The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-17
An Issue of Fact Between the Spanish
Government and Secretary Fish.

Government and Secretary Fish.
A very singular story was on Wednesday
teegraphed from Madrid. Sefior Zorrilla, the
President of the Spanish Council, is reported
to have made positive denial in the Cortes of
the statement that communications have
passed between the governments of Spain and
the United States on the subject of slavery.
He further announced says the cable de-
spatch, ''that he had instructed the Spanish
Ambassador to the various Powers to deny
that the Spanish government had received any
note from Secretary Fish upon this question.
The government was unaware of the existence
OF note from any foreign government on the
subject of slavery in Cuba. If Secretary Fish
had sent q note of such character to Minister
Sickles the latter had not communicated it to
the government of Spain"
This official statement cannot be suffered to
pass unnoticed by the government of the
United States. The American people have
been given to understand, not only that COM
munications have passed between the two gov
ernments on the subject of slavery, but that
Spain stands distinctly pledged to the United
States to abolish slavery in the island of
Cuba In January, 1870, Secretary Fish,
writing officially to our Minister at
Madrid, said This government regards
the government Of Madrid as committed to the
abolition of slavery in Cuba" and instructed
the Minister 'if it should appear that the
Cuban instruction was regarded by the
Spanish authorities as finally and completely
suppressed to inform them that this govern
ment, 'relying on assurances SO repeatedly
given" would expect immediate steps to be
taken for the emancipation of the slaves in the
Spanish colonies. Again, in June, 1870
Secretary Fish addressed another official COM
munication to our representative at Madrid, in
which he spoke of the gradual emancipation
project introduced in the Cortes as falling
far short of what the American people and
government chad a right to expect" The in
structions of the Secretary on that occasion
were positive. ''You will state to the Spanish
government" he wrote, Gin q friendly but de-
cided manner, that this government is disap-
pointed in this project; that it fails to meet
the expectations that have been raised by the
various conversations with you; that, in the
opinion of the President it will produce
dissatisfaction throughout the civilized
world that is looking to see liberty as a uni
versal law Of labor; that it will fail to satisfy
or to pacify Cuba; that peace, if restored,
can be maintained only by force SO long as
slavery exists, and that our proximity to that
island and our intimate relations with it give
us deep interest in its welfare and justify
the expression of our earnest desire to see
prevail the policy which we believe calculated
to restore its peace and give it permanent
prosperity"
There is a direct and positive conflict in
these statements. If Senior Zorrilla speaks
truthfully Secretary Fish has deceived the
American people with false pretences of
intercession with the Spanish government
for the abolition Of slavery in Cuba, and with
false statements of pledges Frequently given"
by the Spanish government that the slaves of
the island should be set free. II Secretary
Fishs dispatches are not receptions Senior
Zorrilla has spoken falsely in the Spanish
Cortes, unless, indeed, the American Minister
at Madrid has neglected his instructions and
failed to bring Secretary Fish's notes to the
of the Spanish government In
whose mouth lives the diplomatic lie?
The Custom HOUSE CHARTER FOR NEW
YORK will probably develop at an early day
the strength Of the opposition in the Legis-
lature to the regular republicans. This
opposition will, in addition to the democrats,
of course include whatever of liberalism sur