Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-06
THE CunAN QUESTION.


Writing ON Nov. Is concerning the
contingency of war with Spain, we
suppressed all references to the posi-
bihty of the Cuban hidalgos refusing |
obedience to the commands of Castel-
lar, dictated by Sickles We did SO
because we feared our readers might |
treat such surInises as baseless and
visionary. In view of the developments
OF the past few days, we can do no bet
ter than resurrect the manuscript then
withheld from the printers Even
should the United States demand Of
the Madrid iunta the summary trial
and execution of the chief authors of
the recent massacres, we may antici-
pate an earnest effort, at least, to COM
ply. VIII this effort be successful, OF
viii the Cuban authorities resist ? If
our demands are harsh, the complica-
ton may assume a triangular aspect,
by loyal Cuba rebelling against re-
publican Spain. Driven to desperation
by the assaults of three republics,
Spain, the United States, and the in
surgent myth, the real powers that be
In Cuba may hoist the standard of Don
Carlos No other course would be left
them, and thequeerfeature is that the one
party in Spain which cares little for
retaining Cuba is the mountain popu-
lation now supporting Carlos Settimo.
These hardy Biscayans, who were
never debauched with the wealth and
luxury that flowed into the soft valleys
of Southern Spain from foreign con-
quest. care little for territorial grand
eur or imperial sway. They are but
fighting for their own taeros or ancient
local rights, and care little for matters
beyond the seas, as their royal cham
pion well appreciates. Again, Don
Carlos being without navy, or even
decent field artillery, could not aid his
Cuban adherents in the least, while
their monarchial attitude against the
Madrid republic would intensity the
feeling against them in this country"
We see some indications IN the Pres
ident's message that views somewhat
similarto these are entertained In high
circles in Washington. Grant abuses
Cuba without stint, but has no word of
rebuke for Spain even in the matter of
failing to curb her hayward child. 1t
has been already confessed semi-offi-
cially that our original demands on
Spain were modified in the
Fish-Polo protocol. Unless they are
further modified, we may be compelled
to chastise Cuba ourselves, owing to
the impotence of the CASTELAR, regime
For a curious reason. we believe the
Cuban suggestion of arbitration con
corning the ,Virginius is practically
impossible-the reason being that NJ
power has recognized the existence O
the Spanish republic besides the United
States and some unknown ephemerid,
of South America-one of those shack
ly concerns whose BIRTH announced b.
one steamer and its decease by tn
next. No power can arbitrate, excep
between parties whom it recognizes
and here is one party unknown il
Europe or America, unless we accep
this half-breed hoodlum of Soutl
America as an arbiter According t
the usages Of civilized nations, digni
IIvu Win the name Oh international Law
arbitration seems to be GU
of the question in the presen
awkward complication. This result
from the understandable haste witt
which Fish and Sickles recognized al
abortion at Madrid, which no decen
power in Christendom would touch
The cable has told us of British ant
German vessels on the coast of Spain
looking after their citizens, and pro
tecting them from conmunistic violence
by due display or actual exercise o
force. 1t remains to be seen whethe,
we can pursue any better or more effec
tive course. The news by telegraph
yesterday that there is no naval yesse
of the United States III pOrtat Havana
and that the war steamer Kansas, Ou
since Nov. IA, has net yet reached
Santiago, indicate a remissness on thu
part of the Administration hardly IL
keeping with its buster about hurried
and extensive naval movements.