The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-25

lore, mat our government Is going to aDando
the contracted and illiberal view which ha
been taken of American neutrality Of lat
years, and will give an Interpretation to tn,
law more in consonance with its action il
former times-with the sentiment of the people
and republican liberty in this hemisphere.
It WAS said lately by a distinguished Euro
peah writer, after he had travelled in this
country and when contemplating the power
and glorious future of it, that the time was
near when the United States would change the
old public laws of nations and would create
new ones for the world, in accordance with
free institutions and popular rights. General
Grant seems to comprehend the true policy and
destiny Of the country, and is disposed to act
accordingly in the case of Cuba, though the
short-sighted and timid old fogies and hair
splitting lawyers in his Cabinet are heavy drag
upon him. The neutrality laws are not adapted
to this great republic nor to the circumstances
surrounding it, and ought to be repealed or
modified. But while they exis! they should
not he strained in the interests of despotisr1,
monarchcal government on American soil, or
against people like the Cabans struggling
heroically TO be free. The government is right
in the course it has taken with regard to the
Spanish gunboats; for they were intended to
crush the Cubans and TO keep that people
under frightfal despotism. The American
people win heartily approve Of the noble, bold
and timely action of the President. But it
does not go far enough. The belligerent rights
of the Cubans should be officially proclaimed
at once, and the government should resolve
that Cuba shall be free.
Would the recognition of Cuban indepen-
dence lead to war with Spain? That is ques-
ton which may trouble some people. A war
with Spain would be like child's play to the
United States. Spain could not touch this
country, and as to her boosted navy, we could
utterly destroy it in a few weeks. Cuba and
Porto Rico would be taken in few days, and
all the trouble ended about these colonies for
ever. Spain could not do as much damage to
American shipping as her colonies would be
worth to us, nor would the cost of the war
amount to more than that. But the recogni-
ton Of Cuban belligerency or independence
is not cause OF war, and unless the Spanish
government should be perfectly crazy it would
not make it so. Spain is not in q condition
and has no way OF raising the means to 60 to
war with the United States. She could get no
assistance from the Powers of Europe and
little sympathy. We have no idea that she
would enter upon such Quixotic and hopeless
conflict. Still, if she should, that ought not to
deter this country from favoring the Cubans,
from promoting the cause of republican liberty
in this hemisphere, from extending our politi-
cal and commercial interests, and from taking
ADVANTAGE of the present crisis in Cuba to
carry out that broad American policy which is
our inheritance. We hope the President has
made up his mind to act in accordance with
such a comprehensive and patriotic view of
the Cuban question, and in that case he will
be sustained by both the people and Congress.