The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-10-01
Our Cuban Fiiibusters-A spanish

Our OuOem Fflbwsters-A SpeuAsh
Case fer Another Gonovs Tribunal.
We have report from the other side of 'the
big water that the Spanish government has
resolved to submit to tho other European
Powers the question of the justice Of its claims
against the government of the United States
for damages sustained by filibustering expedi-
tons from American ports, operating against
the Spanish authorities in Cuba "Here
richness" 1t is possible that the Spanish
government has seized this brilliant idea of
making case upon these claims from the re-
suits OF the Geneva Tribunal of Arbitration on
our Alabama claims. For the depredations ON
our commerce of those Anglo-rebel cruisers,
the Alabama, the Shenandoah aud the Georgia,
and their tenders, during our late civil war,
the Geneval Tribunal has awarded us some
fifteen millions of dollars as indemnity, under
those three new rules of neutrality adopted In
the Treaty Of Washington as the rules for the
government of said tribunal on these claims
and the Spanish government may, perhaps,
suppose thsta similar Tribunal of Arbitration,
in reference to our Cuban filibusters, would
be bound under the same rules to enter judg-
ment against NJ in good round bill Of many
millions Of damages. ;
But if the government Of Spain has really
resolved upon any such settlement an appeal
TO the European powers is not the proper way
to proceed TO business The question of the
justice Of the claims of Spain against the
United States cannot be settled by that pro-
In, l~~
Tribunal she must begin at the beginning
King Amadeus, following the example of
Queen Victoria, must write to President Grant
friendly letter proposing Joint High Com
mission for the settlement of these flibuster-
ing claims. President Grant, in response,
will doubtless propose that the Joint High
Commission be empowered to settle all the
existing differences and difficulties between
the two governments, and King Amadeus will
rejoin, "Au right" and the Joint High Com
mission, let us suppose. will then be appointed
and will meet in Washington, and after a
round Of friendly dinners, will proceed to
business.
Spain will put in her bill of damages against
our Cuban filibusters, and from the Inflated
Lopez expedition, in the full bloom of Presi-
dent Fillmores administration, down to this
day. the schedule Of these filibusters and fill
clustering forays upon Cuba from the United
States will be something appalling to the eyes
of Secretary Boutwell,. But, on the other hand,
as this Joint High Commission will be charged
with the settlement of all outstanding accounts
between the two countries, when our Joint
High Commissioners come to put in our bills
trality in the ever-rebellious Island of Cuba,
and the claims of American citizens on the
island despoiled of their property and pun
ished as felons, and demand for the imme-
date abolition of slavery and the African and
coolie slave trade in the island, and finally
including its people of African and coolie i'm
portation and descent, on the question Of in
dependence or adhesion to Spain, we think
the tables will be turned upon King Amadeus
But let US suppose that upon all these and
other questions treaty is made-a second
ton Of slavery and the African and coolie
slave trade in Cuba, and ptebiscte, on the
plan Of universal suffrage on the question of
Cuban independence-we cannot perceive
what objection could be entered against an
other Geneva Tribunal for the settlement of
these aforesaid Spanish claims on account of
damages incurred from our Cuban filibusters
and filibustering expeditions from time to
time for the last twenty years. Let King
Amadeus, then, write his friendly letter to
General Grant for another Joint High Com
mission, and let us, by this delightful process
of dining, wining and defining, have o COM
plete settlement Of all the existing difficulties
between the United States and Spain, includ-
ing the question Of manifest destiny" and
then the happy accord between the two coun-
tries directly concerned will be as lovely as
that established between John Bull and
Brother Jonathan on our Alabama claims