The New York herald., 1873-12-09
NEW YORK HERALD TUESDAY SHEET

government to gravely consider the propriety
Of recognizing the belligerency of the Cubans
as Spain recognized the belligerency of the
Southern Confederates- On the other hand, il
the rebellious volunteers and the slave inter
ests Of Cuba prevent the fulilment of all the
conditions of the protocol it viii become
necessary to enforce them. Fortunately the
vessel and the prisoners are in Cuba, and
hence any force we may be called upon to use
will be directed against the outlaws who have
committed the wrong and defed their own
government, and not against loyal citizens of
the Spanish Republic CASTELAR,. if acting in
good faith, cannot object to our alliance in
subjugating the unruly spirits of the casinos
and compelling the fulflment Of terms for
which the faith and honor Of Spain are
pledged But there is danger that the CASTELAR,
government may be overthrown. If so, its
downfall will be due to the peaceful policy it
has pursued in this Virginius complication,
and its successor will necessarily repudiate
the protocol and refuse all atonement for the
insult and injury suffered by the United
States. In that event it will become the duty
Of our government to recognize at once the
independence of the Cuban Republic and to
establish protectorate over it.
1t is evident, then, that the prospect of
peaceful settlement with Spain is by no
means so good as we could wish, and that the
danger of war extends beyond the immediate
questions growing out of the Virginius affair.
The HERALD earnestly desires peace, and has
large personal interest in its preservation, but
as an American journal we have refused to ad-
vocate peace at the cost of national honor, and
as an Independent journal we have
declined to deceive the people either
in the interests of Spain or of
our own administration. With few excep-
tions the press of the country has united
with us in demanding of our government none
but an honorable peace, and in urging the wis
dom of finally settling the Cuban question
now that action has been forced upon US. In
deed, President Grant has reason to be grate-
full to the American people for the disposition
they have shown to back up any efforts
he may make for the removal of
this annoyance and danger at our
very threshold He has now the opportunity
to accomplish great and patriotic work. If
he will do it in his own calm and dignifed
way every honest journal in the country will
give him its praise and support In mes
sage to Congress he should review the whole
history of our transactions with Spain during
the past five years, showing how little reliance
could be placed on the governments that have
preceded that Of CASTELAR,. He should lay be-
fore the country the official documents in re-
lation to the enlarged estates and the CORE
spondence connected with the Virginius out
rage; and he should ask, in view Of all the
facts, the power to use the army and navy of
the United States to protect the lives and
property of Americans in Cuba and on the
seas. If the conditions of the protocol should
not be complied with it will be necessary
either to propose joint action with the repub-
ican government of Madrid to enforce them
or to take the bolder step and recommend the
recognition Of Cuban independence. Whichever
course he may pursue, as well as in the recon-
mendations he may make for future security
if the protocol should be fully carried out the
President may depend upon the hearty and
enthusiastic endorsement of the American
people. One thing is certain-a hollow and
insufficient truce for the time being will not
satisfy the expectation of our citizens With
out any fault Of our own this quarrel has been
forced upon us. We have with us the approval
Of the civilized world If by weakness now
we fail to gain entire security for the future
we shall be held to have forfeited sympathy
and respect should the horror of the virginius
outrage be repeated. The sacrifices of war
are great, but they can never be less than now
if war is to be the end of these Cuban compli-
cations. It is therefore to be hoped that our
soldier President will yet take the Spanish
question into his own hands, and that what
ever may be the fate of the Fish-Polo protocol,
he will insist upon such . satisfactory settle
ment as will give rs substantial and lasting
peace.