National Republican., 1873-11-24
GREAT BRiTAIN AND the SPANISH
Ht OUTRAGkS.

While the hot-headed, rash and impetuous
class Of people In the United States has de-
manded that our Government should rush
into war with Spain, and has engaged Itself
In comparisons with the course Of Great
Britain In Similar emergencies to those which
now exist between the United States and the
CASTELAR, government, John Boil has quietly
abided the receipt Of Official and deApite In
formation regarding his consesiiou there
with before attempting the expression Of an
opinion which might be construed 40 COM
mtting the British Government either one
way or another. The cable dispatches rc-
ceived this week inform US that the London
Times has Interested itself In the discussion
Of the subject. In that discussion tho dis
patches assure US that "Thc Thundcrer" has
declared Tho opinion that "if the vlrginius
affair had occurred during the ascendancy Of
the Democratic party Qn the United states)
Cuba would have doubtless been Immediately
annexed" This IL all very wen for buncombc
on John Balls part, and ss an effort to urge
the American Administration to do some-
thing to relieve the British Govern
mcnt from the responsibility Of taking
the initlatory steps to secure solu'
ton Of the pending difficulties. But
the inspiration Of the suggestion was mani
testify either selfish or ignorant Of tho legal
and Unconstitutional requirements which govern
the cooduct OF the Executive authority CT the
United States. Tho mercst tyro In lega,
learning knows that the Democratic or the
Republican party as represented by ascendant
power In the administration Of our Govern
mcnt could not oct In the manner indicated
by this suggestion. Tho war-making power
Of our Government resides with Congress
and the laws prohibit the Executive from re-
sorting to measures for the protection Of the
rights of American citizens which may
amount 10 acts Of war. Hence we assert tha
the suggestion Of the Times was ignorant be-
cause Il bctrays IN innocence Of knowledge
regarding these restrictions upon the Admin
istration, or was selfish, inasmuch as It was
intended to provoke an act which, however
illegal, might have saved the British Gov.
ernment from the responsibility Of taking
the initiatory steps to which VIC have
alluded. The glory OF the Democratic party,
II Is true, may rest In the fact that Il
has invariably put itself forward as the
champion Of the theory Of acquiring
territory In the West Indies; but It's infamy ID
to be found In the fact that It cssayed without
Just proyocation 10 limit the territory Of ouI
jurisdiction within the circumference OF oul
own power. The record which accords 10 Il
that glory was won, tso, before the Republi,
can party had an existence and . name.
Hundreds Of It's leaders who struggled for the
acquisition Of Cuba before the Republican
party came into existence arc now acknowl
edged to be leaders Of the masses who do
clare their belief In Republican principles
Since the Republican party came into power
these hundreds Of leaders have aided In
molding Its policy, SO that II now represents
the Idea OF acquisition Of territory as thor,
ou.hly as did the organization Of which they
were former members. They aided In the
acquisition Of Russlan-America,a as did somt
OF their predecessors In the acquisition o
Louisiana. We learn from this that the &C
quisition policy Is no more the Democratic
policy than II Is Of the modern Republican
party. Tho changes incident to our ciyi
war, commonIzed, so TO speak, the theories
OF both parties, and they arc now entertained
by men Of every political creed. They be
long no more 10 one than the other, and have
been cxempliaci by the present Administers
tion Us thoroughly regarding the acquisition
Of territory as they ever were Of preceding
administrations. The Times Is, therefore, at
fault when Il ascribes to the Democracy an
impulse In this direction, which does not
meet with prompt and energetic Response
from the dominant party. sH
Best Of all, the present emergency does
not involve the possibility or probability OF
territorial acquisition. 1t does involve q
sufficient reclamation for the insult to which
we have been subjected and that Is all. Dur
Ing our civil war We pursued different
policy toward our rebels TO that which Spain
now pursuos toward the Cuban Insurgents.
IN drawing distinction in this regard, the
TimsJ docs us no Injustice. As result Of
our forced Interference In the premiies, the
annexation Of the Island to the United States
or its independence may follow, but to-day
We stand In tho attitude Of utter indlfieIeIce
regarding that result We'cannot, with the
constitutional aud legal restrictions imrosed