Worcester daily spy., 1872-01-08
Letter from Washington.


ACttsA AN - NeH41AN '--N'
lFroM orr REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE |
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. L. 1872.
OUR RELATIONS WITH SPAIN.
1t seems very hard for this administration to
satisfy its critics-at least those who are from
the ranks of the party by which ii was elected |
As have before said, so much OF that opoosi- |
ton is personal, that it is not easy to define any
course which would give them satisfaction Per
sonal politics are the bane of any nation, and
Just now being "at the parting of the ways,
there is Il considerable revival of the feeling
The president represents new type of mind
one which we are bound to recognize as having
already made It's mark in all the great material
tiles of the land. He seems to me TO be what
one may term an administrative mind-the class
of practical intcllects who "run' the great ma
chinery of civilization and who are necessarily
making a science of the management OF the rail-
roads, telegraphs, &c. The lawyers and profess
sors the talkers, teachers and agltators, hardly
know how to fit in with this class OF mind, and
hence towards the first one ofthem, that has OBJ
"
is to be seen very much OF the same sort OF i'll will
that was manifested toward that Nrginlan. Its
said Of old John Adams that he once exclaimed,
looking at the portrait of the first president,
"That wooden head got aud kept power by
keeping still tongue" Grant can talk when
necessary and to a purpose But what ,,,s all
this to do with our relations win Spain? Sim
ply these things and nal21ore:
That Grant gfitics have denounced him for
unlriend53ess to Cuba, and are now equally
ready to charge him with the same fault with re-
gald to Spain; they have declared his desire
for peace to be cowardly, and are now equally
prepared to say that he is bullying Spain.
Again, that in his management Of our foreign
relations, Grant is practical in his conduct of
domestic matters. He wants peace, but not at
the expense of honor, Or the rights of our peo-
pie.
Thus promising, there can hardly be a doubt
that there is much in the present relations Of
Spain aud the United States, which must cause
anxiety to both. No dispassionate man, look.
iug on events here, can fail 10 see that the
mcrest accident might provoke a collision. The
administration certainly desires to avoid Que,
but nevertheless it is actively at work making
ready for any contingency.
WHAT ARE THE DISTURBING CONDITIONS?
Foremost Of the number, are the matters con-
nected with the Florida and the Hornet Poth
Of these vessels claim to be and are registered
as American vessels, owned, of course, by
American citizens. They claim not to have vi
olated our laws, or rendered themselves liable to
Spanish seizure. Their ostensihlc owners have
demanded the protection of their flag, aud after
months of delay are to obtain it, more fully
even than they desire. Ii is the intention of our
naval authorities to seize the Florida as soon as
she arrives in New York, and also, to bring the
Hornet, by a regular crew and officer of the
navy, TO the same port, there to be tried for any
offence committed by them.
1t is not at all feared at the navy department
that any difnculty will occur in bringing out the
Hornet from Port au Prince. In the case of the
Florida, it is charged by Francis Darr, the own
er as well as by our own authorities, that the
Spana1ds have violated treaty Obligations in
the manner and not the act Of boarding her, as
reported. There is considerable probability of
an acrimonious correspondence between this
city and Madrid, on this subject.
Besides the admiralty questions there are
Others which will require attention. It is now
declared that the proof of Or, Howard's Ameri-
can citizenship is undoubted, and there is reason
to believe that a demand will be made for his
release.
Besides the protection Of our property and
citizens comes tue question of international in.
leryention. There are good reasons to believe
that we are seriously celebrating on this sub
ccl. The British government has already ex-
pressedits desire more than once, informally at
least, to unite with us in protest alike to the
continuance Of slavery in Cuba, aud the inhu-
manity with which the attempt to suppress in
surrcction is being waged. 1t is whispered, in
circles which always catch the first faint whis-
pers Of any positive action, that we are, on our
part, seriously considering the question Of pro
test and intervention.
INDICATION OF TINS.
There has been change Of late iu the tone
of some New York papers which really repre-
sent the administration. They are the Times,
the Standard, and the Evening Mail. The lat.
| ter though independent, rehectvcry strenuously
those influences about the president which lean
decidedly to Cuba. The Times is hshy, while
the Standard is for the custom house view. The
Mail argues ior pacific Intervention, and de
nounces those who talk war. This indicates
that the divergent opinions which have beer
known to prevail in the cabinet on
| Cuban policy have reached some def
mite compromise. It is believed by many
that this will be exhibited in protest to Madrid
against the conduct Of the war in Cuba, il
which our government will be Joined by that o
Great Britain, aud probably Of Germany. Thert
| Is already evidence Of this in the presentation
in editorials and letteis, Of precedent and argu
meut for this course. Intervention in this way
backed by the power OF the great people who
would join 10 II, would doubtless satisfy Mr.
/ Fish's pacific policy, as well as his reputed de
sire for close relations with Great Britain; i
would crafty the presidents, Robeson's, De
lano's, C.eswclPs and Babcocl1's sympathy fol
the cnhans, and It would probably be the mos
satisfactory course TO those wealthy American,
who have large estates slaves, etc, in gCuba
and who, while willing the slaves should go
are anxious not 70 entirely lose their estates