New-York tribune., 1870-01-01
WISHINGT TON SKETCHES.
CUBA AND GEORGIA.

swarming in. 70 find the patient IN dthcH0 morfsf
VIII a reprevo arrive after the stranglingf
The speeches Of Senator Carpenter and Represent.
aiye Fitch last week gave little life 10 our failing
hopes for Cuban independence. They were 40 earn
est fearless aud generous in spirit that no one not
Spanish diplomat, or in the paw Of thoSpaDish Court
or concerned in the settlement Of the great account
with England not subsidized, or Alabamazed. conld
have listened to them without at least a mild glow
Of enthusiasm.
Mr. Summers course toward Cuba makes one fear
that he is getting near " the snOw-lino'has parted
with the ardor and impulse Of youth-bas begun TO
stifen with that calculating prudence which is
cepted as political wisdom-that dread Of adventure
that fear of ones own shadow, reputation, which
goes under the name Of political consistency. While
refusing substantial AID to Cuba, which perhaps IL
all right the great Senator denies her sympathy and
respect forbds her to hope and casts doubts on her
honor and good faith. lie goes by the other side.
which is not all right. III M, &c.
Can it be that Mr. Summers humanitarian sympa-
thies are limited to the most unfortunate race for
which he has labOred and suffered so much do
these enterprises lack color
write confess, as an ardent Cdbanite. as the
duly appointed Secretary Of the Washington Juna
Patriodcd De Cubands Indeed, for all see aud hear
of the other officers am inclined to think am tue
Janta We met one night, about year ago, at the
house of a distinguished Senator for organization
and consultation. We organized. We cOnsplred
Indignant resolutions were drawn up. Brave
speeches were made. couple Of eloquent clergy
men blessed the heroic cause Spain suffered some
that ni4ht. Since then. save visit Of condolences
from one of the clergymen, | have had no official
communication from any of my fellow-conspirators
All alone by myself, can hardly conspre much
but with your leave. l will have my little say
would recognize Cuba's belligerency, her nation
alIty consistency or consistency, though adecla
ration of from that very uncertain and unstaDie
Court of Madrid, should the very next day Dc
flashed into the face Of President Glanti though
Minister Roberts should " walk Spanish on the in
slant. would plot, would agitate would vote
would flhbuster wOuld-O pshaw! I'm a woman
Still let me ask must our dish be turned bottom
inward lust when the goldenest OF the golden ap-
pies of the Hesperides about to drop from the
rotten old bough of Spanish despotismf Must that
ugly, Elusive Alabama claim forever stand In the
way of our humanity and our good foTtunef
gTieye to see such a man as MT. sumner counsellug
inaction delay. while Cuba is making her last he
rolc struggle and Spain is tightening the death-grlp
When he has been questioned in the Senate, he was
either uncertain purposely evasve in his replies In
the face Of her Constitution he doubts whether Cuba
is really anti-Savery. He asks why Spain does not
abolish Saveryi and echo answers after he- usual
non -commttal fashion, He is Of the opinion that
we must stand quietly By and see Spanish gunboats
built and equipped at docks. which to Us. to
whom Cuba is an entity, with "a corporate exis
tence" is almost equivalent to ourselves letting
loose the sea-dOgs of war on sister republic.
Its cheering to see how bravely the new. leaders,
Carpenter and Fitch, champion the forlOrn cause
with chvalrous faith and ardor, with that old fash
ioned element, long lost to our legislation-enthu
M IL. 1. q,
too dear in national honor not only for the Alabama
whistle, but for the Jewel of consistency. At all
events tue free Western spirit of these two eloquent
men has freshened mp their dull chambers St-ons
winds from the Great Lakes and the Great Plains
That must be good cause that calls ont such cham
ponship, and to which brave men give their lives
and fair women their jewels
The excitement created in the House by the hns
speech of Mr. Fitch was altogether pleasant and re-
yiving and so differed from that attending the
sharp. quick fight on the Georgia question. The
proceedings of Monday and Tuesday in the House
showed that that honorable body were not content
to dwell in decencies forever" There were BIT
ter accusations and recrimnatons, warnings and
threatenings. while bad jokes were scattered about
in perfectly reckless and dreadful way.
A friend who accompanied me lOne new to Parlis
mentary contests, and so, taking everything in
quite excited over the nghtsession, but sat calm
and collected, remembering the closing scenes ofs
Congress in the good old ante-war days when there
were giants in the arena. Joshua Il. Giddings aud
Humphrey Marshall long John Wentworth and
Howell Cobb. once witnessed. from the gallery OF
the old House, midnight encounter between two
chyalrous Southern gentlemen, which passed, by an
easy and graceful transition from words to blows.
There was a wild rush--a whirlng circle of black
coats: there were cries of Part 'en y Hold 'eml
The Speakers hammer stormed away like the anvil
chorus. There oyerturnng of ch; irs; there was
brandshing of knives; there were shieks from the
galleries. All that was night session worth seeing
The camest strongest speaker among the Dem
ocrats was Judge Woodward of Pennsylvania
Judge Woodward is man of noble presence, with
a fine head and massive features. marked by
peculiarly despondent yet resolute expression. He
stands six feet three, and every inch Democrat
Ii is q pity TO see so much mangwasted. Neither
by nature by choice politician. thoroughly
honest and conscientious he braces himself with
cast-rOn rigidity against the wild current OF
popular ideas against the mighty floods of Rad-
calism. He would stand on the old Democratic
platform amid the wreck Of matter and the crush
of worlds OF strong. and it seems TO me
narrow. prejudices, of bitter and unrelentns
political animostieS he is yet a man "hom
opponents as well associates must respect
He is the embodiment OF opposition of protest. lie
would scarcely swim with the current If the current
would turn and 20 with him. For him the victories
of Republican legislation are melancholy occasons-
funeral days. lie seems already in mourning Ior q
departed Republic, done 10 death 10y the tanaticlsm
and atheism of the Radical party ia power die really
believes these things and takes them deeply to heart
Were it not for Christian faith that God reigns over
all. unblnded by the fogs of new political phi