The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-14
The Precedent,

Tn the recent Cabinet council on the sub
icct of the Cuban difficulties General GRANT
very plainly set forth the policy of his aa'
miuistration. He was not for recognizing
the miserable rebellion, and as little Inclined
to back up the contemplate Government OF
the Cuban authorities. Hc seemed disposeo
to 20 no further than TO give to the war be-
| tween the rebels and the Government
which promises to last until doom's day
The form of civilized conflict, and he refer
red to precedent for his policy. This pre-
ccdcnt is given as follows By the Washing
ton correspondent ofthe Herald:
"Thc document referred to by the Presi'
dent Is substantially that Ferdinand VII,
King of Spain. having no male issue, de-
cIarcd, about 1892, the abrogatlon OF Tue
Saljc law, so rs to allow OF the accession to
the throne of Isabella, his eldest daughter
| Don Carries, his brother, whose helrshlp was
DESTROYED, retired in 1853 10 Lisbon ana
issued protest. The same year Ferdinand
died Maria Christina, his widow, was maize
| Queen Regent. An instruction IN favor OF
| Don Carlos began in the Biscayan PROVINCES.
Don Carlos left Lisbon i'll 1884 for eng.
land, whence lie lett for Spain. BY thai
time Suemalacarrcgui, the Carllst genera,
had organized large army, winch helu
the nine or ten northern provinces OIL
Spain. The Queens Government from
the first declared the Carlists robbers,
and ordered them, when captured, TO be
shot. This was done for about two years.
| The Carlists did the same. The Government
had places TO hold prisoners; the Carllsts mao
none. They held the open field. HorrlOle
| butchcricS occurred on both sides combat
ants and non-comb atunts were slain. In
| May, 1884, an English vessel was stopped
| on the high seas and taken possession of by q
| Spanish man.of-war. TWO Carlst olicerS
| we're taken from it and shot. The Duke oil
| wellington was Secretary Of State for For
| ei:ru Affair, in Great Britain. That country
was in alliance with France ana Portugal
10 support Christians Government. Inc
| Duke, however, determined to oiier meQla'
ton. TaIiin, tho outrage above named as
the impclicd wedge, Lord Elliot, now Ear
s.. Germans, was employed by the Duke
lie entered s pain and went to Don Carlos:
| headquarters iu Juuc, 1881. Here he sue
cccdcd in obtaining the adoption oil a con-
,ention between the two forces. This con.
ycutiou made no political bclscrent recog
milton. Lord Elliott was Instructed by " CT
| liugton 10 assure Don Carlos thal no sucL
recognition would be given by the allied
Powers, separately or together; that E!ilot'
| position WAS mediatorial in the Interests o.
humanity, and not at all designed to mcddlf
With the internal Affairs Of Spain or the III
surrection. This bad previously been made
known TO the Queen Regent. On the 1Otl
Ct June n convention OF nine articles wa:
signed for the Carlists by Thomas Suemala
carregn, and for the Government by Gero
uimo Vades, each commanding bis respec
tive army. SO carefully was all recog
milton avoided that no titles Or rank
were appended to Lord Elliops sig
nature as mediatory witness for both parties
The Convention provided that captured per
sons should be treated rs prisoners OF war
that they should be exchanged pro rata, anc
accordn. to stated rank, two or three time:
per month; that after it was signed no one
not in arms, should be condemned or exc
cuted for political opinions; only that one o.
more towns should be neutrallZed 50 as K
allow Of the holding of uueHctanged prison
erS. and also that the articles of the Conven
| ton should not be abrOgated during hostiil
ties, and if the area of war was increased !
| should be operative over additional territory
| This Convention continued in force till 1880
| when the CarlistS surrendered to Espa:!cTo
| No prisoners were killed and 10 one was eX
| ecutcd for opinions during this time"
The precedent is good but it does no
meet the case in baud by 4 very, very lons
| way. The United States will have to DO bet
ter than this.