The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-27
E N g L A N D.
What H. said in Regard TO the Hecoguftian ot
Cuba by the United states.

Cuba by the United States.
The London Times of the 18th instant con-
tains u column editorial on the recent action OF
the House of Representatives of the United
States in relation TO the prospective recognition
OF Cuban independence from which we make
the following extract
The House of Representatives at Washington
has closed its session with a characteristic act. IL
has passed n prospective resolution for the
recognition OF Cuban independence by a MAJ jority
so large that one report describes il as carried
unanimously. More than u month ago a similar
resolution was adopted by the late House OF
Representatives and strangely coupled with n
profession of sympathy with the revolution in
Spain. In both cases the vote could have none
but moral effect, since the constitutional
responsibility rests with the President, who has
already received memorial on the subject from
the Cuban insurgents. The House of Repre-
sentatyes however, assures President Grant of
its support in the event of his seeing fit to
recognize any de fdctO government in Cuba based
on republican principles.
The belief of the American people that Cuba
must sooner or later fall into their hands has
long been all but openly avowed. Not only the
intrinsic value of the island, but the conscious
ness that ii might be worth infinitely more TO
America than to Spain, irresistibly recommends
the idea of annexation. Far be il from
us to represent this action, however premature,
rs q moral enormity or an intentional insult
10 Spain. Even if it were an intentional insult
il might well have been provoked by certain
high-handed proceedings of the Spanish fleet,
which concerns ourselves as well the United
States. What is too sef-cvident to be denied is
that it is utterly and hagrantly incon-
sistent with the grounds upon which the
Alabama claims have been always sup
ported by American diplomatists. The com
plant against Great Britain is that we conceded
belligerent rights to the Confederates with I'M
due haste, though not till after bclgerent rights
had been assumed by the United States Govern
ment through a proclamation of blockade. With
a far weaker justification the American House of
Commons the President N take a far
stronger course. So far the facts are known.
there is no comparison between the position of
the Cuban insurgents and that of the Confede-
rates in the first year of the war. The utmost
that is alleged on behalf of the former, in the
address to President Grant, is that two-thirds of
the island is under their control, aud majority
of the population in their favor. In respect Of
capacity for self-goYernnent they are i'm
measuraby behind the Southern whites. and
nothing but the internal embarassments of
Spain has enabled them to hold their own
against General Dulce. Yet it is proposed not
only to recognize them as belligerents, but to
recognize them as an independent State. with
out awaiting the issue of the contest. Again.
we say. this may bc right, but If il be right, how
frivolous are all the charges against the British
Government in respect of it, attitude towards
the Southern Confcdcracy Let us imagine a
similar resolution hayin" been carried in our
own House of Commons and communicated to
Mr.. Seward. There is a difference, indeed, in
constitutional power between the House of Com
nOIs anu tIc HOUSE Ol Representatives, ana
the possible secession of Cuba has long been
familiar to the American mind, but all other
differences tell on the opposite side. 1t will
greatly surprise us If Mr.. Motley docs not en-
phatically repudiate this er post fncto precedent
and give mp its defense in despair. We freely
admit, on our part, that President Grant is in
degree responsible for it, and is perfectly free
to open negotiations on Mr.. Stewards basis, as if
it did not exist. We only commend it to the
attention OF those who. forgetting what passed
when Hungary revolted, draw unfayorable con-
trasts between American and English observance
of neutrality. In the diplomatic intercourse Of
great nations tn quOqVe arguments are wholly
out of place. If England has done wrong to
the United States, subsequent wrong done by
the United States to Spain cannot be set off
against ii. The real moral Of the case is that,
other, TOO much weight should not be given to
manile. Ia tions Of feeling in popular assGmhlia-