Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-07-09

No more welcome news could possibly
come to Government, press or people than
that received from General slckles yesterday,
10 the effect that the release Of DIR. Houard,
and the restoration Of his conascAted prop
erty 10 Cuba, had been ordered by tho Span
ish Government. The official dispatch, a. we
learn, Is distinguished by an almost soldierly
brevlty; but Ii Is a bulletin OF success, and
our Government eau we'll afford 10 await de-
tails. That the result was preceded by q
protractod correspondence but proves the
extent Of the concession wrung from reluc-
tant Spain, and mAgui6os the service per
formed by our Minister under the direction
Of the State Department.
Tho nrmness, no less than the moderation,
Of the United States officials charged with
this grave matter will command, Us 1t de-
serves, the admiration OF the country, and
the Injustice Of the impatient censures OF ar
dent but unofficial, and In that sense ire
sponslble, advocates Of the rights Of Ameri-
can citizens abroad" now stands revealed.
II Is, perhaps, no longer improper to recall
the fact that as far back as last December,
the President, 10 a manner designed 10 reach
the Spanish Government, expressed the hope
that Dr. Houard would be eel free at once,
and reminding the Madrid cabinet that the
atrocities already inflicted upon American
citizens In Cuba had so prejudiced our peO-
pie against the Spanish rule in the lever
faithful Isle" as to seriously ondanger the
relations Of the two Governments unless the
Hgors Of that iron rule were at least relaxed
towards those entitled to the protection OF
the United States.
This honorable and truly friendly warning
was disregarded ut the time with regard to
the particular case 1t was intended 10 In
Auenee, the Spanish authorities evidently
trusting TO the then doubtful status of DR..
Houard In respect of his allegiance aud
rights Of protection; but this obstacle being
In considerable part removed by subsequent
effort and discovery, the State Department
assumed a firm and decided position, which,
first distinctly taken In the dispatch dated
March o, 1871, 10 Mr.. Adee, our charge at
Madrid, and adhered TO In the instructions
carried out by General slclles on his return
from this country to Spain, has been main
tAined till rewarded by full and complete
success.
The dispatch, under date Of March Q to
Mr.. Adee, which opens with the positive
statement that John Emile HOuArd Is q
citizen Of the United States by birth" and
that at docs not appear that DR.. Houard
ever renowned his nationality OF birth, Of
that he ever accepted Spanish nationality,
has been, within q very few days unfaVOra
bly, contrasted with letter addressed OF
March IL to Vice President ColIax, In which
Mr.. Fish argues inlerentiAly against the in
tegrity Of DR.. Houards case as made out by
his relatives and friends. This discrepancy
was imperlectlY and unauthOrizedly ox
planned at the time In press dispatch tC
Now York, and II cannot, therefore, be amlsi
to recur 10 the subject for the purpose o.
briefly saying that the dispatch to our charge
d'afiRlres, being detained beyond Its date Ia
the lingering hope Of the appearance OF somt
promised evidence, was Of necessity much mod
lied and strengthened by the arrival Of tha
evidence at last and, as q matter Of fact did
not get away from the Department till TIT
letter to the Vice President had been written
delivered and published. For reasons held
TO be proper and sufficient at the time, II wa
not deemed necessary or advisable to chang
the original date while changing, In some 70
spects, the arrangement and statement Of the
contents. This explains all, or II It doe
not, the appropriate persons are no doub
ready to rise to explain" further We car
do no more than set our New York cotempo
rary right As to Its facts OF four months ago
II there be need,