The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-24
CLUSTERING DIPLOMACY.
LEADING TRUMPs TOO SOON.

What might have been tragedy has ended
in burlesque. All of our buster, all of oul
- bounce, ali of our defiant menaces to pool
Spain, all OF our war preparations, our diplo
matte notes, our yelled threatenipgs, our mys
terious hints about Cuba and manifest des
tiny" and the American Eagle and oul
whipping all creation" have come to moth
ing. Spain, as might have been expected
from thoroughly peaceable nation, with
more thsn she can do now, with her Carllsts
in the north, her " Irreconcilables" in the
south, her finances all going to the bad and
the country rent with internal discussions,
with religious and political questions disturb
ing the government, ministry after ministry
endeavoring to steady an uncertain and trem-
bling throne, surrenders.
What could have been expected but the re-
suit which comes to us from Madrid and
Washington Spain, under pressure which
we would never have applied to nation not
in the throes OF revolution and civil war; has
yielded to our dem 4nds The military prep
aratioDs, about which there was SO much
telegraphing to Gen. Sherman, will cease.
The retitting of ships will be interrupted.
Mr.. Cushing will exchange " assurances of
distinguished consideration" with the high
mettled Dons of Alfonso's Cabinet There
will be new shipment of troops to the Ever
Faithful Island, and the Cuban question will
be forgotten with the many deplorable and
humiliating exhibitions of American diplo-
macy, which have given our country reputa-
ton so unenviable in the past
The lesson to be learned from this whole
business is the danger of dragging our inter
national relations into politics. This was the
way Of the Napoleons. When France became
restless and the people began to chafe under
imperialism and to yearn for liberty the En-
perors opened some of the "questions "
which are ever present in Continental poll.
tics, and declared war. The people rushed
after the flag, and when the war was over
they were too exhausted to do anything but
submit in patience to whatever their master
determined. Napoleon made strange con-
fession Of the necessity of war and of ''glory"
which the Empire forced upon him. He
could only rule France by keeping the people
in constant excitement Every aspiration
for freedom was drowned in blood.
The way to imperialism is only another
form of that CBsarism against which we have
never ceased to warn the people since we first
saw the tendencies to it in the policy of the
President. The Cuban question, as we have
managed it in the past few days, is Cesarism
in its most dangerous form. 1t shows that
we have an administration not above bring
ing the severest calamity that can befall
people upon the republic only to perpetuate
the rule of party and satisfy the ambition of
a President. The credit of this must be said
to originate with the President. He is the
first President who reduced his Cabinet to
the rank of mere staff officers and his party
to the level of enlisted Dragons. So he is the
first who ever found in the always delicate
relations with our neighbors and peaceful
nations a means of political success. 1t was
not SO with Fillmore, who had twenty times
more reason to quarrel about Cuba than
Grant has found. 1t was not SO with Pierce,
who would not allow Minister as fiery as
Soule to disturb the peaceful relations be-
tween the two nations. 1t was not so with
Mr.. Lincoln, who stood alone against the
fury of the people when they insisted upon
lighting England rather than return Mason
and Slidell. 1t was not so with Mr.. John
son, who had on almost irresistible tempta-
ton to send the finest army in the world
across the Rio Grande and drive the French
out OF Mexico.
1t is not pleasant TO be forever marking the |
the advances OF despotic and irresponsible |
power, TO be forever noting new departure |
from the time.honored traditions of the |
fathers who founded this Republic, not to be |
the halidom OF successful military chieftian |
and the prptorian guards of political party; |
but to be noble and prosperous Republic, |
an example to all nations for its moderation,
its respect for the rights of the people, its
obedience to international obligations, its
devotion to pure and virtuous Democracy,
in which all men would be free and equal.
Gen. Grants Cuban demonstration would be
among the absurdities of our politics if it did
not mark a tendency which bodies evil to the
nation and its liberties.
The indignai ion which this most unfortu-
nate and deplorable business will excite
throughout the country, when its full meas
ure is known. may have a beneficial effect in
arousing the people to sense of long de-
spised but ever growing danger. As it is we
have never been in q more humliating plight
than at the present time. We sincerely trust
that the President is satisfied, and that coun-
sellers like Fish, Bristow and Pierrepont do
not feel something more then shame in be-
longing to a Cabinet which is not above con-
senting for political gain to the dishonor of
our country not only at home, but among the