Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-07
THE SPANISH WAR CLOUD.
An Official View Of Our Relations
with Spain---NO Apprehension of

with Spain---NO Apprehension Oh
War.
Special to the Cincinnati Commercial.
WASHINGTON. Jan. There has been
more feeble nonsense on the public mind
regarding the Spanish question during the
past week or two than the newspapers can
atone for in a long time. If Secretary
Fish is to be believed, first Of all there IS no
more apprehension, on the part OF our Gov
ernment, of trouble with Spain than there
has been any time during the past three
years, and no reason exists why there
should be /; and so far as the Spanish Gov
eminent is concerned, there is the very
highest authority for the statement that 1t
Is anxious to retain the most friendly and
cordial relations with the United States,
and this important fact will soon be an
nounced semi-officially from this city.
There is not the slightest doubt in the
minds of the President and Secretary of
State, that if the belligerenCy of Cuba were
to be recognized by this country, war would
follow although General SickieS stated to-
night that he did not think Spain would re-
gard that act as necessarily untriendly; but
Mr.. Fish thinks that war would follow such
q course, from the fact that our commerce,
what there is left of it-more than half of
which passes through the waters within the
dominion of Spain and her colonies-would
be subject to examination by Spanish ships;
thnt the Spanish authorities would take
care that the trouble, delay and embarrass-
ment of such course would injure the
American people, and particularly the com
mercial community, and that the end would
be that our Government would be forced to
declare war.
I,a A mis- sfrat m IG nryP
question that the Cuban revolution is even
less entitled to recognition now than it was
year and a half Or two years ago; the in
surgents are made up in a great part of
Cinnamon, negroes and desperadOes; that
the real Cubans in New York; that the
Cubans have no government, no system Of
revenue, no postal facilities, and nothing
which is necessary to form a government.
There is. indeed, nothing to recognize, any
more than there was in the Seminole war,
In Florida, which required such time and
exertion on the part of our government to
suppress, and the Administration secs no
reason for insisting upon row with Spain
ROlenS UOIenS.
So far as the outrage on the Florida is
concerned, it is alleged with much show Of
truth that the Spanish naval officer exceed
ed his authority in Overhauling that ship,
and il is thought our government Is already
in pSssession of assurances that the amplest
apology and satisfaction will be rendered as
soon as all the facts and circumstances can
be brought to the official attention of the
Spanish government.
1t is known that the present Spanish ad-
ministration regards the United States with
less warmth than some former ones, but as
the administration has already, according to
Gen. Sickles, been changed eight times
since he has been at the Spanish Cortes,
being about two years and half, 10 signif-
canoe can be attached to it. Indeed, there
IS reason to believe that it will be changed
during the present month, when the COrtes
assemblies.
Gen. Sickles enteTtains the opinion that
the Spanish naval officers are very unfriend.
Iy to the United States, and that a war witt
the United States would be popular among
the Spanish people. He does not thiuk thai
the change in the Spanish Mission here ha:
any significance one way or another, even
the report Of the change is confirmed. Nal
campo, formerly Prime Minister, and a
present a member of the Ministry, IS per
sonally unfriendly to Senior Roberts on &C
count of a misunderstanding some year
ago, when MalcampO, then naval ofilceI
commanded the Atlantic squadron. Nei
ther Secretary Fish nor Gen. Sickles, how
ever, believes tia. the report of Roberts
recall will be confirmed, as thus far the LAT
ter is wholly ignorant of the fact, eXceP
what{he has seen in tie newspapers, which
Secretary Fish says, are Titled with damne'
lies