The sun., 1873-12-29
The Minister to SPAN.

Geu. CALLER CrsnlNG has been appointed
Minister to spain IN place of Gsu. u. +.
SICELEs, resigned.
This appointment completes that change
in the attitude Of the Administration to-
ward spain and the Cuban question which
commenced in l,o9 with the death OF Gen.
JoHS \. RAwLISs. Previous to that event
President GRANTS notions were all in
favor of free cuba, AMI he was willing 10
sIgnaiLe his administration by Il policy of
that sort. I'm this feeling he was strength
ened 10y RAWLINs, who was an ardent
friend 10 the extension OF American lib
eriy. Under these iutu,utcs the Adj
mui,tIation began ly encouraging the
tubHns. Even llANILroS FISH signed des-
patches that were in their favor; lac con-
tiautly consulted Don MORALES IruAs.
the Cuban diplomatic agent; and lac put
an embargo upon the spanish guuboats.
IL Is true his son-in-law, Mr. SIDNEY
WEBsi EH, waS the counsel Of the Spanish
Govcrumcui tH'u, rs he s now; hut tho
power that belri,udcd cuba IN the Cab
met was too strong to be resisted and il
was determined that on or about the first
Of October, 1e69, bclliccrcut rights should
however, RAWLISs died, and cyerythingat
once began 10 change. The gunboats were
released; Tho Cuban agent was 40 longer
invited by Mr. FI-n; there was 10 pIocia-
nation Of l,l rorcncy; and soon after the
meeting of Congress the President sent a
special me 'l.e 10 Congress inspired with
hostility to the Cuban patriots. That mes
snge Gen. Ct-HING had the credit OF pre-
Iaring-in fact l,i> believed 10 have aided
the state Department in many elaborate
affairs, and he has long been very intimate
with Mr.. SIDNEY WEBSTER; Just rs he now
F"ncmlly las uc cIclit ~ Ia, ms devised
Mr.. FIsH's settlement Of tie Nirgiuius
question. His appointment 10 the Spanish
mission Therefore marks the complete and
final triumph OF Mr.. FISH and his son-in-
law over the original Cuban preGl -vucss
Of President GrANT.
In this sense il is well. II rlabcs the Adj
mluistrauuu "a unit, and puts H. policy
thoroughly ON the side of spain and against
the effort of the Cuhaus to make their
island an mdepcndeut republic and de-
ftloy slavery there at once and forever. 1t
may even lead toour taking Gaciivemeasures
In support OF spain attempt toreduce her
IusurRrut colony, and blot out the Cuban
republic boo lIuu0 aud devastation. We
see inumatol this sort m the Demo
cratic pIv.s, Wui.A with marvellous pcrti-
nac.ty, has been on the side Of spain from
the beginning. There is no telling to what
length our present rulers may 20 in any
corrupt or auti-r"pubhcGn direction; and
who cun say that with the r publican aud
Democratic parties united il this matter,
the majority OF the people viii not sup
port them in any scheme of aiding IN the
conquest Of Cuba aul its complete restor-
alton TO Spaini
Gen. CUSHING is a man Of much learning
ana talent; but A.s long life Las been a
most instructive failure, for the reason
that he has had no political principles and
has never believed that the I"o0le had
any. A soldier Of fortune in oG. public
affairs, he has been by turns on every side
and always ready TO take service under any
Administration; and his most conspicuous
distinction D. that he has repeatedly iden-
tIlcd Inns II with causes that were bound
20 lose ana parties that were lust about 10
suffer the execution Of popular justice.
Ills views are now all spanish hut whether
lie will help the Spaniurds more than ne
viii benefit the Cubans, who have never
retained him. is a couundrum that the fu-
turc only can answer,
It IL the fashion just now to abuse Gen
SlcKLLs, who is coming home, and to
NIruIcucc with which he has been pursued
since he has been ia Europe is something
noteworthy, We were not among the
orgull admirers of Gen. SICkLESi but
since thc day when he left his leg on the
battle hcld Of Gettysburg we have givcr
him the gratitude due to n gallant ant
self-sacrlncing soldier of his country; ano
until the fact Is proved We shall not be
levo that he has done in Madrid anything
more than obey his Instructions aud faith
fully maintain the honor aud interests o
the United States. And If, owing TO th'
conflict Of tendencies wRiah has existed II
'" So ''atiOn, but is now removed
. any eoESiet between hi