The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-02
0,,r ,r.olicy towards Spain.

The course this country has adopted to-
wards Spain may be studied With interest.
bnt whether with advantage We doubt.
This nation studies nothing. Resembling
some ouacks that discard all constitutional
considerations, our rulers take the symptoms
"a the guide 10 the treatment of all cases.
Our Government has constitution ana q
history full of authority that should furnish
the best possible guides at all times. But
these are discarded, and each case is regard
ed by itself, aud treated with reference to
the Drciudices and the ambition and greed
of the governing part of the people of the
United States.
Were Spain monarchy, and did her ruler
with indignity repel the proposition Of this
nation to interfere with her internal affairs,
would there, we ask, be any earnest effort
made to put check upon flibusteriDg to.
wards Cuba from our shoress Would not
the political gamblers and the so-cliled phi.
lanthropists give all possible aid to the expe-
ditions designed to snatch Cuba from Spain
and abolish slavery? Would the Govern
ment use any sincere efforts 10 intercept
those Sexpeditions? Were some BURRIEL 10
hang john BROWN taken Ia fiibustering
abolition expedition 10 Cuba, would not tue
New England bells toll from morn to nlsnt'
But there is noclsery Of republic in
Spain, and the more prominent Oh tne re-
publican agi:aters in that country nave de-
clared themselves ia favor Of the abolition of
slaycry in Cuba. So our Government, treat
No symptoms without regard to the Consti-
tuition, approaches Spain, and looking upon
tho flashes ofrepublicanism as the real fire,
attempts, like The sot in the story, to blow
up blaze out Of mere moonshtne.
And thus the powers of the Government
are to be used to propagate sentiments re-
gardless of the Constitution and reckless OF
prudence; for our propagandism opens a
counter propagandism, which VIC may not
consider orthodox, and which Id time may
commend cbaliee 10 our lips.
But the case being as it is, We arc to go on
endeayoring to light up into a flame the
pbosphortc CLEANS which simmer upon the
deesyed Spanish body polite. FIlibuster-
ing expeditions are to be crushed, and the
philanthropists, who would be SO glad to
use them under different circumstances to
stir up instructions In Cuba, are praising
the policy that prohibits them, and fondling
and nourishing the Spanish Republic with
an attachment and interest comparable 10
the feeling of mother for her offspring.
We are irreconciIiably opposed to filibus-
teripg. But we. detest far more the hypo-
critics and the fanatics than we do the filibus-
tiers. If the evils Of the misgoyernment of
Cuba and the disturbances they cause in our
near waters and upon our own shores are
sufficient to justify this Government In seiz
ing the island, Why, it should be seized and
held-as measure of poiice-until the time
for its surrender arrived. If not, we should
faithfully perform our duties to Spain as q
nation, and permit no hostile force to leave
our shores to disturb the peace and security
Of her possessions.
If we could look upon the movement Of
this Government now as one originating
purely in sense Of respect for the Consti-
tuition aud our international obligations, we
would he content. But we do not believe
it. We believe that II Spain were a mon
archy, and were to repel Our obtrusiyeness
in pressing upon her our sentiments and
.prejudices; fHbustering would beconniyed
Mt, and hostile expeditions would be multi
piled, With no efficient efforts to detect or
prevent Them -. ~ .ElT7C,~.k y IS
We believe this because puritanism and
fauaticism combined with that worst form of
democracy which knows no guide or re-
;straint but it's will orits passions, now con.
troll the Government Of the Union, Under
this combination our rulers are capable Of
any infraction Of right, either In domestic
affairs or foreign intercourse, which is deemed
necessary to the qualification Of prejudice
or bate, or which may minister to the greed
of avarice or the vanity Of ambition. aa,-