The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-17

SO sent and confirm him Immediately.
Caleb Cushing and the Spanish Mis-
Since the recall of his nomination for Chief
Justice Mr. Cushing, it appears, has been de-
liberating upon the question of retaining or
relinquishing the mission to Spain. With his
nomination for the ''highest judicial Office in
the government we were informed from
Washington that so high was the value
attached by the administration to the appoint
ment of Mr. Cushing as Minister to Spain at
the time that even with his confirmation as
Chief Justice it was not improbable that he
would be persuaded still to undertake the deli
cate and difficult diplomatic work designed for
him of comprehensive treaty of reciprocities
with Spain, particularly in reference to our
relations with the island of Cuba. At that
time (and it was only few days ago) Mr..
Secretary Fish had fixed his hopes of
the Spanish Republic upon his faith in
the government of CASTELAR,. 1t was sup
posed at our State Department that CASTELAR,
had overcome his greatest difficulties; that the
Republic in Spain was assured, and that,
as the representative of the 'Great Republic"
of the United States at Madrid, such q master
of the fine arts of diplomacy as Gushing would
serve first to strengthen and confirm the ibe-
for the United States commercial reciprocities
with Cuba, which would be better for us than
annexation, with the advantage to the Cubans
of emancipation and self-government as far as
possible with their continued allegiance to
Spain.
Some such beautiful calculations as these,
we believe, we're based upon Mr. Cushing
appointment for Madrid and upon the delu-
sion of the stability of Castelar, Spanish Re-
public But these delightful theories were of
that class of fitting day dreams known as
"castles in Spain" which before the first puff
of wind vanish like the "cloud capped
towers and gorgeous palaces" of the air. The
government Of CASTELAR, has vanished pro-
visional nursery of the monarchy has taken its
place. There was the other day a revolu-
ton at Madrid, and there may be another
tomorrow. In any event there must
be at least the appearance of an
established government in Spain before we
can hope for a diplomatic reconstruction of
our present unsatisfactory relations with Cuba.
Hence, the impression can hardly have escaped
the mind Of Mr.. Gushing that as his contem-
plated mission to Spain at this time promises
to be fruitless, it will hardly compensate a
man of seventy-four winters for the hardships
and hazards of the undertaking. But, again,
the facts and circumstances of his withdrawal
as nominee for Chief Justice must ipevita-
bly, suggest to Mr.. Cushing the loss of much
of that high prestige which, as the Minister
to Spain elect, was his week go. Accord
ingly, while it is still the wish of the President
that Mr.. Cushing shall undertake the duties of
the Spanish mission, it is not surprising that, as
he now stands, the veteran diplomatic should
pause to think over it before giving An
answer in the affirmative. The probabilities,
from the view of the subject we have sub
mitted, would appear to be in favor of his sur
render Of an enterprise which has lost all it's
recent attractions and which holds out no
prospect of compensating result.
A SINGULAR TALE Of terrible tragedy and
it's stern punishment is that related in the
HERALD this morning of the execution of
Joseph Baker, white man, at Charlotte, N.
c., for the murder of Newton Wilfong,
negro. The crime was altogether unpro-
voked, Baker not even knowing Wilfong and
its only palliation was the beastly intoxication
of the murderer. Recklessness in taking
honan life has become a crime so common
that punishment sternly administered as in
this cases. can alone stay the tide of CRIME.
A NUMBER o. BILLS were introduced into
the Assembly yesterday, as will be seen by the
HEnA1D's Albany despatch, which may require
looking after. The street railway and other
jobbers are already preparing to begin the
lobby work Of the session.