The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-30
>r THE PRESS.
al Opinions OF the Lending Journals
Upon Current Topics Complied Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
CUBA THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY OF
GENERAL GRANT.


The great opportunity of General Grant to
lave his administration from public disfavor,
10 perpetuato his own popularity, and to Sc
ure lasting fame as statesman is in treating
Ihe Cuban question in accordance with popu-
ar sentiment, n broad American policy and
.he interests of the country. This is really
he most important question of the day. 1t
involves vast commercial interests the SYM
pathies Of the American people, the cause of
republican liberty in America, the natural
growth and progress of this republic and the
position we are to occupy hereafter with
regard to all questions pertaining to this con-
tnent. If the Government should resolve to
ignore Cuba and either to permit the Cubans
to be crushed or the island devastated it will
abandon the cherished principles upon which
our own independence was claimed and
secured; it will become the friend and
ally of European despotism on American soil;
it will do violence to the feelings, sentiments,
and love of freedom of the American people;
it will renounce the Monroe doctrine, it will
degrade us in the eyes of the world, and will,
for the first time in our history, inauglrate q
policy inimical to republican institutions and
in the interests of monarchical and European
Governments. If, on the other hand, the
Government should determine to seize the
opportunity afforded by the instruction in
Cuba to promote the cause of republican free
dom on American soil, to extend our inAu-
sphere, and to sever the bonds that hold
part of the American people and territory
under European rule, that would be a fresh
starting point for grand and comprehensive
policy in accordance with our growth and
destiny. 1t would show Europe that we COM
prehend our high position as one of the fore
most nations Of the earth and the law of our
existence, and must in the end inspire the
respect of the whole world.
Hence we Said tha Cuhnn ouaSt1on Is the
most important one Of the day. More than
that it is the only one that presses for imme-
diate solution. Reconstruction of the South
upon which Congress and the public mind
have been occupied, is about finished; the
various questions pertaining to the national
finances require time for consideration and
have not become urgent, because neither the
revenue nor country will suffer from the ne
cessary delay: the Alabama claims will not,
and, perhaps cannot be brought to decision
for some time to come. and they are used
only as political hobby by Mr.. Sumner and
Mr.. Secretary Fish: all other questions of do
mestic OF foreign policy are either not press
ing or can be solved without difficulty. The
only live, urgent, and important question at
present is that of Cuba.
The initial American policy in the case Of
Cuba, for such we may call it, reaches far
beyond that island or the present time. 1t
is the key of our destiny over the whole of
the Antilles, Mexico, and Central America,
and, in measure, over South America also.
1t will fix in the public mind of both this
country and of Europe what is to be the
future course or policy of the American re-
public in this hemisphere, and especially as
concerns European domination, influence, pr
rule here. There never has been more de-
termined or heroic struggle for republican
freedom, and against the most atrocious
European despotism in America, than that
NHbiC N ora, oil inf, ~ in
of the South American States; and there
never was better ground or as good a reason
for this country to recognize the indepen-
dence of an American people. The course of
the Government. therefore, in the case of
Cuba will be regarded as the policy that is
to be pursued hereafter on all American ques-
lions in which European nations are con-
cerned or choose to interfere. 1t will teach
the population and States of the American
Continent and its islands either to lean upon
this great republic and to look to it for sup
port and guidance, or it will disgust and drive
them to seek closer relations, commercial and
political, with Europe. Not the brave Cubans
only but all the people of the two continents
of America are watching with intense inte-
rest the course of our Government with re-
gard to Cuba. Shall we abdicate the high
position we have all through our history
taken? Shall we, in the day of our might and
strength, when no nation has the power or
dares to thwart our policy or destiny, abandon
the cause of republican freedom in America?
To do so will be to dishonor the fathers of the
republic and our statesmen of former times,
and will bring everlasting disgrace upon the
country.
General Grant in his heart sympathizes
with these views, we have no doubt, for they
are American, republican, national, and
liberal and throughout his whole public
career he has shown the most elevated
patriotism and broad American views But
in the case of Cuba he has been trammelled,
there is reason to fear, by the weakness and
narrow-minded policy of the Secretary of
State, and perhaps also, by the senseless pre-
judices of other members of his Cabinet.
Possibly Mr.. Sumner in the excess of his
vanity about his Alabama claims speech and
from his desire to make political capital out
of that, may have had some influence
,ver members of the Cabinet, and, Indirectly
yYer the President. 1t is lamentable
10 think that great question Of public policy
'hich the American people have at
'eart, and which concerns so intimately
he interests of our country and the
progress of republican freedom, should be OBJ
structed by few men to crafty their vanity
or prejudice, for some doubtful political
object. Will not the President emancipate
himself from these influences? Will he not
see. the current of public sentiment, and
either dismiss his weak and preJudiced adj
visers or act independently of them? Let him
follow the good advice of his wise friend the
lamented General Rawius, the impulses of
whose noble soul were right in accordance
with the sentiments of the American people,
and who had proper view of the duty and
destiny of his country, and let him ignore the