New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-13

" and bad faith in this relation, as such things
should never be insinuated when they are not
directly charged. The references made by the
Secretary of State to the barbarous treatment
of the Coolies by the Cuban shareholders are
strong and perfectly just.
1t is, however, his position in regard to the
instruction which will excite most fury among
the "pMty of national integrity" in Spain
The tone of the Secretary In this section OF
his dispatch is clearly that of menace. Even
that famous note of the Sd of September, 1859,
which caused such unexampled excitement IN
Madrid contained no such clear and explicit
warning of probable complications. MIR. Fish,
after claiming, with perfect truth, that the
United States Government has with unex-
ampled vigilance fulfilled all its duties toward
Spain as friendly power in relation to the
insurgents, goes on to say that -" the trial to
"our impartiality by the want OF success ON
"the part of Spain in suppressing the revolt
lis necessarily SO severe that unless she shall
." soon be more successful it will force upon
this GYvsgpmen! the consideration OF the
I" Question whether duty to itself ana 10 the
d" commercial interests of It's citizens may not
demand some change. in the line OF action 1t
"has thus far pursued"
This would seem sufficiently severe intima-
ton for one dispatch. But the Secretary of
State continues his lecture IN the same style
of terrible candor. He informs the Spanish
Government that the war is kept up by rogues
and sboddy contractors who find their account
in if and he inflicts the last and most merci-
less blow upon the Ministry themselves when
he tells them that if they would treat Cuba
with Justice, the rebellion would end This
is, perhaps, the only incorrect statement in the
dispatch. Nothing SPAN can do in Cuba, ex-
cept hauling down her flag, will satisfy the
Cubans. Mr. Fish concludes his arraignment
by referring to the illegal seizures OF estates
in Cuba belonging to American citizens, and
the hating and grudging justice which has
been accorded to our demands for reparation.
II is true that he has not directed Gen.
Siclles to deliver copy of this dispatch to
Senior Martos. But no Minister could assume
the responsibility of suppressing any portion
of doccment of such consequence. An en-
voy occupies a critical position when he Is
charged with a message like this, and his only
safety is in literal repetition. 1t is hoped"
says Mr.. Fish, that you will present the
views above set forth, and the present griev-
ances of which this Government so justly
complains, to the Government to which you
" are accredited in a way which, without CIV
"ing offense will leave a conviction that we
are in earnest in the expression Of those
views, and that we expect redress, and that
" if it should not soon be afforded Spain must
mot be surprised to find, as the inevitable
result of the delay, q marked change III the
feeling and in the temper of the people, and
of the Government of the United States"
II is therefore reasonable TO infer that Gen.
Sickles promptly delivered his summons, and
our opinion of its important and damaging
influence upon the Gorilla Government is
confirmed by the secrecy in which the matter
was until quite recently kept III Madrid. Some
hint of it has, however, undoubtedly leaked
out, for the Pueate de Alcoted OF the 18th
December refers to the note as having been
received, and Ruiz ZOrrila, in public speech,
has theoretically denied any intention OF
Welding to foreign dictation in the matter of
reforms in the Antilles. The ebullition Of
which the Madrid papers are full has Its rise
in the opposition of the slaveholding party to
abolition and municipal reform in Porto Rico.
When this arraignment and challenge is pub
lished in Spain, the Ministry of Ruiz Zorrilla,
unquestiOnably the best and most liberal which
has existed there since the Revolution, will be
exposed to the severest storm which it has
ever confronted. For the last month it has
been the target of furious and not inconsid-
cradle coalition of all the reactiOnary parties,
and of that numerous class who believe their
interests involved in the retention of Slavery
in the Antilles. They will be greatly strength
ened, and the Government proportionally
weakened, if they can make it appear that the
measures of reform adopted by the Gorilla
Cabinet in good faith were dictated by the
Government at Washington in language such
as no Spanish Ministry ever listened to before.