The New York herald., 1870-06-17
The Cuban Questions. General Grant, Com
gress and the Republican Party.

|
sress and the Republican Party.
The President gained an important victory
yesterday In Congress on the Cuban question,
in the adoption--lO3 to 86--of harmless sub
stitute for the resolutions Of General Banks,
from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the
substitute resolution being as follows:-
That the President Is hereby authorized to remon-
6trate against the barbarOus manner IN which the
| war Ia Cuba has been conducted, and, II he shall
deem IL expeiient 10 solicit the cooperation OF
other governments in such measures az he may
deem necessary to secure from both contending par.
ties an oossrvaace OF tue laws Of war recognized by
This is equivalent to the adoption of the
Presidents late special message on the sub
ject, not only by the House, but by the repub-
lican party Of the House; for only small
minority of that party voted in the negative.
Several important points are thus established.
First the President is sustained by Congress
and by his party, which is the responsible
party in Congress. Second, his position is
strengthened in Congress as the head aud
executive embodiment of his party in refe-
renee to the Presidential succession. Third,
he is strengthened in the general policy Of his
dministration-peace, progress, retrench-
ment, the lessening of our burden of taxes and
the redemption Of the public debt. Fourth,
the attention ofSpain and the civilized world is
called, In voice which cannot be disregarded,
to ''the barbarous manner in which the war in
Cuba has been conducted" Fifth, it is left
to the Presidents discretion whether to invite
or not the cooperation Of other nations in
| remonstrance on this subject, and whether
he shall or shall not reorganize his Cabinet for
o new departure.
This resolution, then, may be well pro-
nounced Aot only great victory for the sound
administrative policy of General Grant, but
most important victory for the republican
party itself over the strong and dangerous
temptation to 60 flibustering into Cuba. We
find in some Of our democratic exchanges the
hope expressed Of such split among the
republicans as must result in shelving General
Grant as candidate for the succession. For
instance, one of these prophetic democratic or
gans says that Grant, '.in his weakness and
political inexperience, has suffered himself to
be estranged from the really shrewd and cum
ming politicians Of his party, and has entrusted
| his fortunes in the hands Of clique quite as
selfish and arbitrary, but at the same time In
finitely weaker in skill and resources" and
that, following the dictatioA Of these mon,
Grant has lost what little popularity he had
with the people, and has efectually spoiled
| all his chances for denomination"
Here the great difficulty which most per-
plexes the democratic wirepullers for the
succession is frankly confessed. It is Grant
If he were only out Of the way the course
| would be clear. How can we shelve him
republican camp and bring about such split
as will divide the party upon two candidates
in 1872, or rule Grant of the track. This,
then, is the game of the democratic leaders
and organs; and as all things are fair in war
they must be allowed to play it. The same
game, however, was played against jackson,
and against Lincoln for second term, but in
both cases it signally failed. While the demo-
cracy, therefore, are manmuvring to bring
about the shelving of Grant, they will be acting
very foolishly if they neglect to consider the
overwhelming probabilities of his nomination
for another term. So far they have done
nothing in recognition of the 'tixed facts !"
with which in 1872 they will have to deal
facts inevitably demanding a great change
from the Tammany programme of 1868.
Meantime the only safe position the repub-
licans can occupy is that of adhesion to
Grants administration, and their only avail
able candidate for ~ is Grant, on his safe and
IL 20
ment of our resources, retrenchment Of ex-
penses and taxes, and redemption Of the debt.
This is admitted by the responsible party in
| the decisive House vote on this Cuban question.
1t is an admission that Congress cannot
| now afford to run the risk of raising
the price Of gold and embarrassing our
| financial afairs and the business affairs Of the
country by flibustering resolutions; that
there is no necessity for war declarations or
materials for Wall street panics for the benefit
of unscrupulous spectators and stock jobbers !;
| that the administration must be sustained in
fostering the interests of peace, productive
industry, European emigration to our shores,
financial steadiness and public confidence in
our national treasury, and the payment Of the
| national debt. These are the great duties
assumed by General Grant, the grand objects
to which it is his policy to make all other
questions subordinate, and upon this policy he
will be sustained by the country. The
Alabama claims will keep, and if it does not
settle itself meantime we can, with our way
clear before us, settle the Cuban question at
any time hereafter, st. Domingo is offered as
great bargain, involving no foreign difficulty,
and hence General Grant has earnestly labored
for this desirable annexation. He will not,
however, quarrel with the Senate about it for
he has no notion Of repeating the follies Of
| Andy Lob ns0n