The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-11
Secretary Fish, the Cuban Question
and the spanish Government.

| The State Department has spasmodic fits
and relapses on the Cuban question and in its
intercourse with the Spanish government
The history of its treatment of that question
during the four years of civil war in Cuba is
curious one, and not at all complimentary as
to the consistency, ability or humanity of the
American government. The long Washing
ton despatch we published yesterday, reveal
ing the action of Secretary Fish and Minister
Sickles with regard to the Cuban insurrec-
ton, slavery in Cuba, the conduct of the
Spanish authorities in the island toward
American citizens and other matters pertain
ing to Cuba, shows one of these spasmodic but
utterly fruitless efforts to induce Spain
to execute her often repeated promises to do
justice to our citizens and to grant reforms to
Cuba. The substance of the matter contained
in this synopsis of official correspondence
between Mr.. Fish and General Sickles has
appeared before and been commented on in
our columns, though our Washington de-
spatch of yesterday was more full and authori-
tative. The communication referred to from
Mr.. Fish to General Sickles is dated the Goth
of October last, and is an energetic protest
against Spanish faithlessness, the mainte-
nance of slavery in Cuba and the terrible state
of things in that island. But since that was
written the State Department appears to have
relapsed into state of indifference, being
satisfied, we suppose, with having made the
usual wordy red tape demonstration. We are
led to this conclusion from the anti
Cuban and pro-Spanish tone of Secre-
tary Fish's remarks to our Washington
correspondent few days ago. Thus the see
saw of remonstrance and indifference, of ap-
parent sympathy for Cuba and apology for
Spain, is kept up, making this great Republic
appear ridiculous in the eyes of the world and
creating disgust in the minds of the American
people.
While we regret that our government has
not pursued a more consistent course, and
that it did not persistently follow up the policy
General Grant avowed shortly after his inau-
guration and while General Rawlins lived
and was one of the Cabinet, we are ready to
give Mr.. Fish all the credit he deserves for his
manly, vigorous and heightened American de-
spatch of the Goth of October to Minister
Sickles. He calls General Sickles' attention
to the fact that the present Ministry of Spain
had given assurances to the public through
their organs Of the press, and had confirmed
the assurance to General Sickles personally, of
their intention to put into operation series of
extensive reforms, embracing among them
some of those which this government has been
earnest in urging upon their consideration in
relation to the colonies which are our near
neighbors The Secretary then goes on to
show that the Spanish government partly at
the instance of the United States, passed
law providing for the gradual emancipation of
the slaves in the West Indian colonies and
that this law remains o dead letter; that, in
fact, the regulations issued professedly for its
execution are not only inadequate to effect
emancipation, but are really in the interest of
| the stakeholder and for the continuance Of
the institution of slavery. This is a serious
charge against the Spanish government, though
wrapped up in as polite diplomatic language
as possible. 1t has not only broken its
pledges to the United States, but has aggravated
the offence by deception If the Spanish Minis
try ever did intend to act honestly in carrying
out the law of emancipation, which is question
able, it is evident Spain was powerless to do
SO against the will of the volunteers and slave
holders of Cuba. In truth, we have seen that
Cuba is no longer governed by Spain, but by
that revolutionary Spanish faction which has
sent Captain General home, which slaugh-
tered the boy students and which commits
other outrages regardless Of the will of the
home government.
Secretary Fish, while acknowledging as q
general rule the obligation of one nation to
abstain from interference in the domestic
affairs of another, claims that there are cir
cumstancee which warrant an exception to the
rule, and then argues that the position of
Cuba to and relations with this country JUS
tify action on the part of our government
AS consequence General Sickles was
instructed to demonstrate, in decisive
but respectful terms, against the ap-
parent failure Of Spain to carry
into effect the emancipation act to which she
is committed. He then adds that if Spain
permits her authority to be virtually and prac-
tically defed in Cuba by refusal or neglect
to carry into effect acts of the home govern
ment of humane tendency it is tantamount
to an acknowledgment of inability to control
the instruction in Cuba. Here the Secretary
has hit the nail on the head. Spain cannot
execute the emancipation law if even she
would. She cannot control the instruction
either of the Cuban patriots or Of the volun-
teers. The volunteers and Spanish slave
holders, with others who are interested in
maintaining slavery and who are making
money out Of slave labor, will not permit the
Spanish government to abolish the infamous
institution. In this, at least, they are as much