The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-19

we can give him, and conceding that, under
the circumstances, il may excuse him for
resting upon his oars and drifting down
stream, we can look only to Congress for
action upon this Cuban question.
It is in this view that nothing can be ex-
pected from the administration in taking the
initiative for the settlement of this question
that we regard with special satisfaction the
movements made in both houses OF Congress
in behalf of something like fair play to the
Cubans and in behalf of some recognition
withal of the rights of American citizens. We
regard these movements with special salts
faction because, without the direct lnteryen-
ton of Congress, the Government Is In Dan
ger Of being disgraced in the eyes OF the
civilized world. On the plea OF humanity
alone General Grant, at any time since the
4th of March last, would have been sustained
by Congress-, by the American people, and by
the enliohtened opinion of Christendom in
proclaiminp belligerent rights to the Cubans.
Nav. more, at any time within the period in
dicated he would have been sustained by the
public sentiment of the United States, and
Justified before the world, in pleading the
duty of an armed occupation of Cuba in
order to put an end to the barbarous atroci-
ties of the Spaniards and to their savage gov
ernment over the island, as outside the pale
of civilization recognized by the law of
nations.
On the broad and general principles of
humanity and civilization there was plau-
sible excuse for the French armed interven-
ton in and protectorate over Mexico. On the
same plea as that of Louis Napoleon, con-
sidering the fact that we have assumed the
guardianship over that country against Euro
pean interferences, it becomes our duty to
establish law and order in Mexico. The same
plea, in view of the reduction of the Spanish
government over Cuba to the savage condi-
ton, would doubtless satisfy Napoleon as our
explanation for q military occupation of the
island. But Mr.. Fish, they tell us, is afraid
of a war with Spain, and the President says,
''Let us have peace" So be it, then. But,
surely, the Cubans, against all the power of
Spain by land and sea- have sufficiently
proved their title to belligerent rights. Per-
haps; but have we come in conflict with Mr..
Summers hobby, those Alabama claims? We
apprehend that Mr.. Fish has not the remotest
idea of any further agitation of those claims
while he remains in the State Department;
but for all that Mr.. Sumner does not wish to
have his case weakened by any recognition of
belligerency in behalf of the Cuban insur-
gents.
Hence we infer the resolutions submitted
in both houses of Congress, and the reported
intention of the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions of each body, are directed rather to the
enlargement OF our n6uJrallCy laws Inan 10 Lne
concession of belligerent rights to the Cubans.
On belligerent rights their claim is apparently
not much better than was that of JEFF. Davis
after Lincoln's proclamation of a blockade,
and that is matter of international law; but
our neutrality is a matter subject to the action
of Congress. The law of 1918 has become
threadbare and liable to such one-sided mis-
conceptions as those of Mr. Fish. 1t needs
amendment, and such amendment as will
admit of no misconstruction.
We believe that the Committee of Foreigr
Affairs of the House, of which General Banks
is chairnan, is disposed to act faithfully OF
this Cuban business, in accord with the uni.
| versal public sentiment of the country; ant
we are assured that the Committee on Foreigl
Relations of the Senate, of which Mr.. Sumne
is chairman, is satisfied that they must not il
this business triae any longer with publ
opinion. We hope, however, that Genera
Banks and the House will lead off, becaus
that body, in being nearer the people than tn
Senate, in nearer the mark of ''manifes
destiny" and we want a resolution from tn
immediate representatives of the people first
because we want to wake up the administrs
ton. 1t has already been asleep too long
and should be permitted to sleep no longer.