The New York herald., 1873-11-18
nrst to obtain all possible information upon the

hist 10 OBTAIN all possible information upon the
subject.
GENERAL GRANTS MEMORY.
IL was stated by President Grant, in the inter
view with him to-day, that none Of his views here
toiore expressed with regard to Cuban affairs mad
undergone change. ON the 80 OF July,
1869, information was received at the De-
partment OF State from DR.. Phillips,
Vice consul OF the United States at Santiago
de Cuba, that Charles Speakman, q crizen OF
the United States, who had. against his will, been
forced TO accompany an expedition against Cuba
in the Grapeshot ana had voluntarily surrendered
himself to tho Spanish authorities as a non-
combatant, had been cruelty murdered with
forma'ity OF trial that amounted only
to farce. few days afterwards
another despatch was received containing
count OF the execution OF Albert wyeth, another
American citizen, under circumstances OF bar
barity and cruelty. The conclusion OF Ad-
mral Hon, who went to Santiago de
Cuba 10 make thorough investiga-
tion OF these cases, waa that these men
were cruelty murdered, owing entirely to the
weakness of the Spanish ofncial at that city in
yielding to the demands OF the Catalan volunteers,
and Ia miscontruing or acting upon the cruel
decree OF the 24th or March, 1860. In
his opinion, and in the forciDle
language in which 1t was expressed,
the President fully concurred, and General sickles
was accordingly instructed to demand OF the
Spanish government full reparation to the families
or representatives OF Speakman and Wyeth for
their murder by the Spanish authorities, so far as
pecuniary compensation could make reparation
therefor. IL is not known outside OF official circles
whether any such reparation has yet been made.
'You will aso," said Secretary Fish to General
Sickles, 'in the name OF the President. solemnly
protest against any longer carrying this war in
Cuba in this barbarous way. For now nearly
q year the insurgents have maintained
themselves against all the forces which
Spain and the Catalan volunteers have
been able to put into the field against them. In
the Judgment OF the President, in which l believe
the whole civilized world will concur, the time
has come when this struggle should be carried on
IN more humane way. To shoot prisoners OF war;
simply because they are taken with arms in their
hands, Is not in accordance with the customs OF
the Christian world. This country is deeply in
terested in the proper solution OF this question.
OUR RELATIONS WITH CUBA
are so many and intimate that cannot
regard this struggle in all its details with
anything but intense interest. Our earnest wish
has been and is to do our whole duty as
neutral nation toward Spain in this controversy.
Feeling that we have done so; that under
circumstances OF peculiar difficulty we have
forced our laws and maintained our neutrality,
we think that we have the right on our part to In
slst that Spain shall carry on this war hereafter
in manner more in accordance with the humane
and Christian spirit OF the age"
In the report Of Admiral Porter, made to the
Navy Department two years ago on the general
condition OF our navy, he said: :"In two years the
navy will actually be less than 1t was at that
time by 10 efficient vessels carrying 12s
guns, ana there is not one ship build
ing to supply their places. Under the
stand-still system we must lose naval prestige
sooner or later. AS far it goes our little navy
does It's work bravey, but it looks very inefficient
compared with the average navies OF Europe. AS
regards the personnel OF the navy feel at liberty
to assert that no service possesses more intelli
gent set of officers than our own.u