The New York herald., 1871-12-03

Reports nj Madrid Of Rnglish and mcrc
Intervention.
We have despatch from Madrid, dated
| December 2, to this effect-that the Council of
Ministers was in session the greater part of the
day yesterday, and did not adjourn until
late hour at night; that questions of great
moment, growing out of the recent executions
in Havana and the general condition of Cuba,
were under consideration that it was reported
that the Minister of Foreign Affairs had been
advised that the governments of the United
States and Great Britain had telegraphed to
their representatives at Madrid that they
would feel compelled to intervene in the affairs
of the Island of Cuba in the interests of
humanity, since the efforts Of the Spanish
authorities to restore order had been fruitless
Here we have an important fact and q
plausible conjecture. The fact is the pro-
tracted Council of Ministers, and the conjec-
| ture is the notice Of English and American
Intervention served upon the Spanish govern
ment. The fact means something in reference
| to Cuba, but the conjecture, in our Judgment
is wide Of the mark. We have no doubt that
the cause and the subject of this extraordinary
| Cabinet Council at Madrid. 1t is probable
that the British government may have sent
in some remonstrance against these late saw
| age Spanish atrocities at Havana; but we
apprehend that the real question before the
Council aforesaid was the delicate and mo-
mentous question of peace or war with the
| Ty,:t Il T.
offences of the Spanish navy at Hayti and at
the Island of st. Thomas, than to any of the
late barbarous outrages Of the Spanish au-
thorties in Cuba, although these outrages may
have been embraced in the general Indictment
against Spain by our government. The
American trading vessel, the Hornet, is under
blockade in the harbor of Port au Prince, by
several Spanish ships of war, on the assump-
ton that the Hornet Is a filibuster
and the Florida, another American trading
vessel on the same charge, we suppose, is
held by another detachment of the Spanish
West Indian squadron a close prisoner in the
harbor of st. Thomas. These insults to our
flag, it appears, have awakened the wrath of
Secretary Robson, Of the Navy, and his
indignation has evidently been too strong for
the amiable and pacific Secretary Fish.
| Hence, no doubt, remonstrances have been
| telegraphed to Madrid which have alarmed
King Amadeus and his Cabinet, and hence
this protracted Spanish Cabinet Council on
Cuban affairs, including those complications
with the United States resulting from Spanish
presumptions and insolence.
We like this news, because it promises
settlement Of the Cuban question and finish-
ing stroke to all the Spanish barbarities in the
island. We are glad to hear that General
Grant has ordered down to Cuba respect
able squadron Of our best war ships, and that
these ships so down with Instructions touch
ing the Hornet and the Florida which will
admit Of no further Spanish insolence or TOM
foolery. We have had a little too much Of
this, and it is high time there was an end of it,
The Spanish Minister at Washington, Mr..
Roberts, it is given out, acknowledges that
the predcament in which Spain is placed is
very serious one, and for several days
past in his dispatches to Madrid, he
has been valuable customer to all the tele-
| graph lines concerned. With these hints be-
fore US the conclusion inevitably follows that
the return of General Sickles to the United
| States is not so much honeymoon excursion
| as recall for consultation with his govern
ment on the fruits Of his mission. We infer
that he returns to inform his government in
person touching the purpose and expectations
| of Spain with the scan1alous doings OF her off,
cials in Cuba and thereabouts, and particu-
larly in contempt of the rights of our citizens
| on the island and of our flag in numerous
cases during the last two years for it appears
that cores pondence of serious character,
from one cause of complaint to another on our
side, has been going on for long time be-
tween Washington and Madrid.
We are gratified, therefore, that all these
causes of complaint have reached at last
crisis which promises a decisive settlement.
| For some weeks past we have had rumors
| from time to time of the retirement at an early
day of Mr.. Fish from the Cabinet, and
''where there is so much smoke there must be
some fire." We shall not be taken by surprise
it, among the first special messages of General
Grant to the Senate, there will be one an-
nouncing the appointment of new Secretary
of State in place Of Mr.. Fish, re-
signed. Nor do We think that his
retirement will occasion any general feeling
of regret, if it shall be made known that this
change in the Cabinet means change of the
policy Of the administration ia regard to Spain
aud Cuba, and change from temporizng in
activity to decisive action like that Of 'Old
Hickory" on those claims against France. The
country will be delighted to hear that upon
this Cuban business and on all these never
ending but still-beginning complications with
| Cna;r Capora1 Chant hoo droppod tho chiliu