The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-26

SPANISH ISDIsoRETIoN.-Har has
DR.. Hounrd returned to the United
States, with tho scars Of Spanish fctters
upon his limbs, when another American
citizen tukes his vacant place in Cuban
Jail. The reported circumstances in the
case Of MIR. A. Boyd Henderson mark
this offence as even more hagrant than
the former. While. ns prima facie evil
dence, DR.. Houard's long residence und
business connections III Cubn gave color
to the claim that he WAS n subject of the
King OF Spain, there il nothing alleged
concerning Mr.. Henderson to Justify his
arrest by Spanish authority. The gen.
tleman, so far from being Spanish sub
jeot, has never beforo set foot on tho
soil Of Spuin or its colonies. He is an
American citizen, travelling in Cuba for
his own health and thut of his wife,
who're, upon n charge, amounting only
to eenseless suspicion, of having COM
municated with sympathizers with the
Cuban insurrection, he has been arrested
by the Spanish authorities and thrown
into prison. This is, in brief, the story
that comes from Cuba to illustrate still
further the practical workings of the
foreign policy of the Grant Administra-
re-
leased, not in justice to the demands Of
Government coordinate with that
which committed the offence of his ar /.
rest. but as on act of royal clemency on
the part of King Amadeus. q special ia
vor tossed with undisguised Indifference
to nation which Spain considers her
self in no way bound to respect. And,
as if to enforce the lesson, the same
power hastens to chain up another Ame-
rican citizen, with as littlo regard as be-
fore for the rights of the United States.
The mysterious influence in the State
Department., which has made itself felt
in I'LL our relations with Spain under the
Grant Administration to the humiliation
of the country, will doubtless be exerted
to smooth over this outrage, as it has so
many others. with especial care for the
feelings of the Spanish Government
With the popular sentiment strongly in
favor of extending moral support to
the Cuban patriots, Mr.. Fish has not
only withheld every expression of sym
patty from those struggling for liberty,
but has Disseminated In favor of Spain
on every opportunity. When the free
dom, the property and even the lives of
American citizens have been taken, the
State Department has assumed the posi-
ton of counsel for the Spanish Govern
ment. and has stoutly opposed all efforts
to obtain redress, until, as in the case of
DIR. Houard, an indignant public com
PEELED tardy action. The natural result
is seen in the contempt with which Ame-
rlcen authority is treated in Cuba, of
which the imprisonment of Mr.. Hender-
son is an illustration. Even with his
abject subserviency to Spain, in the
matter Of the Cuban insurrection, MIR.
Fish has not succeeded in avoiding en-
tanglement. A war cloud is gathering,
and O second Geneva Conference il
talked Of, to estimate tho amount of
damages inflicted upon Spain by the
Government that has for years humbled
itself to do the behest of the Dons. In
competence and pusilanimity have dis
tinguished the whole course of this Ad-
miuistration in its relations with Spain,
until we find no safety for American citi-
zens upon Spanish soil, where there is
10 respect for their Government. Yet,
with the memory of the pride and Sc
curity of citizenship under Marcy and
the honorable position of the American
flag under Democratic Government,
this Administration has the effrontery to
demand praise for it's conduct of foreign
affairs. and to embody in its platform the
declaration that the rights of Americans
shall be maintained abroad.
Boston Post, 21st.