upon relate to the
inviolability from search Of United States yes
sells, and to the inhuman proclamation of Count
Yalmassda's Of April 4, that ''every man
found away from home shall be shot," &c.
General Sickles' replies and those Of Consul
Plumb are given in the same condensed form,
imparting. however, important information.
and supplying whatever was needed to full
understanding Of the diplomacy that rules at
the State Department. The cost Of combating
ton and other questions Of interest are briefly
but lucidly set forth; and the whole cor