The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-11-28
B e L A R, N d.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1878.
To correspondents,
The Cuban Affair.

Notwithstanding the great buster of naval
preparations, il seems to be generally conce-
ded that the case against the Cuban murder
ers viii be settled by board of arbitration,
composed OF European sovereigns, as was
done in the matter Of the Alabama claims.
This action, iftaken, it is presumed will be
in compliance with the wishes of the Span
ish government, who recognize the fact that
the longer the delay in settling the dispute,
the more they have to gain. From the first,
too, it has appeared that influences were at
work with President Grant TO prevent him
from showing any signs of accord with the
unanimous voice Of the American people, de-
handing the .yindcation of the national
honor and the righteous punishment of the
murderers. The secret influences that have
been thus at work can be imagined from the
simple statement, which has never been con-
tradicted, that q son of Secretary Fish is the
counsel in this country for the Spanish gov
eminent, at an annual salary of $4,000
General Sicklcs, too our minister to Spain,
is the warm personal friend and admirer of
Castelar, the President of so-called Spanish
republic.
The sentiment of the Spanish people,
whose brutal instincts are in full accord
with those that animate their fellow country
men In Cuba, is adverse to offering any re-
paraiion to the United States, beyond, per-
haps, barren apology, and the reiterated
assurance that more caution will be exercised
in the future in boarding and capturing YES
sells carrying the American flag CASTELAR,,
to retain his position must obey the wishes
OF his people, and he is therefore placed in
an awkward dilemma. The only means of
eXtrication is the course he appears to have
chosen, namely, to set to work secret infu-
gnces in this country, to bring about the set
cement of the difficulties by arbitration.
I'm the event ola war, Sickles would of
Arse be compelled to come home and he
no doubt finds the court pleasures of Madrid
preferable to the dscomforts of the tented
field, in war where small opportunities for
distinction are 10 be found by military men of
his stamp. The paid agent of the Spanish
government would also be compelled to give
up his post and find other and less lucrative
employment 1t is a matter of small moment
e to him how often the American flag is insult
ed, our plain treaty obligations with Spain
Violated, or the blood of American citizens
split by a brutal sodicIy, provided he retains
his post and pay.
A war, too, it is believed, would unite in a
common bond of sympathy the people of the
North and South, in our own country, that
would enable the latter to cast out the miser-
able carpet-bag plunderers which infest that
unhappy region Fanatics such as Sumner
and others, can not bear with complacency
the thought that the time will ever come that
the Southern people will be allowed to man.
age their State affairs themselves. Thus
another influence is brought to bear upon
the administration TO cause ii to meanly
pocket the insult to the American flag and
allow the outrages upon American citizens
III Cuba condoned and continued. And
this condition of affairs will last until the
American people have the opportunity to
place in power ut Washington men who
will have some regard for the national honor,
and less for their own selfish interests
The failure of the Grant administration to
respond to the wishes of the American people
in this matter will be its downfall and their
political ruin will once more prove that
though the mills of the gods grind slowly,
they grind exceeding small"