The New York herald., 1870-01-10
Iuapertant Exhibit sfr the Cusaa Nesstas-
tions-Ths Approaching ssttisnsns.Tg


pared summing up of the negotiations between
the United States and Spain on the Cuban
question since the appointment Of General
Sickles as our Minister at Madril. Although
from a mistaken departure, as we think, the
initial and successive steps and incidents in
a. -....'s.s-- -sA-u . a. Als- -AA--.--
.1Use negoiatlons, as uotailou ssa.ol,ele,
make the whole case perfectly clear and con-
sistent in reference to the course pursued
by Mr.. Secretary Fish and our Minister and
in reference also to the embarrassments Of the
Spanish government.
The preliminary proposition Of General
Sckles on the Sd of September las. to the
provisional government at Madrid, it thus
appears, was simply the friendly Offices Of the
United States in behalf Of an amicable settle
ment between Spain and the Cuban revolu-
tionists. This offer being favorably received,
our Minister, pursuant to instructions, next
submitted basis Of settlement, embracing four
propositions FIRST, Cuban independence;
second, indemnity to Spain; third, the aboli-
tion Of slavery fourth, the cessation of hos
tilities. The proposed indemnity TO Spain, to
be guaranteed by the United States, in plain
English, was the payment Of one hundred mil
lions of dollars for the island. In answer to
these propositions Seiior Silvela, the Spanish
Minister for Foreign Affairs, submitted as an
Cubans lay down their arms, and that next
the question Of separation from Spain be
submitted to the people of the island In an
election under the Spanish authorities. Mr..
Fish could not entertain these propositions,
and thought that the election under the con-
ditions suggested would be mockery.
Finally, the propositions from Spain assumed
this shape First, a disarming by the Cubans;
second, indemnity to Spain for Spanish pro-
perty destroyed, to be guaranteed by the
United States; third, a free election to the
Cnbans on the question of separation from
Spain; fourth, general amnesty.
These four propositions against the four
submitted by General Sickles give us the con-
dition in which the negotiations stand at this
time. Nothing further has been done towards
striking balance between the high contract
ing parties. 1t seems to be understood, how
ever, that the internecine difficulties Of Spain
have compelled the present government to
deal with this Cuban question with extreme
caution; that any definitive movement to reln-
quish on any terms the Sever Faithful
Island" would be apt to fuse the republican
party, the Church party Comprising the adhe
rents Of Isabella). the Carlists and all the rival
personal factions Of the peninsula in common
cause against the de factO government; but
that with q strong government established
under Serrano or Prim, for instance, the trans
fer Of the island from Spain to the United
States may be readily accomplished. Mean
time, it appears from an impartial reconnois-
sance Of the island made by our Consul GEN
eral Plumb in person, that tho rebellion is
substantially at an end; that the insurgents
are reduced to few thousand bushwhackers
anything beyond petty guerrilla operations,
which may be prolonged indefinitely to no pur-
pose.
We are, then, on the Cuban question reduced
to the alternative Of awaiting the establish
ment Of strong government in Spain. When
will that be? This is a question hard to
answer; but as the Spanish government pro
tenn. has apparently exhausted itself in its
efforts to secure an outside volunteer for King
or Regent, a coup Gst0s on the part of General
Prim is hourly expected. After such coup
ddtat, if Napoleonic success, the necessities
of Prim in the matter of cash will probably
leave him no other resource than the sale of
Cuba for the one hundred millions awaiting
him in the unrecalled offer of our government
through General Sickles. Dealing with things
as they are, the cause of the Cubans is lost as
a basis of action and as balance Of power,
and our only course now appears to be to
await the upshot Of events in Spain.
General Grant, in other words, has per-
mitted golden opportunity to slip through
his fingers. A little dash would have fixed it.
We can see, in all the details of this business,
no cause of complaint against General Sickles.
On the contrary, in obedience to his instruc-
tions, he has acted throughout with remarka-
BILE fidelity and discretion, whatever may be
said upon small technicalities, which signify
nothing The great mistake was made at
Washington in the outset in utterly ignoring
the resolution adopted by the unanimous vote
of the House of Representatives at the close of
the last session of Congress, resolution which
would have been seconded by the Senate had
the session continued even one day longer.
That resolution, in the absence of Congress,
and by the unanimous voice Of the representa-
tives Of the American people, gave the Presi-
dent full authority to concede belligerent
rights to the Cubans In his discretion. Had
he assumed the responsibility to act accord
ingly he would have been supported by Con-
gress and the American people, and the Cuban
question would have been settled within ninety
days.
But what of the Alabama claims? Would
not the recognition Of Cespedes have been the