The New York herald., 1873-11-20
Opinion OF Senator Sargent, of Cali
fOrn1a.

Senator Sargent OF California, on being called
upon, said IN to the usual inquiry concern.
ing Cuban matters:-
al should prefer to wait until I hear the full
statement OF all the facts in the case While
am in favor OF upholding. at all hazards, the
national honor and all the rights to which
our flag Is entitled / wish to do nothing
in my capacity as member OF the United States
Senate hastily. / utterly abhor the want OF hu-
manity exhibited by the Spanish colonial authori.
ties in the execution OF those captured on board
the virglnius, and think some steps should be
taken to punish the perpetrators. What is best to
be done in the matter is serious consdera-
tion Tne administration cannot declare war. 1t
can only do what 1t is now doing with commendable
energy-make all the preparation In It's power to
meet the emergency should It arise. Congress
member OF that body, l do not want to counsel
such declaration without being able TO satisfy my
own conscience that am right In so doing, and
that the whole civilized world will justify my
country In such acti0n.o
what would be the remedy for those outrages
committed by the colonial autnoritiesr'
Taking possession OF Clba would certainly be an
eIectual remedy; but there are several things TO
upon such steps. IL Will be war TO attempt it, and
the doing so re-establishes monarchy in Spain.
CASTELAR,, the President OF the Spanish Republic Is
striving TO make republican institutions uccessfu
in his country. In this effort the only friend which
he has among the great powers OF the earth is our
selves. He looks to US for sustaining sympathy
and aid in the effort TO make his country free. We
destroy all his hopes and ruin the spanish Republic
by warning against 1t. Tnis consideration alone
should induce us to act with the utmost caution.n
what would you suQgestT
81 am not as yet decided in my mind as to what
is best. Ii Is very evident that the Spanish home
government has no power to enforce its DEGREES
over the colonial authorities OF Cuba. That island
and its orficias are completely under the control
OF the Spanish volunteers. who do Just what
they choose and compel the military and civil o1i-
Gals TO comply with all their demands They are
acting in the interests OF the Shareholders OF
the island. think that IT would be
wise policy to advise the Spanish gov.
dSb, aeG sa te eS would
AID Spain In It's enforcement and also In the es-
tablishment OF its authority, so that the per-
perators Of the recent massacre could be properly
..aow do you think 4 would fare with our COM
merce In case OF war ~ =
s'Bady at flrst for the reason that Spain had but
comparatively little commerce, and ours Is exten-
sive. She has larger navy than we have, be-
ass wRoa she Spain to
party TO the Treaty Of Paris, which between GER
tain nations did away with the right to issue let
ters OF marque to private armed vessels she would
claim and exercise this as right OF war, and thus
innict serious damage on our mercantile
Ss SKIN ans Saverg Of onG
officers and sailors, but at the outset we should
have to very largely increase our naval force TO
put us on an equality Our monitors at close quar-
ters can contend against any ironclad the Spanish
navy possesses but the Spanish ironcads cruis-
ing rigates. class which we are entirely without.
THE NEW IRoNsIDEs,
the only vessel OF that class was destroyed by
fire some time ago at Philadelphia. ! visited
League Island day or two ago In company with
the Secretary and several of the prominent officers
Of the navy. 1t was their opinion that the
weakest monitor could with safety TO herself put q
ball through the Spanish ronclad irgate ArIpiles,
now at the Navy Yard at New York, which ves-
sci is confdered one OF the most formidable in the
Spanish Navy. The monitor however, would, Of
course, be unable TO overtake her II she chose to
.swhat force would be necessary TO add to our
armyw
sComparativey but a small number. The war
would be almost entirely confined to naval
operations. The army would have but little TO
do. Spain and the United States too
far apart for an attempt on either side
at an INVASION All the force which would be neces
sary would be that sufficient TO take possession Of
Cuba. An army OF $4,000 men, conveyed In trans
ports protected by monitors, could easily enect q
landing at some accessible part OF the island, beat
the Spanish forces If they offered battle In open
eld or invest and capture the principal towns and
seaports. spain could not reinforce ner army suf-
pcisnt " pxeYeRt tAe slana heiRg .takeR wAse xf