The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-23

Our readers VIII De lnJeresuu IL ono 'oS'oi
of our Madrid correspondent on the close OF
slavery in Porto Rico. From the long and
weary debate upon emancipation, he extracts
two speeches that may be called representa-
tive, and sends them as illustrating the prevail
ing temper of Spanish feeling towards the
United States. In one speech is paraded all
of our wees; in the other more than all OF our
virtues. One OF these orators, who has, accord
ing to our correspondent ssombre mind,
is Mr.. Garcia Ruiz, whose principal function
seems to be severe criticism OF the United
States. The other is the world-renowned Cas-
telar, whose eloquencc recalls that of Demos
themes, and whose friendship for our Republic
has all the beauty and warmth Of maiden's
earliest love. Between these two views, so far
apart, and at the same time so striking, we can
discover how we stand in Spain, and to what
extent there is Justice in the censures OF the
one or the Communications of the other.
Mr.. Garcia Ruiz impresses us as one Of those
wild, fantastic people who come into popular
assemblies in troublous times. 1t is the fate
of revolutions to generate queer characters.
There was Anacharsis Clootz in the French
Revolution, who is a kind of antelope of Garcia
Ruiz These men discover hobby and ride
it in all seasons and under all circumstances.
Sometimes it is harmless hobby, like Mr..
Whalley's dislike to the Pope in the House of
Commons, or the Anglo-mania of the old
Marquis de Boissy in the French Legislature.
But in the case of Garcia Ruiz, and at time
when the best relations between Spain and the
United States are SO important to both coun-
tries Needless ill-tempered words will do
harm not in America. for, happily, we have
enough fantastic characters of our own to
thoroughly comprehend the meaning of a man
like Garcia Ruiz, but in his own nation,
where there are Spaniards who believe his
extravagant legends. We do not regard
General Butler, for instance as in all senses
the counterpart of Washington but it is
amusing to hear him called Caligula or Attla
merely because he compelled a lot of rebel
vixens to behave themselves in New Orleans
The resources of invective were in some
respects exhausted in the last Presidential can
vass, and General Grant was honored with
variety Of epithets. But no Greeley orator in
the height of his frenzy-not even Senator
Schurz or John Cochmne-ventured to call
him Louis XII. or Phalaris. In fact, Mr.
Garcia Ruiz throws his epithets around as
though he were at large in classical die
tionary and we learn that the fulness of
speech among our own politicians does not
compare with that possessed by Spanish
statesman in high state of anger.
Spaniard whose mind dwells upon the
past will naturally mourn over the decay that
has come upon the Empire of Philip ii. He
will remember to use the words quoted by
Mr.. Garcia Ruiz when the language of Ger
vantes was heard on every sea. We can
partly understand why the possession by the
United States of Territories like New Mexico,
Florida, Texas and California-their names
alone suggesting the days of the Spanish
dominion-would excite pain in the Spanish
mind. But why this pain should turn to
anger, and anger against the United States,
like that shown by Mr.. Garcia Ruiz, surprises
us. We can well afford to be called an
''avaricious and criminal race" for phrase
like this means nothing and only shows tenn
per. But how have we shown avarice or
crime in the requirement of these Terrific
ries :? We purchased Louisiana from
Napoleon and paid him for it. Spain
gave up this noble domain for little
Italian duchy, which she never received
But the bargain was an honest one on our
side and honestly kept. So with the
Floridas We obtained them from Spain by
the consent of Spanish king, and Mr.. Garcia
Ruiz is the first Spaniard that we can learn
who has ever complained of our share in the
transaction AS for Texas and California,
they were Territories of Spain and had passed
from her flag long before they came under the
flag OF the Union. The United States was no
party to their loss Spain lost these Territories
just as she lost Peru and Chile and Mexico by
misgovernment, and by doing as she has done
in Cuba and Porto Rico Ifany foreign Power
had part in the severance it was England.
Mr.. Canning boosted that by his diplomacy,
which led to the independence Of the South
American republics he had redressed in the
New World the unsettled balances in the Old
World. The United States may have had her
own feelings about the contests which pre-
ceueu the independence Oh tneSe repuDlcS,
but she never took an active share in them.
As to the criticisms which this wild man
makes upon our internal policy, our dealings
with the Indians and the negroes we note them
because they are amusing. How can we
seriously listen to man who accuses General
Grant of having in his Inaugural Address
limited at q war Of general determination as
solution of the painful and perplexing Indian
question, and who gravely alleges that Mr..
Lincoln promoted an officer of the army be-
cause he fed Sioux Indian tribe on poisoned
bread? True, General Grant has ordered the
severest punishment for the treacherous Mo-
docs, but this is very different from general