New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-05
WASHINGTON.
o,rp RELATIONS WITH SPAIN.


WASHINGTON. Thursday, Jan T. is71
The Spanish question Is now uppermost In the
minds Of the people here, as well az eise"ntre
throughout the country, and q few authoritative
statements of facts just will, therefore, De OF
peculiar value First of ALL If Secretary Fish 10 10
believed and his testimony this point cannot Do
doubted there is no more apprehension on the part
of our Government Of trouble with Spain than there
has been at any time during the past three years,
and no reason exists why there should be. Whlle
the present Ministry of Spain Is weak composed as
il is of coalition and containing among Its mem
bers some who are known to be unfriendiy
to the United States and while ID would be imposs-
BILE for our Government 10 settle any difficulties Win
the present Ministry 80 far as the Spanish doVerh
ment is concerned there is the best authority 1or the
statement that IL is anxious to retain the mos'
friendly and cordial relations with the United States
and this important fact w it is expected, soon be
announced in some semi-oficial form from this
oitv. There IL not the slightest doubt in the
minds of the President and Secretary OF
State that IL the belligerency of Cuba were to be
recognized by the United States, war would follow
and Gen. Sickes said, tonight. that, while Spain
would have no lust cause of complaint on account
Of such action as we are to be the only judges In
such case, the people of Spain would be hkely 10
be excited and war might ensue But Mr.. fish
thinks that war would follow such course, even
though Spain made no trouble about it, from the tact
that our commerce." what there is left OF u more
than half of passes through the waters occupied
by the Spanish feet would be subject to examina-
ton by the Spanish ships, this being right accord
ed to every nation waging a war; that the Spanish
authorities would take that it was not done In
an amiable spirit; that the trouble, delay, and en-
barrassment of such course would incense the
American people, and particularly the commercial
community; and that the end would be that our
Government would be forced to declare war;
The Administration is very clear on the question
that the Cuban revolution is even less entitled TO re-
cognition now than il was year and a-half or two
years ago. The insurgents it is SAID, are made up IN
great part of Cinnamon, negroes and desperadoes
that the only Cuban Republic is in New-York and
that the Republic in Cuba has no Government no
system of revenue. postal facilities, and nothing
which is necessary for Government. There is,
indeed, it is claimed nothing to recognize any more
than there was when few hundreds of Indians kept
ND a war in Florida against the United States for
several years. and the Administration sees no reason
for insisting upon q war with Spain with little or
nothing to gain.
SO far as the outrage on the Florida is concerned,
it is insisted that if the report be true the Spanish
naval officer exceeded his authority in overhaullng
the ship and it is believed that our Government has
already received assurances that the amplest apollo
gies and satisfaction will be given, az
soon as all the facts and circumstances
can be brought to the official attention OF
the Spanish Government The present Spanish
Ministry is not looked upon by our Government
with much confidence, but as the Ministry in Spain
hal according to Gen. Sickles been changed eight
times since he has been at the Spanish Court about
-ln Of .Ennn m ha
attached TO this fact Secretary Fish, indeed ex-
poets that it may be again changed within the pres
ent month, when the COrtes assemblies.
Secretary Fish and Gen. Sickles agree that the
Spanish naval officers itching for a war with the
United States, and that sneh war would be popn-
lar with the people of Spain. For the first SIX
months they say, the Spaniards could not fail TO
have it all their own way. Our navy Is almost
worthless We improvised a navy, during the war,
TO catch blockade-runners, but the vessels which
composed il were never fit to meet the regular YES
sells of foreign naves and what left of them are
of less valne now than they were six years ago.
Nobody doubts that should conquer in the end
but il would cost an immense sum to prepare Tor
the contest
In this connection it is proper to correct the state
ment that our navy is making preparations for an
emergency. When il is remembered that such
preparations cannot be made without money, and
that Congress has made no appropriations for this
purpose the absurdty of such reports will be seem
Gen. Sickles does not think that a change in the
Spanish mission to the United States at this time
would have any significance, Roberts has already
been in this country much longer time than Spain
usually keeps a Minister in one place; but
neither he nor Mr.. Fish believes the report
that a change is to be made. The present Ministry
u.s. on the whole, friendly to him, though Malcampo
who had some personal difficulty with him some
time ago, would like to have him removed. NAL
campo's belliGerent ideas do not agree with the
more pacific oness of Senior Roberts.