New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-25
THE SPANISH FLEET IN NER-YORK.

The Spanish fleet which has been Orucreu 10
New-YOrk for the purpose of conveying to
Cuba the gunboats now under seizure by
our Government, is part of the Spanish Cuban
squadron commanded by Admiral Malcampo,
under whose instructions the building OF the
gunboats has been carried on. He has dis
patched the conveying feet thus promptly on
the completion of the first batch of the gun
boats, because his Government is especially
DESTROYS that they may reach Cuba and com
mence operations Immediately. The work OF
building the gunboats has from the first been
carried on with the greatest possible dispatch;
and it is extremely annoying and offensive TO
the Spanish Government that there should now
he any delay about getting them into active
service. Circumstances have lately made II
more necessary than ever that their arrival IN
Cuba should be fastened; for Spanish interests
there must suffer enormously since Cespedes be-
gan to carry out the reported policy which re-
quires the nsurgent troops to devastate the eoun-
try and destroy the cane-crop, plantations, ana
mills. It will only require few months of
war on these terms to render the "Gem of the
Antilles utterly worthless to the country
which has heretofore been enriched by it.
Spain will not only find that her
Cuban revenues have disappeared for the
present, but she will also discover that her
prospects of revenue for years to come have
PASSED out of sight. She has heretofore carried
on the war in the most desperate, determined,
and persevering way, mainly because she looked
for renewal Of her rich Cuban returns inn
mediately on its cessation. She never needed
these returns 30 much as she does at this
time; and nothing has damaged the Regency
Government more than the unhappy experience
of the last eighteen months, by which Cuba
has been a drain upon the Spanish Treasury
instead of q source Of supply for 1t. On these
accounts, every day is now of the highest con-
sequence to her, and no delay can be tolera-
ted, for delay is ruin
There cannot, at all events, be much delay
on the part of our Government in reaching
decision about these gunboats. They were yes
terday libeled and delivered over to the Gus
tody of the Marshal, where they will remain
till judicial decision is rendered. 1t Is UNI
derstood that the cases will be brought up
Immediately, and both parties are in active
preparation for short and decisive contest.
District Attorney Perrepont holds that our stat
ute requires tho condemnation of these gunboats,
while the Spanish representatives declare that
OUR ItIubbl 10 Nv VIII w ah luoulS
to Spain which she will not be slow to resent.
Whatever be the decision of the Court, the
friends Of the Cuban Republic need not be dis
turbed at the result. Congress will presently
be in session, and it will not be an easy mat
| ter for Admiral Malcampo to get the gunboats
into his hands and out of this port by that
time. We suppose there is now not much doubt
| that, soon after meeting, Congress will take
ground In favor of the recognition Of the bel
ligerent rights Of the Cuban Republics and,
after that, there need be no fear that Presi-
dent Grant will delay single day In issuing
the proclamation which our Washington letter
of yesterday said was already drawn up. OF
course, the recognition Of Cuba's belligerent
rights would prevent the sailing from this
port. or any other American port, OF any naval
expedition designed to assist the Spanish All:
thority. As for the Spanish menaces Of war In
case these steps are taken by our Government,
we can only say it is not very likely our Govern
ment will permit its policy to DO dictated by
Spaiu,