National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-22
FREE CUBA.

fHEE = CDd.
1t is evident, even to the dullest compre
hension of those who watch the course of
public events, that efforts are being made
with unexpected, though deserved, success
by the friends of the Cuban republic to OBJ
tain action by Congress favorable to the
object of their desire. In palmer words it
is apparent that Congress will soon en-
power or direct, as the case may be, the
Executive authority of the Government to
take some step which will accord to the
revolutionists on the island significant
recognition. 1t is eminently proper that
this course should be pursued. There have
been many reasons why, in the past, the
Executive could not act as promptly in re-
Spouse to the evident impulse of the people
regarding this matter as the people them
selves expected; but the revolution which
has progressed with varying success and
persistent determination since October,
1868, has not been subdued. GA the con-
trary, it is stronger to-day than it was
year ago, a month or week ago, or than
it was yesterday. In short, it is constantly
gaining strength, and has maintained itself
against such overwhelming odds as to
arouse the most earnest desire for its sue
cess wherever civilized mankind enjoys the
priceless boon of liberty. 1t is but natural
that this feeling should grow as it has
grown with our own people, because in
the enjoyment of selfgovernmeat and free
dom from impositiOns Of any description at
the hands Of the Powers of the Old
World, they instinctivcly lean toward
people, nation in embryo-aow
engaged in struggling for that
cn;oyment and freedom. The President
has known and recognized these facts for
years, AMI feels them IS keenly now as the
most obscure citizen; but there have been
complications in our foreign diplomacy
which have hampcred him. In the mean
time, while the revolution has been grow
ing in strength and our people more de-
termincd in their sympathy, the Govern
mcnt of Spain has made many promises
TO reform the abuses which provoked the
Islanders to revolt, as well as others which
are simply and outrageously at variance
with the spirit of the age. Among these
are the abolition of slavery and the right
of the Islanders to representation in the
Cortes The failure of the Spanish Gov
eminent TO comply with these promises,
added to the trifing and criminal manner
in which delays have been secured in af
fIirs Of less importance, are matters Of his
&c tba old ctn NJ 1,a TNar4iliOnc
and lying Spaniard dealing with South
American republics, and but repetition of
the cowardly diplomacy of Spain in her re-
Iations with all the treaty making Powers
of the civilized world. Proud, arrogant
and cruelty selfish, dishonest and avaricious,
no matter what combination has ruled the
Government at Madrid with the exception
of CaStelar's, the same infamous policy has
been pursued, and when CASTELAR, tried the
experiment of fair dealing it cost him both
superauity to allude to the Virginius
affair, 10 the Santiago massacre,
to the promotion and glorifcation of the
Butcher Burriel, and to the indignities which
our Government has quietly and patiently
suffered because Of our contigutty to the
isiand. They are matters which can never
be blotted from the memory of any Amer!-
can who loves his country, and they give US
but an indistinct and shadowy glimpse of
the treacherous Spanish character which
has driven men, women and children, slaves
and freemen, on the island into open insur-
rection, has sustained them in the loss of
life and property, and has enabled them to
wage war which, when all the circum-
stances are considered, compares favorably
with our own successful revolution against
Great Britain.
No wonder, then, that such leaders of
public opinion-ever ready to act as leaders
when that opinion is crystallized-as Sena-
tors Carpenter, Logan and Morton are ready
10 esDouse the cause of Free Cuba in the
Senate, and no wonder that the friends of
Free Cuba are sanguine. The sophistries
which overcloud the question in its intcrna-
ton aspects are brushed away in the light
of sober reason and earnest sympathy. The
arguments that we may involve ourselves
in war, that we may temporarily lose some
thing in the way of customs revenue, and
that our strength as a nation should make
us respect the present weakness OF Spaln'
are alike weak and not to the point. Who
would make war upon US? The Carllsts, OF
Serrano? Will we not gain in our customs
revenue by direct trade with the new re-
public what we now lose by indirect trade
through the Spanish Government with a
colonial dependency? Why should We
hesitate now to gain friend neal
our own shores, even to the dis
advantage of Spain, when Spain attempted
during our civil war to establish an empire
with Macmillan as Emperor of Mexico
The only questions, then, which remain
are those which Congress is empowered
and entitled to settle. The equity Of the
case is with the Cubans. We can make thu
law to suit both our own inclinations and tn
equity. We may recognize whom ant
what we please as a nation, as one Duslnes
man in any commercial community ma.
recognize another, no matter how feeDl
his financial standing, as entitled to com
mercial recognition. No man, or set
men, has ever yet been able to define thu
word nation or the word government a
applied to nation. One nation levies take
in one way, another in another way, as dill
ferent men do business in different ways
What we must look for, and what Congress
will probably find when it examines tn
matter, is an earnestness of purpose. some
thing greater than that which prompts
mob or sustains feeting rebelion-somC
thing which amounts to the dignity of
Notwithstanding that the persons Ell
gagged in it are sctuated bya stability ofsel
timent and 8 unAnimity of feeling whic