The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-06-15

Wednesday Morning, June 10, 1870.
Cuba.

1t is asserted that majority of the Com
mittee on Foreighn Affairs, including Messrs.
Banks, the chairman, Fernando Wood, Shell
don, Wilkinson and Swaun, in their report on
Cuban affairs, have agreed to report that st
is the right and duty of the United States
"First-To recognize the existence of the
contest.
Second-To declare and maintain an i'm
partial neutrality.
" Tbird-To give to both parties the same adj
vantages of intercourse and trade with the
United States
"Fourth-To invite the President to remonL
strate against the barbarous manner III "n'o'
the war has been conducted"
Messrs. Judd, Orthe, Amber ana liaid'
of the Committee, have prepared minority
report. declaring that, so far as they have evil
depce. there is "no revolutionary government
in possession and control of any part of Cuba;
that the insurgents have no town, no seaport,
no vessel no civil organization, no courts, no
elections and in short nothing which would
Justify the grant of belligerent rights" But
they recommend the passage of bill making
it misdemeanor to fit out or equip ships Of
war, with intent that they shall be employed
in the service of any European prince or state,
for the purpose of subduing American colo
nists claiming independence, and providing for
the forfeiture of such ship or vessel"
The Presidents message, sent to Congress
on Monday, helps us still further to under
stand the real situation of affairs in Cuba
for it is founded on facts which have not been
accessible to the public, and clears away the
bewilderment in the public mind induced by
the conflicting reports from the interested
factions,an the sharp competition to shape
the American sentiment entirely in favor Of
one or the other of the contendlng parties.
Naturally our symyathies are with peo-
pie endeavoripg to throw off despotism. and
this sympathy leaned the stronger towards
the revolutionists when the Cespedes party
pronounced for the abolition of slavery, and
much disappointment was felt when Mr..
Sumner, in the Senate few months ago, OPP
posed with so much warmth proposition to
recognize the Cubans as belligerents.
President Grant, in his message, now re-
views the whole question, both of fact and the
foreign policy OF our government; and shows
clearly, that the administration has no infor-
nation on the subject which would justify
such substantial recognition of the insur-
gents as Gen. Banks report proposes.
The foreign trade of Cuba is governed by
Spanish laws, administered by Spanish Off
GERS, all the ports, ortresses, courts of justice,
the large towns, the important agricultural
districts, the administration of law are in the
undisputed control of the Spanish authorities
in short there is no force of circumstances re-
quiring our government to take notice of the
instruction. 1t is plain, then, that nothing
should be done until the existence of gov
epment de tacto, with its legislative body, its
courts and other internal regulations and gov
eminent of maritime and commercial affairs.
The people of the United States would be
glad to see the Cubans attain such condi-
ton, for our relations with that island have
been and are now important; but recogni-
ton now would be injurious to ourselves and
of no assistance to them.
A contemporary, discussing the question, re-
marks that
1t is vulgar prejudice, which is not shared
by the mass OF American citizens, that the
cause of human freedom and republican in.
situations in the world depends upon this
country making itself a nuisance to its neigh
bors; nor is it maxim of American states
manship that our government shall require
all others to administer their affairs on hu-
name and liberal principles. We have our
own work at home; and while this is man.
aged wisely and prosperousy our example will
do tar more to make Cuba and even Spain
%r,p1x erao oil of
ces and resolutions, than all e7en OF our fleets
and armies.