New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-25

Southern Rebellion, tho acquisition OF CuDa
became q favorite scheme OF the Democrauc
pol;t;c;ans who wished to extend the area OF
Slavery. All such schemes, of course, fell into
allowance during the war, and after its close
Tho AGITATION for independence began among
the Cubans which in the Autumn of 1868 broke
ont I'm the Republican instruction which still
continues.
Senior Armas and the bulk OF tho Cuban
patriots with him complain that the action OF
the United States in relation to this msur-
rection is unjust and partial, inconsistent with
our action toward the Spanish American ke-
publics at the beginning OF their national
existence and at variance with our treatment
of the contest between Macmillan and Juarez;
in all of which cases we Disseminated against
the side which represented European Mon
orcby. and in favor of that which represented
American Republicanism. This argument IS
not without force, and the facts upon which 1t
is based are incOntestable. But we suppose the
Administration consider it as sufficient an
swer to such appeals to say that international
law is not dependent upon isolated presidents,
and that in the larger and more complicated
international position which we occupy to-day,
it i, impossible for the Government to regard
any considerations but those of accomplished
facts and acknowledged diplomatic usage.
The State Department holds that the Cuban
instruction has not yet attained that prospect
of permanence and that organized existence
which gives it q position among nations to be
recognized and treated with.
We are not discussing to-day tho grounds or
the correctness OF this position. We simply
note the fact that as long as the Government
hold this attitude, they are not responsible TO
the Cubans, but purely to their own citizens.
On the other hand, for any wrongs or injuries
which may result to American citizens, or Tor
any interruption to the peace and prosperity
of the western world which may flow from this
chronic anarchy in Cuba, our only question is
with Spain.
| We have often enough referred to wrongs
and outrages which seemed TO us to call for
more prompt and energetic redress than that
which they received We do not impute to
the Department of State any lack of proper
elf.respect, or any disregard OF the national
interests and honor, even in those cases which
do not receive the attention they seem to re-
quire. We recognize tho necessity OF great re-
serve and discretion in all international pro-
! CeedlngS. But WucD an outrage upon an AIucl
lean citizen is committed in the face of day, it
is not wise for the Government to allow 1t to
go unexplained. If Spain chooses to butcher
dozen innocent children lin the Plaza, it
may be an open question whether we, more
than any other civilized nation, are bound to
resent it. But case like that of Dr. How
| ard at Cienfuegos cannot be passed over in ST.
| lence, without an entire abnegation Of national
| dignity. Dr. Howard claims to be an Amer
lean citizen. lie claims to be innocent of the
slightest completely in the instruction. He
has been Illegally tried as Spaniard, illegally
convicted, and last week was sent as a con-
Wet to Spain, in felon's dress, with a ball
and chain on his leg. He is an old man, m
accustomed to such hardships, and will proba-
bly, not long survive them. If, as we hope,
the State Department has any satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION of this case, it should promptly be
given to the country. No constitutional min
istry in Europe could survive such case an
hour without full and public justification in
open parliament.