The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-12-04
OUR .SIIINISH RELiTYONY,

The determination OF the Govornment
in the matter 81 the Spanish gunboats is
made clearer ty the action of the past few
days. They have been duly libeled in the
u. S. courts, on the charge that they are
fitting out to make war, either on Peru or
on the colony of Cuba, with both Of which
the ruited States is at peace. The united
voice Of the Cabinet is declared to have
impolled this decision, the news of which is
consequent upon the personal application
Of Attorney Pierpont for definite instruc.
tions. The concentration Of an unusual
force the American Navy in tropic waters
is stated to be in anticipation Of any hostil.
ity on the part of Spain.
The Government has thus assumed an
attitude of bold and ,nmistakabe vigor.
Spain claims the right of friendly nation
to build and fit out ships of war from our
ports. Peru. another nation with which
we are in amity, complains that nothing rx-
lists to prevent these vessels being used
against her except our riged fulillmcus of
neutral obligations. If it is contcnded
that the pretext of Peru is shallow and void,
let it be remembered that this Republic
has deliberately made herself party to the
Cuban insurrection. ard accepted all the
consequences of war by hostile act of
recognatiou. What man will dare affirm
that iEthe Cuban rebellion we're it, month
or two suppressed by the aid and comfort
slvln Its tyraut form our ports through a
feet of peculiarly dangerous gunto'ts,
the Spaniards would no. turn their atten.
ticn to Peru? What guaranty exists in
law, the dead letter of which every national
Shylock makes his bond, that Spain will
not carry on war against Peru. which is
avowedly at war with herr
That the prosecutor of Cuba will not be
ready to accuse the United States of conspi
racy against its power We may imagine.
But the plain and avowed truth is that the
American Continent is standing conspiracy
against all usurpatious aud despotsms plan.
ted on its soil. A Government oil hard
hearted speculatoEs with human liberty
can have nothing to hope for at our Lands
except the strict ful6lment of our intcrna-
tional obligations, which, more than to
4
justice, as between men who hate slavery
aud ttoso who sustain It, might have ere
this arrayed US in periloas opposition to the
brutal rear-guard of retreating tyranny on
the American Continent. /. is we'll, how>
ever, that the time aud justice and ripe
occasion shall decide for US. Not being in
possession Of every fact necessary to an opin.
ion, we cannot say that our hour of decis-
ion has struck-but assurody it is near.
-Four, perhaps five, republics of America
have decided for Cuban recognition one or
two are virtually at war with Spain; and
now it is asked whether the Government of
the United States will release thirty gun
boats against the positive protest of a friend
ly power, albeit tile sworn enemy of spain
The world may view, what the gods may
admire, the spectacle of brave nation, with
great heart, engaged in the honest work
of selfrepreSsion, willie the pirate Of ma
tioDs plumbers the traveller whom the good
Samaritan is powerless TO assist. Has the
day for deliveIace come?