The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-22

4
trasion-The Immediate Duty Of General
Grant.
When Robert j. Walker wrote his famous
letter from Kansas to President Buchanan In
reference to the condition Of affairs preceding
the adoption Of the Lecompton constitution,
he said Scuba Cuba (and Porto Rico, il
possibe) should be the countersign of your
administration, and 1t will close In q blaze of
glory" This eminent statesman had felt the
popular heart, and II his advice had been
taken Mr.. Buchanan's administration would
| have escaped the evil fame which has gathered
over it. Let US say to President Grant, in
the spirit of the departed statesman, "Mexico!
Mexico! should be the conntersign of your
administration, and it will close In a blaze of
glory"
President Grants foreign policy has been
full of good intentions. St. Domingo was
destroyed by Sumner and Schurz at time
when they professed to be frlends Of the ad-
ministration and republicans, and were 30
enabled to stab the President und,r the guise
of amiy. The trouble with St. Domingo was
tha' the President sacrificed the greater to win
the lesser, and failed to win either. Our
policy with Cnba may have been prudent and
wise. Certainly it has been courageous,
for 1t has been regarded by the
country with restiveness and anxiety.
We have never felt comfortable about Cuba.
Somehow the country thinks that Spain has
kept us under menace all these years that
we have been practically told that We have no
power to interfere, and that any threats of in
reference would be gasconade, and might
offend Spain. AS to the English question,
that splendid plume in the diplomatic cap of
Mr.. Fish has been sorely bedraggled by re-
cent developments. We do not know whether
we have treaty or not, whether we are to
have peace or not and the danger Is that
the most splendid diplomatic achievement of
the generation, and one that does great honor
| to the President and the Secretary Of State,
will be overthrown. So that we are justified
in saying that the foreign policy of the admir-
istration will present fewer phases of interest
than its policy in regard to the Indians, the
finances, civil service reform, and the treat
ment Of the South. And yet there is no
phase Of government policy so apt to attract
a people as what pertains to foreign affairs.
| We are more interested, as general thing, In
what concerns our neighbors than in what
concerns ourselves. AS a people we are
anxious to make ourselves felt In the world.
The annexation theories Of Jefferson, Jackson
and Polk were of eminent value to the demo-
cratic party, and the President, in overlooking
the field and arranging the lines of his cam
paign, will see that he needs strength in his
foreign policy.
We might, perhaps, urge him to follow Gov
ernor Walkers advice and interfere with Cuba.
There we reach hazy atmosphere. Can we
interfere in Cuba without a war? Do we not
any action Of this kind as war? Do we re-
member that in war, which would be purely
naval, Spain has more ships cruising around
''the Ever Faithful Island" than we have In our
navy that this Spanish navy was worthy to
meet Nelson at Trafalgar, and that In an
active maritime contest in any naval conflict
except where our ports were defended by tor
pedOes we would be Overmatched? We can
estimate that war with Spain would, even if
we were successful, cost more than the amount |
necessary to purchase the island. We are far
from saying that we should be deferred from
interference in Cuba by the fears Of a war If
that action were to become necessary. The
time may come, and that speedily, when the
United States, in the interests Of humanity,
will be compelled to put an end to cruel, end
less, merciless strife. But the duty must
come to us so clearly that we cannot escape 1t.
1t must come as an honorable, unavoidable
duty. We cannot 60 around the world seek
ing quarrels, and, however necessary 1t may
be to make Cuba the countersign of the adj |
mnstration, every reason makes it imposs-
bic at this time. The West Indies are gravi- |
tating towards the United States. In time our
flag will float over the Spanish main. All in
dependent enterprises against ST. Domingo,
Cuba, Porto Rico and st. Thomas are unneces-
sary. We take Cuba and control the Gulf of
Mexico when we occupy Mexico. In that d.
rection lies manifest destiny"
If any considerations of humanity are to
enter into our diplomatic relations (aud con-
siderations of this character underle ''the
sympathy for Cuba") they apply to Mexico.
Here is country blessed with all the resources
and attractions bestowed upon any nation in
the world. All climates, with their fruits
mines which gave gold and silver to the Az
tees; rivers and mountains and sea coasts
and fertile haciendas country whose wealth
attracted the Spanish adventurer and excited
the imaginations of European monarchs long
before the Hollander ascended the Hudson or
the Pilgrim landed on Plymouth Rock; sparsely
settled eight millions of people, in territory
four times as large as France; no government,
no society, no security for property or life