The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-25

tion-Amertca Arrstgned for Her Per-
ady ana Covetsusness.
curious phase of the republican move
ment in Spain will be seen in letter from one
of our Madrid correspondents, printed this
morning. This letter is mainlya condensa-
ton of certain speeches in the Cortes on the
bill for the emancipation of the slaves in Porto
Rico. which was carried triumphantly by the
liberal administration on Saturday. Debates
in the Spanish Congress- like debates else
where, have wide range, and SO we have an
attack upon our government and its policy
towards Spain. We in America have felt that
the Cuban policy of General Grant was the
weakest and most reprehensible feature of his
administration. Since the death of Rawlins
no sincere effort has been made to insure the
peace or the independence Of the island
Severer critics have intimated that the Score
tary of State was in the pay of the Spanish
government, and every now and then we have
been threatened with an outbreak in Congress
against the President for his tlmidity and
want of sympathy for suffering Cuba,
Now we have from Madrid the other side of
the picture. While we are FESTIVE under the
apathy and GOODNESS of the administration
the reactionary party in Spain is frantic
under the aggressions and perfdies of the
United States. Our correspondent sends us
the whole arrangement and very amusing it
is. General Grant is not alone to blame,
according to these angry hidalgos. The
policy of our government since the time of
John Quincy Adams has been to rob Spain of
her Cuba. Mr.. Adams tried it, but he was
rebuked in the manner becoming Spanish
gentleman and king. Then Mr.. Buchanan
made resolute effort, when he was Secretary
of State to President Polk; but he was also in
formed that Spanish honor disdained the
temptation. Then came the man@uvres of
President Pierce, through Mr. Soule when
Minister at Madrid, and the offer of vast
sum for the island; but Mr.. Soule found that
he could neither bride, buy nor bully
Spain. Our civil war seems to have
given the Spaniards little peace.
| But with the close of the war and
the accession of Grant to the Presidency
the old policy found new life General Grant
being as we all know, an INSCRIPTIONS and
reckless military advcnturer, found in General
Sickles o congenial and willing instrument.
So General Sickles was sent to Madrid, in
pursuance of conspiracy between the Presi-
dent Mr.. Fish and himself for the purpose Of
compelling the Spaniards to surrender the
precious Gem of the Antilles. This discovery
will be new to our people. We had thought
that the present Minister was sent to Madrid
as other ministers-for political services-to
get them out of the way, or for any of the
twenty reasons which lead to diplomatic ap-
pointments, and that especially in the forma-
ton of new administration and Custom
House rings it would be as we'll to have as
many New York politicians out of the country
as possible. But no! Our Minister is in
Madrid on knavish errand, and at last he
stands exposed.
In pursuance of this conspiracy we discover
other startling facts We have complained
upon the information of the American Minis
ter as we'll as that of the HERALD Cuban Com
missioners, who, by the way, are better
authorities on the subject-having visited the
island-that the war is cruel war. To this
we are answered that the war is the work of
the rebels, they are to blame for its cruelty,
and when they cease there will be peace. We
have felt from accurate testimony that the
effect of the war was to desolate and ravage
the fair fields of this noble island. But on
the contrary we are now informed that the
crops are larger than before the outbyeak.
We have had occasion to reprehend in the
interest of humanity the loss Of life and the
seventies of the war. This is not denied, we
are sorry to say. But we are asked, How many
men did we lose in our conflict how many
lives did we take, how much cruelty did we
inHict upon those who resisted our arms?
Furthermore, we are assured that the tone of
Mr.. Fish's diplomacy is such that the blood
rushes to the face of every Spanish gentleman
when he thinks Of it, and we are told that
under Philip II. or Charles V. such
language would not have been heard for
a moment. But now, 80 low has Spain fallen,
that the insolence of Mr.. Fish is heard with.
out murmur. As to giving liberal institu-
tons to the West Indies, history forbids the
idea, and shows that of all the migrate
full countries in the world there are none to
compare with the Spanish colonies on this
Continent In every instance where liberty
has been granted revolt came swiftly after.
And now there are Cubans who want to be-
come part of the United States. Vain,
foolish, needless men! Do they know what
ills they court--what horrible fate awaits
them? If not, let them take counsel Of this
Spanish prophet. They will be enslaved and
oppressed by Yankee rule, become the victims
of the abject tyranny of this domination, and
in time be as wretched as "Texas, Florida,
Louisiana and California; In Texas, for
instance, an American army of twenty thou
sand men stamped out every hope of freedom
| We are not aware Of all the Xretchedness that