The New York herald., 1874-08-19
THE SURRENDER OF PORTO RICO.
An Alarmed Journal on the Subject.
From the Evening Post.l

An Alarmed Journal on the Subject.
From the Evening Post.]
1t isa sadly curious circumstance that on the
very day on which we get an Official communlca-
tion OF the acknowledgment OF the Spanish Repub-
lie by England, France and Austria we are also In
formed at home OF the price which is 10 be paid
for this tardy act of justice OF the European Pow
ers TO their Iberian fellow State. What short
time ago was limited In the Euening Post as mere
guess Of the price which Spain would be likely to
pay to Germany for this diplomatic arrangement
is now asserted to be reality The splendid
colony OF Porto Rico, OF an Of nearly one hum
dred and seventy geographical square miles and
population Of about seven hundred thousand in
cluding some TWO hundred thousand slaves; /;
territory endowed with the richest soil
and the best climate OF all the Antilles;
producing more sugar than any OF the
islands OF the saGe archipelago except
Cuoa and possessing immense treasures in mines,
O: which u small portion only have yet been worked
at all, is asserted TO be In danger OF becoming
German possession unless the American people
shall promptly make up their minds TO the con-
trary. II the assertion OF the FreendnS Journal
Is correct then II ever there was proof required
TO show that our dipOmatists abroad are lncapa-
BILE represen taives of our country have 1t now.
What our government ought to have known and
made puDlc last spring reaches US only six months
later when any opposition to the project becomes
incOmparaDly more dlfficult AS we said q few days
ago. We do not believe that the seizure OF any or all
OF the Spanish colonies would much benefit the Ger
man Empire in the long run. Revolts would be sure
to break out III every one OF them; the European
Powers would become jealous the financial and
military forces would become heavily taxed, and
should the United states int epOse their veto upon
the transaction, 1t would perhaps, become at last
Impossible Tor Germany to carry IT. out. But the
TACT that such negotiations have been carried on
under the very eyes OF our Ministers at Berlin and
Madrid is not the less sadly instructive. True
that the information oil this disgracefu transac-
tion, coming as 1t does from Paplst and CarlisL
contemporary. still requires confirmation But
the unequivocal manner in which the statement
is made and the boast OF the FTeenldn's JoatradI
that 1t possesses much more documentary evil
dence than 1t now gives make 1t imperative upon
our State Department to inform the people With
out delay OF all the particulars OF the case.
In the face of this SerranO- Bismarck negotiation
all other European ews loses its interest lor peo-
pie OF this country. The various particulars-tnat
the Bazane rope story Is gaining credence: that
exPresdent Tniers has recovered from his illness
that the most powerful French journals, like the
Temps and DebatS are compelled to acknowledge
that the imperlasts are coming to the front; that
Victor Hugo came near being run over Dv cart
and kied--become all OF very poor interest when
compared with the news that Mr.. Bancroft Davis
purposes delay several days In Parts instead OF
going directly to Berlin. MIR. Davis is, in our
opinion, by no means an appropriate Minister OF
the United States But such as he is. he ought to
be well aware that under the present circum.
stances the post Of our Minister at Berlin should
not be lett vacant for an hour.