New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-11
CUBd-BELLIGERENCY.

| CCBI-DELLIbL
The interviewing" nuisance is one which
shows no signs of abatement. Indeed, 1t seems
| to us not calculated to yield to any remedial
application less vigorous than horSewhp.
| What shall be done to mitigate Its atrocities
Public men are held up to popular gaze as eX-
pressing the most absurd opinions on the as
sertion of some vagrant Bohemian whose word
would not be taken for a glass of toddy, yet
who pretends to have drawn from our foremost
men columns of slap-dash criticism on the for
eign and domestic policy of our own and other
GOvemmentS-critciSm which should only have
been hazarded after the most mature consider
alton, and in terms carefully weighed and
chosen. Surely, there should be some cOrrcc-
tive for an abuse so fragrant.
"Your correspondent of The World has just
been interviewing Mr.. Sumner with respect to
Cuba, and Processes to have pumped him to
the following effect:
CowepondeHt-Mr. Sumner. do you think that in
view of the reported of the Cubans, and
the generally promising aspect of their affairs the
attitude OF the Administration the question Of accord.
ing Cuba bcllgercnt rights will undergo any immediate
change?
Mr. SUmna-NO, Sir. The question is, in my opinion.
as far from solution Indeed the position Of
the Government this question made still more
delicate from very fact OF the possible truth OF the
reports which you alude Granting that those reports
correct-whlch, however, am strongly inclined TO
doubt considering the channels through which they reach
gained not Of themselves of any ma
teria importance the Cubans, Of any signal dis
advantage to the spaniards. In this view Of the
case. the Government commit itself 10 any fixed
line OF policy either favorable or adversave TO the
cause Of the revOutionsts, until evidence shall have
aduced which shall cOncusvey prove that the one
power the other is clearly in the ascendant without
the possibility rather the probability Of reverse Gen
Pueblo may may not have been defeated at Guaimaro
he yet has at his disposal large force of and
exhausted exchequer-two most vital elements to the
successful prosecution Of no matter where may be
the heaer OF action These the Cubans do not possess
at least in equal degree and their defeat in the late
battles would probably have sealed their fate beyond the
power hope Of resusctatOn. There is no probability 1t
seems ne, of this Government yielding to the popular
clanor on the question until the Cubans shall have
accomplished the following results First given evidence
Of their ability military power TO accomplish the
puEEoRe profess abeto accomplish, viz; the
driving out Of the Spaniards from the island at the point
OF the bayOnet second the occupation of city or
impregnable position where all matters having inter
national legal bearing may be adjusted without the
fear of reversal of judgment in OF Spanish success
in the field The latter event necessarily implies the
former hut state it distinct proposition in order TO
elothe it with the degree Of impOrtancehat it in my
GENTLY assured on these Rponts to enable it
to fix its line Of policy Unquestionably the feel
ing of the American people is in favor of the re-
cognitiOn Of Cuba without further delay but hardly
think that it their COOL sober judgment that speaks
We are par erccce as nation, creatures OF impulse
and prone give free rein to ideas without su
GENTLY studying what viii probably result therefrom.
if carried into practical effect This question Of Cuba is
not really understood by out Of hundred Of our
called thinking men. Tie workings Of the secret
chney have not yet been exposed to the public gaze IL
is not so much what the Cubans have failed may fail
to accomplish TO which is attributable the present atti
tude of the Government this question: as 1t Is the
probable results that will follow the recognition Of her
belgerency by the United States In the latter case,
Spain has distinctly avOwed her intention Of making it
cdsu bei, Notwithstanding that the result Of war
between the two Governments could have but one posi-
BILE result-the d. 3comfture of the weaker power"
Comments by The Tribune.
1t is by no means incredible that a CORE
spondent of The World should be unconscious
of difference between recognizing state of
belligerency and recognizing the independence of
an insurgent power; but Mr.. Sumner is of
another sort and we. Judging solely from in
trinsic evidence, pronounce the above fabri-
cation. He cannot have SO COMPOUNDED two
things so radically, glaringly different.
Belligerency is a fact. You recognize or fail
to recognize it, just as you would deal with
cry that your neighbours house was on fire
Independence is also fact, but one totally
different from belligerency Mr.. Sumner can
not have COMPOUNDED them.
To recognize belligerency is simply to recog-
nze a state of war; Does this exist in Cuba
or does it not? How long must the struggle
20 on there as it has gone for the last eighteen
months, before it will be proper to say that
the parties to that struggle are belligerents
Great Britain and France recognized the
Southern Confederacy as bellgerent before
one serious action had taken place in this
country. We thought this premature and in
dcative of an unfriendly spirit but did not
regard it as justifying declaration OF war on
our part. Now, it seems, that Spain will make
war upon us, if we recognize the Cubans as
belligerents! We do not believe it. We do
not believe that Mr.. Sumner ever said it. But,
if Spain would really make war upon us for
that, we trust that she may have an early OPP
uoTtuultV,