The New York herald., 1874-08-20
PORTO RICO'S PRICE.

PORTO RIC0'S PRICE.
Opinions OF the Press on the --latest
Foreign sensation-Gern.any's Thirst
for Dom nion-The Result Injurious to
Spain in Cuba.
From the New York Tribunel
The New York Freeman'S Journal publishes a
story OF the German and Spanish intrigue which
has rather startling interest for American read
ers. In April, 1874, according to this authority,
Admiral Polo received Instructions from Madrid
to ascertain "what position the Anne rican govern
ment would take IN the event OF the cession OF the
the government OF His Majesty the Emperor OF
Germany" The story continues =
The same courier brought the Admiral note explain
ing that the German government would that
proposed loan to the serrano government offered in
the necessity und the toal amount having "is becn
agreed on Also the German government would estab-
contraband war-ihc spanish fleet to Cooperate l5
ramos dictatorship on present basis o. and its
4n e TO have qer a
goysrnment Of the German Lmpire. by provisional
Porto Rico wnoe or in SISH' par '''p'A' 'A' ''AD
Of the aDer se 1 m
the proposed 5argan with Germany was antpatrotic
carist insurrec don was maEins every day immense
progress" Any possible means must be used to crush
government has accepted the oilers the German cab
sentiment Not German loot VIII tread the sacred soil
OF SPAN proper is not an n!ervention put only po.
Win the marine Of the c9nnsry @ Porto hiso
made by the two governments"
The Admiral, however, persisted in his protest,
and was soon afterwards recalled.
The FreendB'S Journal Is not paper to which
the country Is In the habit OF LOOKING for accurate
statements about foreign affairs; but 1t appears TO
have had of late some peculiar sources of infOrma.
manner Tor the authenticity OF the documents
which 1t cites In the course OF this narrative. Un
dOubtedly the Journal Is sincere believer In its
own sensation. That it has not been imposed
upon, however, by some astute DlOtter among its
will be q diflerence OF opinions. 1t would be
great thing lOr the cause OF Don Carlos II Spain
proposal or the dsmem6erment OF Spanish ter
rltory and we suppose the adherents o! the pious
King are not too holy to lie little Tor the good OF
the Church and TIE crown.
Mr.. Bancroft Davis is now on the road to Berlin
or just entering the German capital and he Is Of
course IN lull possession the views OF our gov
ernment touching bargain winch, II It has any
existence, is doubtless well known TO our Secre-
tary OF state That we should view the transfer
OF Porto Rico TO any European Power with great
dlspeaSure iS beyond question:; and 1t is equally
certain that the establishment Of the German flag
very different character to the schemes for assist
ing the insurgents in Cuba which are now little
more than the devices OF unscrupuous specula-
tors and purDllnd denagogueS
COntraventicn of the Monroe Doctrine
Highly Improbable.
[From the New York Word.l
We are not at all inclined to put faith IN the ex-
traordlnary story which has just been published in
Catholic journal OF this city Of an alleged nego-
tiatiOn between the German Empire and the gov
ernment of Marshal Serrano for the cesslon by
Spain to Germany Of the island of Puerto Rico in
return for the negotiation at Berlin of new
Spanish loan. 1t is not in the traditions OF Spain
to barter of her possessions in this way, and,
whatever may be the financial troubles of the Ser
rano government, 1t is grossly improbable that the
head OF that government would fatally compromise
its future and his own with the Spanish people
IN order to secure any pecuniary acc0nImo-
datiOn Whatever. That Germany has been exert
Ing herself to obtain q footing OF influence at
Madrid seems, indeed. to be unquestlonaole, ana
we have already indicated at least one very im.
portant object of such eXertiOns in the control
which it is extremely desirable Tor the imperial
government that 1t should obtain over the veto OF
Spain IN the next Conclave OF Cardinals for the
election oil successor to Pope Plus IX But while
1t would be q suicidal act on the part OF any
Spanish parsonage or party to trade away
Spanish colony for foreign gold, 1t would be q
hardly less preposterous step on the part OF the
German government to throw itself into open and
irreconciiable antagonism with the United States
by deliberate disregard, at this day, OIL the Amerl
can policy on this Continent The determination
O the American people not to permit the de-
velopment OF a new colonial system in the
West lnoies or in any, other part OF the New
has been repeatedly proclaimed during the
last half century. 1t has almost
as much an article of faith with the American
people as the preservation OF the Union. No
power could now venture to contravene 1t unless
1t were both ready and desirous TO provoke the
undylng hostility OF the. United States. 1t is
absurd 10 assume this of the German Empire.
There Is no doubt, to be sure tnat the ruling
spirits OF the German Empire at thls time LOOK
with anything but favor upon the increasing dis
position of the populations of Germany to transfer
themselves to the New World as citizens OF the
net " A oil
our foreien-born citizens, have most to oread
in the way of annoyance from the government OF
or their pleasure takes them back as Amer
can citizens to their Fatherland. Thanks to
the incompetency or the moral imbeclty of
Mr.. Bancroft our recent diplomacy at Berlin
has not Oeen OF character to impress the I'm
perla COVE rnment with any vivid sense OF the
true feelings OF Jne American people in regard to
the extent and the sancrity OF the rights confer
red upon emlgrating Europeans by an American
certificate Of Naturalization. But in spite OF all
this it Is absurd. we repeat, to assume that the
German government can possibly be ready to
make an active enemy Of the United States, while
1t by no means absurd TO suppose that those who
love neither Germany nor the Serrano government
OF spain should be quite willing not to say quite
that Bismarck and Serrano are both ready to dout
our pretentions In the American seas and to
trample upon our long established policy. But
we are by no means disposed to admit even the
possibility of the truth OF the story to which we
aude, and we found our reluctance to do SO
wholly on considerations drawn from the tradt-
tions of Spain and from the general attitude Of
Germany.
Bismarck scheming to Gain q Foothold
in the Antilles.
From the New York SUM-
Some time since we published the fact that the
Spanish Legation at Washington had been directed
from Madrid to inquire of Secretary Fish whether
the United States would be willing to send an
armed force to Cuba for the purpose OF arresting
the civil war there and holding popular election
to determine whether the island should or should
not remain colony OF Spain; and whether, in
consideration OF Spain's assent to such u move
ment the United States would assent to Spain's
ceding to Germany any other OF her colonial pos
sessions.