The New York herald., 1873-12-20
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Manifest Destiny as Treated by the London
Leader Writers.
From the London Times, Dec. Al

Leader Writer'S
From the London Times Dec. Al
We should. perhaps, be scarcely justified in at
tributing to General Grant the random character
OF the paragraphs which make up his Message as
telegraphed. AS 1t is laid before US we see him
touching on a subject and then dropping it, to re-
turn to 1t again in later part OF his communica-
tion to Congress. The Cuban question thus ap-
pears, disappears and reappears. AS we have
already expressed our dissent from the claims put
forward by the President on behalf OF the
national nag IT is but right we should record
our satisfaction at the moderation OF his views
in respect OF Cuba itself There is not word
to indicate desire to annex the island. or even to
intervene forclby in Its disputes. This re-
serve IS the more praiseworthy, since 1t is
apparent that tle President has not lost
lis old hankerlng after the extension OF the
power OF the Union in the Mexican Guk lr
there Is now no recommendation TO purchase St.
Thomas or to accept the sovereignty OF the
Bay of Samana, he desires tina. the application
OF the government or st. Domingo for the pro-
tectorate OF the United states may be considered.
But with respect to Cuba General Grant goes little
further than TO express a hope that slavery may
soon disappear from the island, and with 1t the
He insists, indeed. upon the necessity or making
the slave-nolding arstocracy OF Cuba subordinate
to the orders Of the home government or falling
in this, OF preventing their using the name and
authority OF Spain as the means Of uphodlng their
own misrule. SO lar the opinion OF England Will
troll CUBA, or Cuba must be separated from Spain,
and q Tree creole Republic established in the
island to replace the authority of the mother
country.
From the London Daily News Dec. Al
President Grant has been fortunate In meeting
Congress with the news OF this diplomatic victory
IN his hands. The vigorous action OF his govern.
ment, from the moment the news OF the outrage
was received, is certain to meet the full approva,
OF the representative body. II Is very possi-
bic that the diplomatic settlement is not
entirely acceptable to a section OF the Amer
lean people. Annexation is always popular,
and the seizure OF Cuba, as fair prize
Of war, has come so near to possibility, or even
probability, that some disappointment will be felt
as the prospect vanishes away. Ten days ago
everybody in New York seemed to have reached
the conclusion that the annexation OF Cuba was
Inevitable. we do not hear SO much nowadays
about manifest destiny" as We did in the old
times OF Southern predOminance; but popular
opinion In many parts Of the United States has
the gates OF the Mexican Gulf as predestined
member OF the confederation OF the Stars ana
u the s
New York has kept alive, and the terrible records
Of Spanish cruelty made public In the Book Of
In the current number OF the Edtnba,gh Re0ie,c.
have destroyed all sympathy with the rule even
handed violence shown in the execution OF
the crew Of the Virginius found the Ameri-
f @sS1s to action General ants decisive
and pcremptory course, his preparations for war,
his ultimatum to the spanish government, his re-
fusal TO extend the time for compliance with his
demands beyond the 27th OF November had the
completest approval OF tho public, and will GER
telegram from our New York correspondent which
we publish to-day shows that an excellent
and that some conciliatory steps have already
been taken oy the Captain General. The dstinc-
Republic and the Shareholders who, as he says,
NV while eonnn,t MAINTAINING political connection with
emphatic declaration that this evil must be- abated'
indicate disposition to interfere in Cuban AFFAIRS
Il ut opportunity should arise Such an inter-
ference especially II 1t were undertaken In no un-
friendly spirit to the government at Madrid wOuld
perhaps be popular In the United States. Indeed.
had President Grant announced less moderate
policy than he has adopted it might have met with
considerable support. There are thousands OF men
up and down the country. and good many even
In Congress itself, who would nave preferred a
fight and an annexation. though kindred gov-
ernnlent in the Old World had been tumbled over
IN the struggle.
From the London Morning Post Dec. Al
The President is earnest and emphatic In the ex.
preston OF his opinion that it is in some way the
duty OF the United States to insist upon, and per-
haps to aid the Spanish government in enecting a
removal OF the cause of these troubles The United
States, he says are not hostile to Spain.
but they are hostile to slavery, and they
have bitter quarrel with the shareholders OF
Cuba. These shareholders are the enemies alike
81 the Spanish government and OF the United
states. We refer our readers to the remarkable
words which President Grant uses upon this sub
Ject They are rather unaccustomed words from
100 years ago the first President of the Repub-
nc warned his countrymen against the danger
OF interfering with foreign governments or OF CON
tractng "entanglng alllancesr with foreign Pow
ers. But tho nineteenth President or the Republic
now urges on Spain the absolute necessity, IN the
ttNn
Of putting down with strong hand q certain class
OF It's citizens, and plainly hints that il Spain is
States VIII be glad TO aid her. II is scarcely prob
able that the President would have employed
speaking Of 1.-The prosayery autocratc pary waf IL
Cuba OF its "open hostility to the home govern.
ment " and Of the blessings which would follow
the abolition of slavery In Cuba, without having
had some understanding with Sehor CASTELAR, as to
the effect OF these words in Spain and in Cuba
would be wise; without 1t they would be at least
irreconcilable with President Grants declarations
OF friendship for the Spanish Republic.
tFrom the London Telegraph Dec. 4l
So far as Europe is concerned the Message OF
President Grant to Congress presents only two i'm
portant points. One is the Spanish difricuty the
other American finance. On the latter subject the
President speaks In a tone that will certainly Sc
cure attention and approval on this side Of the
Atlantic Commenting on the late panic, he
points out that confidence can only be restored
by return to sound business principles,
and he Insists with emphasis on the necessity OF
speedily resuming specie payments as the pest
security against further risks arising from strin-
gency, imitation and pressure. The fact that
the American financial crisis Is now virtually
over greatly reduces the interest which we should
otherwise feel in the Presidents suggestions; ana
experience teaches that the restoration OF the
currency to a metallic basis VIII be tedious,
difficult and trying operation. II is at the same
time satislac ctory to that no crude or Ut0pian
theories are started In the Message, and England
win watch with the greatest interest and sympa-
thy the progress towards a result by which both
nations as we'll as the commerce OF the world gen.
orally, will be gamers. But while the financial
world will ponder bis delycrance on this topic the
doubt in the passages relating to the vlrginius.
Thc Grst impression conveyed by General Grants
49, Al Go. u IL -