Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-06-14
WEDNESDAY, JUNE IA, 1871.
Our Relations with Spain and Cuba

Jul htIdtiOns Win spain anu OaDi
The Washington correspondent of the n
Y. Tribune makes the following statemen
respecting the claims of American citizen
for injury to property in Cuba:
The American owners of estates in Cub
are still complaining that, through the effort
of the agents Of Spain in this city and else
where, their claims are constantly misrepre
scented. The question at issue between then
and the Captain General, they say, is not ont
Of damages at all, but whether they shall b.
allowed to regain immediate possession 0
their property fifteen months after the Home
Government has ordered it's release, or wal
until the authorities in the island lave solo
one or two more valuable crops, and obtained
the money for them. These men expect t.
20 before the Commission with their claims
for damages already done. The crops or
some Of the larger estates have been sold fOl
from 5000 600 to $500 600 But what they
most complain of is, that while the Home
Government has ordered the restoration Of
their property, the Captain General stands
an Impediment in the way OF the execu-
ton of the order. lie statement that many
of these estates have been released Is true,
but this has not been done until the owners
hare been forced pay large sums of money
and those who own tie estates still held clam
that they have right to recover them with
out further loss. What these claimants de-
sire TO have our government do is to inform
Spain that her orders have not been eXecut-
Cd, and peremptorily demand that she cause
them to be obeyed at once.
This state Of affairs should bring squarely
before the people of the United States the
question to what obligations the govern
ment,-that Is, the whole pcoplc-of the
United States is under in protecting property
owned by citizens in a foreign jursdic-
ton. J here has been, it seems to us, a great
deal Of nonsense and 4 great deal of bluster
brought to the discussion Of this question
and in its relation to Cuba, there is any
quantity Of indignant denunciation of our
government because it does not at once 20 u
war with Spain to protect what are called
American interests IN Cuba But, before We
get into a war that viii cost a good many
millions Of dollars, it would be we'll enough
TO undel stand just what we are to 90 to wal
for
A plain statement Of the case is about this
Some persons, born or naturalized citizens OF
the United States, not quite content with in
vesting their money and their energies IN
farming, manufacturing or mercantile pur-
suits within the limits Of the United States.
and calculating that larger profits could be
made by owning estates in Cuba, embark
their capital in pantations otherwise, in
that island. Subsequently a revolution
throws the whole island into a war, and one
party or the other seizes and confscates the
plantations. 1t is 'tolerably clear that or
government did not invite these citizens to
send their property abroad in the first in
stance nor is our government responsible
for the revolution 1t is not easy to see how
any one is at fault in tie matter except the
men who voluntarily put their property in a
country where revolutions are as frequent as,
and more destructive than, earthquakes By
what principle either of Justice or equity OF
paternal government are the United States
called upon 10 20 to war in and of the ven
lures of such citizens Why should n t our
citizens who choose to 20 abroad with their
speculative notions and investments do so at
their Own risk Why should those who keep
their money and energies at home, and with
own country, become the general insurers OF
every adventurer who may have a fancy to
take his capital to Havana, or Buenos Ayres,
or PARIS, or Pekin, or Timbvctoo
Ii should be borne in mind that this is not
a question of protecting the property OF
American citizens in any place, like the high
seas, where all nationalities have eornmUn
IertiruirtrUn. There the government owes
the duty of protection, and there the citizen
carries with him the right to bcsecure in his
person and property. That is common
ground But claims like those originating
IN Cuba arise wholly within foreign iuris-
diction, and ID is not easy to see why our
them. 1t may use its good Offices to protect
It's citizens anywhere it has the power to
20 to war on account OF these Cuban claims
but would it be either wise or even expedient
that it should push its demand for redress to
the point Of actual hostlities
We do not ask these questions because We
suppose there is any real danger that our
demands will be at present pushed to any
such extremity, but principally to call the
readers attention to what has always seemed
to us the false, but is generally the popular,
view of the duties of the government In such |
cases 1t Is quite too common TO suppose |
that the American citizen and his property, !
if meddled-with anywhere, are to be defend |
ed by the whole power Of the United States !; |
1t ought to be settled that the |
American citizen who chooses to establish
himself in business in Cuba, or England, or
Turkey, does 50 at his own peril, and, as a
general rule, must take the chances of his /
own venture. Beyond its jurisdiction |
government ought to be called upon to do
nothing but use its good Offices in aid of its
citizens it certainly ought not to be made /
not only a partner in the venture, but an /
absolute insurer of every rowing capitalist or
traveller who chooses to 60 abroad in search
Of fortune
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