The New York herald., 1873-11-11

ING oaptivess Mr.. Fish said:-
Il cannot tell. Mr.. Hall, Consul at Havana, has
teleeraphed me that communication with Santiago
| de Cuba has been cut on I should not be sur-
prtsed II the Cubans themselves had interrupted
the communication. The State Department. WIN
usesshe utmost diligence TO be advised at the ear
lest practicable moment. After we have the full
facts wewilI act This government cannot now
act, because It does not have any basis upon which
week yet before che is presented in an oticfal
shape"
Mr.. Fish then expressly stated that he was In
sympathy with the Cuban cause. In speaking OF
their wants he said s-'They want a leader of good
Judgment and rare qualities; they need also sea-
ports Why, to-day they have not seaport. and
are literally shut out from the outside world,
Every article Of need or munition or war is Snug
ged through Spanish waters. They have no
means OF communication. These Cubans are
too enthusiastic and actually want the
United states government to espouse their cause
deJacto. They would have us to do what England
dared not do during the war OF the rebellion. They
want US to build ships and land armed expeditions
on their coasts. THIS England never did. True she
fitted out one or two privateers which did consd
erabIe damage and Cor which she has paid
s15,50o,00O, but in all our troubles she never
fitted out an armed expedition to land on
our shores. The CuDans come to this country
enlist recruits for their service, raise money, at
tempt to negotiate bonds and loans and yet want the
government not only 70 accord to them beligerent
rights, but to commit the overt act against spain
OF armng and fitting out ships to land supplies for
them, when thus far they are poweress to main
tain solitary seaport say again, sympathize
with cuba, but cannot consistently with my sense
or duty and responsibility render aid in any man
ner which will conflict with the comfy OF nations
want to see better metal from Cuba than
has yet been sent among US before / can
hope to hear oftheir ultimately achieving their in
dependence. The status OF the virginius II it
comes under the cognizance Of the United States,
ia very much similar to the boarding or the English
vessel containing Sliden and Mason by Commodore
Wilkes.r
Mr.. Fish was then asked in case the status OF the
capture Of the yirgnus was OF such a nature as to
demand reparation Of Spain. what that reparation
would be other than mere apology; to which ne
replied
'sWe cannot bring the dead to life; and Just what
course the government can pursue only be
stated when 1t IS in possession OF the full facts in
the matter. We cannot act hastily on vague infor-
nation"
The Position or the United states Cow
ernment Toward Spain and the
Cubans ON the virginius Question.
Conversation here continues to occupy itself
somewhat with the affair OF the yirginius, but
without running into any emotion or commotlon.
The fact is that nobody seems 60 feel any great
respect either for the spaniards Of Cuba or the
Cupans OF Cuba. But Spaniards and CubaDs alike,
it appears, have contrived to deprive themselves
OF estimation here by the apparent incapacity OF
the former to put down the insurrection and the
incapacity OF the Cubans to get SO far ahead to
possess single port on the whole coast OF Cuba.
That, however which chiefly discredits the Cubans
is to see so many thousands Of them in New York
making parade speeches at public meetings, which
General Quesada and his 1000 followers in New
York apparently ind a much safer business,
than fighting the spaniards in Cuba.
"How ashamed we should be, :" said prominent
Official to-day, sff it were recorded In our
revolutionary history that long list OF our
generals and colonies, with thousands OF
~
at home TO fight the English, had spent their time
in Paris making speechesl And 1t is thought by
many that the Spanish Republic in Spain, with the
eloquent and patriotic CASTELAR, at its head is most
especially deserving OF the sympathy Of the people
OF the United States. 1t is amentable, indeed,
to see that CASTELAR, has to struggle not only
against two rebellions in Spain-that OF the
Carlists in Navarro and that OF the petrolists
in Murcia-but also with two rebellions in Cuba
that headed by Cespedes at one end Of the island,
and at the other rebellion headed
by the Casino at Havana. For it is the Spaniards
at Havana desperately cnging to the maintenance
OF slave labor which is the chief cause of all the
injuries there to American citizens, and which in
other respects outrages and oYends the public SEN
timent OF the United States. There is good reason
to hope that the high qualities OF the new Captain
General, Jovear, aided by the personal presence
of the Minister of Colonies, Mr. Soler, will
reduce 30 obedience the desperate men at
Havana who really conduct themselves as II,
under pretence OF putting down nsurrecton, they
really desire Its continuance. AS to the insurrec
ton itself it seems clear enough that II the 1000
Cubans in New York and 5000 more in Philade
phia, Baltimore and Key West with the gallant
General Quesada at their head. would betake
themselves to Cuba and do little wholesome
fighting in the field, such an addition to the force of
Cespedes would very soon put an end to the power
OF the Spaniards. 1t Is an old saying, ''Who
would be free, himself must strike the blow" and
it was in that way that Buenos Ayres, New
Grenada, Venezuela, Chile, Peru and Mexico won
their independence, and not by means OF an army