New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-19
DUB CUBAN C0MPLICATIONS---A sOLU-
TON DEMANDED.

ton by disturbing the peace of others
There is much sympathy among our PEG
} pie for those who desire to reform theil
government by throwing off the chains o.
despotism and clothing themselves in the
garb of fleemen. We have q large po
litical interest in the South which enter
tains a lively sympathy for those Of
the same race and color now suffering
from bondage worse infinitely than that
| from which the American citizens referred
to ever underwent. These citizens do not
look without uneasiness at the only dark
spot on the immediate horizon of freedom.
The interests of our ship owners, of our
manufacturers, and above all of our pro-
ducers of Western provisions, all point to
the settlement of the Cuban complications.
At any moment an expedition which has
the good wishes of all these interests may
evade the vigilance of our government,
effect landing ON the sholes of Cuba,
and q conflict like that of San Jacinto
may sever from Spain her last and richest
American province. The government of
the United States has for the last four
years stood guard over the interests of
| Spain. 1t has sedulously, and thus far
successfully prevented such supplies and
such forces as would be effectual in es-
tablishing the freedom of black and white.
The government is like voluntary surety
upon an obligation to which it is not
party. 1t has an apprehension of the
ability of the obligee to comply with its
conditions. 1t, like any other such
surety must demand release from the
liability. Like him, the government must
60 into the court of nations and demand
release by substitution or summary en-
forcement. There must be an end of
anxiety and of responsibility respon-
sibility for which our government can ex-
pect no other indemnity than the COM
pliance with voluntary engagement to
befriend another. 1t will not be forgotten
by the administration that an improvident
covenant contained in the treaty of Quad
dalupe Hidalgo, binding us to repress the
invasions of Indians from the territory &C
quired by us from Mexico is at this very
moment the basis of large money claims
against us. Let us terminate all such en-
gagements and keep out of them in future.
For these and other reasons there must be
a summary solution of this obligation to
blockade our own coasts, and those of
Cuba, also, against any expedition fitted
in or steaming from American ports.
Suppose any case shall arise in which the
United States shall be held responsible in
damages FOR the happening of an event
which she could not have prevented
There will be at once a claim for
indemnity, not impossibly for single |
quentiaI damage for having incidentally been
instrumental in destroying the ualue Of aohat
Spain calls ''mOperty." How will Eng |
land look upon our liabilities Perhaps
with diplomatic coincidence, but with
secret satisfaction that the United States
has been made sick with her own physic.
England is creditor of Spain, and an
of claims to SO astute and
urgent a creditor might be very trouble
some. We assure the administration with
entire respect that it dare not await the
tedious and tricky details of diplomatic
''Time and myself, said
the crowned bigot in his war with the
Dutch republic, against any other two"
The maxim has been transmitted to his
successor. We must cut the knot of COM
plications by presenting an ultimatum,
and demanding decisive and immediate
response.
The government can not stand bound
or Cuba any longer. 1t must be released.
Better even the enmity of power thank
ess for what we have done than complica-
ions of such momentous nature, and of
such indefinite extent
There is one preliminary act that should
De immediate. II is the recognition of the
Of the republican government Of
yabd. The law of nations teaches that
when conflict ''waged between the two
portions Of a people, each having the
orm of an organized government, and
when that conflict has existed a sufficient
line to Justify other nations at their dis
retIon In regarding it as sustained con-
dlct, even instruction passes into the
,rade OF civil war, and civil war is to be
Vaged as public war" Of this stage each
lation must judge for itself. 1t is to be &
that neither in the establish
nent OF our own independence, nor that
II any other remembered, did foreign ma
ions acknowledge belligerency at the i
anne time. Each recognized US as in its /
Information We had obtained the position '
rescribed by the code of nations. Spain 6
7aS among the earliest enemies of Eng {
md III recognizing our belligerency, and
was before four years of armed contest '
ad passed away, as in the case of Cuba.
pain has i'll this case relieved us by levy S
nG war tax er non,ine upon the i'm l
orts Of foreign nations.
1t is in vain to say that revolutionary T
overnment must be established at one 5
apital. General Washington for months l
yoided q conflict in the field. Congress 9
loved its place of session. State Legisla- t
lres were bioken up, and separate govern @
tents established. While our own govern t
lent has at recent date recognized the a