New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-16
SHY FILIBUSTERS.

| One of the Washington newspapers upon
| which the Administration is in the habit of
| trying experiments in cOrpOre UM has made
| an elaborate plea for the immedi ate recogni-
ton of the Cuban Republic. This has been
taken to indicate disposition in Government
councils to resume the intermeddlng policy
in the Antilles which seemed to be abandoned
some time ago, or at least to get the gauge
of public opinion in regard to such action.
The article produced no effect except i'll the
sensitive and not particularly perspicuous
atmosphere of Wall Street, where it caused q
decline inIthe stocks which would naturally be
disastrously affected by war with Spain. The
plea of the shy Administration organ is
not of nature to make any power
full impression upon the general public.
Ii is composed of few elements, as simple
and as candid as the utterances of the Presi-
dent usually are upon matters of public policy.
The opinions of leading publicists are quoted
to show that when party to a civil war OBJ
tans dominion over an extensive territory,
gives laws to it, establishes a government in
it, administers justice, and in short, exercises
sovereignty, foreign powers have right to
recognize 1t and enter into friendly relations
with it, without giving valid cause of otfense
to the opposing party. OF course nothing Is
easier and simpler than to add, that the Cuban
insurgents have established such a Gov
ernment and with this question begged
and granted, we pass gayly on to show that
it would be a fine thing in many respects to
have commercial relations set on foot between
us and the Cuban Republic. One. of the OBJ
iects to be attained is stated with delightful
innocence and archness. 1t would give en-
ployment in the Cuban trade to many discOn-
tented men in the South and would put a
stop to agitation in that region: that is to
say, so many Southern men would be drawn
into it that there would be none left to modest
the carpet Dagger or make him afraid of steal
ing.
1t is not worth while to meet an argument
which rests, like this often repeated one, upon
no basis of fact whatever. OF course the
| opening premiss is true, and no one ever
dreams of denying it. The instant the Cuban
patriots have established even the semblance
of government, the demand for their recog-
milton will be so strong from one end of this
country to the other that no Administration
and no faction will dream of resisting it. But
to assume that they have already done
this, because we want them to do it, is a
proceeding too puerile for serious comment.
The Cubans IN Cuba outnumber the Spaniards
nine to one. We believe that q majority
| of them are dissatisfied with the Spanish rule,
and would be glad to see the Island indie
pendent or annexed to us, and the Peninsulars
driven back to Spain. We do not believe the
| Spaniards will ever crush the instruction and
restore peace and tranquility to the colony
under the flag of Spain. But this is not a
sufficient reason to justify us in pretending to
ourselves that the Republic is already in
operation there, as long as its visible man
Hesitation consists of few thousand gallant
rebels dispersed through the woods and
mountains of the Eastern Department, with
out port, court of justice, or seat of
government Cuba is lost to Spain, but not
yet gained for the Cubans. The reason is as
obvious as it is painful. There is as yet no
cohesion among the native population. The
curse of discord falls inevitably among them
wherever dozen are gathered together. Here
in New-York the friends of the cause are
compelled W listen W the sad details Of end