New-York tribune., 1873-12-20
COMMENTS ON PRESIDENT GRANTS MES
SAGE.

HIS DIFFERENCE TO SLAVERY IN CUBA SHARPLY re
sENTRD BY THE HAVANA PRESS.
HAVANA Dec. 49, via Key West, Dec. 19.-Ihe
Diario of to-day comments on the Presidents Mes
sage Ii says the person who telegraphed that the
President expressed himself moderately in that part
of the message having reference to Spain told
an untruth Certainly the President expresses
the moderation of satisfied vanity and an
aim accomplished in treating Of the VirginIus
affair; but the paragraph about Cuba deserves
the qualification of infamous libel" given
to it by Ell Cronista. The paragraph is re-
captulation of the insults, calumnies and vugari-
ties which have been published everywhere against
the loyaists in Cuba, and which are now for the
first time published in an official document which
ought TO distinguish itself by correctness style and
elevation of ideas. The Diario continues The
President handles the question of the interior rule
of Spain the progress and solution OF which belong
exclusively to the constitutional powers within the
Spanish nation he assumes species of protect
crate or guardianship which would make even the
weak and pusillanmous blush-wbch we repulse,
preferring death to dishonor thousand times. We
protest against the document IN the name OF the
Spaniards of Cuba"
The Vos de Cuba saws Of the message 1--WE
have carefully read the document which should
form an epoch in American official literature" OF
the part refeingto the Island of Cuba the Vo1 says
this in nothing resembles those dgnfed documents,
elevated in views and language, in which the first
magistrates of the Republic accustomed to give
an account to Congress, rather to the nation OF
its internal and external relations 1t appears i'm
possible that Mr. Fish could advise or consent to such
document The President descends into regions to
him unknown, and NEEDLES with what is not his
business. The interior affairs of the Spanish
provinces are not under his jurisdiction,
and surely he ought not to treat them in q manner
az far removed from truth as from decorum. The
Vor adds: Let President Grant demand the surren-
der of the virginius if his conscience permits but
he must let alone the political parties and interior
matters of our country-things which are never 70
be meddled with. He should remember that no
nation is moro jealous than the American of similar
interference and as the pretensons of Great Britain
were the prime cause Of the war Of 1872 we, imitst
ing the noble conduct of the Americans of that
time are resolved TO die il we cannot cOpauer,
before allowing such interference and tutelsge.o
EXPENDITURES OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
IMPLIED CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE GRANT or
S4OOOO0O WAS MADE NAVAL PREPARATIONS
CONTINUED AFTER THE NECESSITY HAS CEASED.
(BY rELEoRAPB TO THE rRIBuSEl
WAsHfNoToN, Dec 19-AlthOugh both Houses of
Congress have with remarkable unanimty. passed
the bill appropriating e4OOOOOO for the extraordi-
nary expenses OF the Navy Department, consequent
upon tho late Virgnius excitement there were GER
tain conditions, universally understood, on which
the money was voted The Secretary reported that
he had not at the meeting Of Congress- exceeded in
his expenditures the appropriations for the current
year, but thst the measures be bad taken hsd