The New York herald., 1870-06-06
CONGRESS AND CUBA
Our shilly-shally, Hating Policy-GensrI
Banks Needing spur-Dangers Of Further
Delay in Recognizing Cuba-A Change Of
Base Not Necessarily Causing
Change Of Prsmiers- Why secre-
tary Fish Need Not Resign.

! VAshiNoTON, June D. 1871
Poor struggling Cuba-which according to some
Ia on Its very last legs now and according 70 otn.
ers, possesses Just as much fighting vIgor as ever
has been kept very prominently before the public
for over two weeks by the spicy debates in Con.
gress the publication OF Banks report and the con-
nicting rumors from Havana The confident pre-
diction that Congress would do something In the
line OF asserting bold national policy on the sub
ject has not been fulfilled Procrastinaton the insid-
ious thief OF time, Is at work with our lawmakers
In this vital business OF aid 10 Cuba the policy seems
to be delay. delay delay. "Let us first dispose OF
our tariff" says one member. 30, yes, you have
our sympathy, and We VIII display 1t IN tell
ing manner. But let us alone until We
Tx up the reduction OF taxes" says An
Other 81 am with you, heart and
soul" says third; "but YOU know we cannot neg
lect the appropriations. The government can't DO
run nj the end OF this month unless we shall have
voted 1t pecuniary supplies" In the mean time,
while all these sympathetic protestations and pro-
misses are beng made, cargo OF pickaniDny, little
| legislative measures is noated through Congress-,
and yet the cry about Cuba is 'wait, watt wait.n
'Have little patience" .Gvc US little more
| time"
was ever such miserable. dilly-dallying policy
pursued by great government before on question
OF such vital Importance to Its own interestsf Was
ever such shameful neglect committedf Here we
| are, the greatest ana freest Power on the
| globe. Our boast is that we have heart
big enough to sympathize and arms lusty enough 10
succor all the struggling nationalities OF the globe
in their Efforts against tyranny. And yet here at
our very doors is little people battling In the samc
cause as impeed forefathers to contend with
! Old England battling noby, too, for sixteen or
| eighteen months against the oppression OF cruel
and rapacious rulers, while we refuse give them
| even word Of national cheer and encouragement.
Worse STILL our own American citizens but
! chered In Cuba without cause by the bloodthirsty
| spaniards, and when two sterling representatives,
like Logan and Voorhees, call loudly and eioquentiy
for action the reply Is, wait for the tariff hold up till
we fix the tax or tarry yet little while till we
] adopt the appropriations.
Congressman Voorhees, well told his fellow men,
bers the other day that government could take
| lesson from Great Britain, who failed TO pro-
tect her citizens, the wide world over. promptly aud
thoroughly, boldly ana firmly, stopping till
she recovered justice enforced satisfaction. Mr..
voorhees, description Of the style in which England
punished the Abysslnian Theodore for outrages to
British subjects ought truly to make Americans
| blush for the impunity with which their brethren
have been harassed and butchered on soil almost
within sight OF their own territory aud belonging to
| a weak and tottering despotism
| With so many causes OF grievance against Spain
| fensve Americans IL is worse than neglect to allow
| a moments delay In demanding adequate Indemnity.
1t exposes us to the charge OF being mean-spirted
and lacking In that high sense OF dignity which
places national honor before dollars and cents which
ignores every trnng consideration even such az the
/ mighty Schenck's mighty tariff and the stawOrth
Dawes appropriations, when such great issues at
| stake as the immunity Of an American citizen
| abroad.
Don't II seem bare possibility that the great
American nation would pardon its Congress II it
would lay aside for few days, aye for week,
It's dreary monotones concerning finance, taxation,
ways and means and the like and enter heart and
soul with the spirit Of 10 and 1912 into this business
OF Spanish insults TO its nag and Spanish slaughter
OF its citizens. 10 really seems as though such a
thing were possible, and that the consequence would
! not be an entire dlsarrangement OF the executive
| legislative and judicial economies.
But TO be serious. am almost despairing or Banks.
He Ii TOO SLOW apparently, or too scary OF defeat.
If you ask him when ne Is going to press the fight
soon m as can get % cnance" why don't yc" DO 1s Il
nowY" you may chance to inquire further. "oh,
| want To bring up the matter when the whole
House VIII give me It's attention and
losing chances and pering the cause of Cuba
itself For suppose while Banks procrastinates
| Cuban patrios-some disaster which would crush
out the rebellion altogether-what good would then
1
erons sympath les his eloquent sentences and splen-
did intentions? The golden opportunity would bc
would be fettered more strongly than ever by their
| Spanish masters and the noble aspirations OF gal
liant people for Independence eGectually destroyed.
| II Is possible that General Banks may pluck up
sufficient courage to ask next week the attention OF
the house TO this subject an attention wkicn feel
| confident would be denied by not more than dozen
members. But fear he will wait stiii longer, until
Logan and Voorhees, spur him on to action.
| WHAT LOGAN AND VOORHEES, PROPOSE.
l have informed already the DrOurammn
agreed upon, and now repeat 1t. 1t is the inten-
ton OF Logan and voorhees,, should Banks let the
selves on that day, and beg the House TO give It i'm
| mediate consideration. Then General Banks may
be sure he will get his long looked for opportunity
and If he fails TO improve IL he will have one to
biame but himself. am unwilling to believe that
| urging recognition OF the Cubans, and demanding
indemnity OF the spanards for their insults to the
| flag and outrages upon the citizens ol the United
States / feel confident that should such resolutions
| pass the House they would be concurred In by the
Senate, spite Of whatever opposition Mr.. Sumner
might make /; and have good assurances that then,
Congress having plainly spoken Its wili, President
Grant would gladly change his policy and
his by upholding the honor and sacred charac-
ter OF our nag and citizenship In such the
exgencies OF the case require In do ng so he would
only be faithful TO his promises when he took the
oath of office. Then he soIemnIy declared he would
hold to no policy not in unison with the popular
. Will.
In the event OF such happy accord occurring be-
/
necessarily tnat Secretary Fish should resign. In
| deed, in common fairness think 10 Is due TO MIR.
Fish to state that he not the stubborn man people
, suppose He has not single handed and alone con-
tended for the past do-nothlng policy toward Cuba
In pursuing the course Nc did ne had the confidence
and appreciation OF the President Should Congress-
Z | therefore, demand change Ia that policy
| the responsibility therefor, for veal or for
|. | woe, would be upon Congress, not upon Fish.
The latter would not feel hured ne would not con-
sider 1t necessary to throw up his portfolio any
: | more than General Grant would consider 1t nCum.
bent upon himself to resign the Presidency. make
this explanation because some people think that the
President hestaes to declare for Cuba only because
of hts friendship for Fish, and his unwthngness to
mortify the latter or to take step rendering neces-
sary the withdrawal OF his Premier. It Is but {
sorry compliment to the President 20 suppose thai
he would sacrifice the Will Of the whole nation IL
interests and honor, for the sake OF one Cabine,
| minister or the whole OF them. have reason &c
know that both the President and Secretary Fish
would hail Q decided relief action by CONGRESS