The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-11-04
Our Relations With Spain.

Since Caleb Cushing went to Madrid in the
capacity of Minister OF the United States, less
than two years ago, there have been four dir
ferent changes OF the Spanish Cabinet. These
changes, and the prevalence OF civil war, have
affected and necessarily delayed tile tr;lnsac-
ton of the business with which hewas charged.
The instructions he received from this Govern
ment had reference entirely to the actual state
of the Island of Cuba and its relation TO tile
United States, us we'll IS to Spain. lie was
also furnished with selection, III chronological
order. OF the numerous dispatches which had
passed between the two Governments. From
them he derived ample information not only
concerning special questions which had arisen
from time to time, but also respecting the gen.
eral purposes and policy Of the President in
the premises The discussion Of the Spanish
Cabinets reply to what is called in the late
Madrid telegram ''the Washington note, has
reference to the unsettled questions between
the two countries. the statement Of them being
free from the verbiage OF correspondence, and
presented in IL comparatively brief meinoran-
dunn. The exact points of 5his official paper
cannot be ascertlned, but they may be infer
red from the views of the President, which
form the basis Of the Instructions to Minister
Cushing, and which show that the President
regards the civil dissensioils in Cuba, and es
peclally sanguinary hostities. such have
been prcvailil g there for the last seven years,
rs producing effects in the United States sec
ond in gravity only to those which they pro-
duce in Spain. Meantime, our political reI,-
ton to Cuba is altogether anomalous, seeing
that for any injury done to the United States
or their citizens i'll Cuba we have no direct
means of redress there, and can obtain it only
by slow and crcuitons action by way OF Mad
rid,
The ultimate issue of events in Cuba will be
its independence, however that issue may be
produced, whether by means of negotiation or
as the result OF Military operations or of one OF
those unexpected incidents which so frequent
ly determine the fate OF nations. The contn-
uance of the Instruction grows day by day
more insupportabe to the United States, aud
while the attention OF this Government is fixed
on Cuba in the interest OF humanity, by the
horrors of civil war prevailing there, 1t cannot
forbear to reflect that the existence OF slave Ia
Dor in Cuba and its influence over the feelings
and interests of the peninsular Spaartls lie at
the foundation OF all the calanities which now
atllict the island, but slavery cannot long CON
tinue in Cuba. environed as that island is by
communities of emancipated slaves in the 9TH
er West India islands and i'll the United States
The President has not been without hope that
ali t Sc questions might tie settled by the
spontaneous act of Spain herself she being
more deeply interested in such settlement than
all the rest Of the world. The question what
decision the United States shall make is a seri-
Gus one, not to be determined by careful con-
sideration of it's complex elements of domestic
and foreign policy, but the determination of
which~nay at any moment be forced upon us
by occurrences either in Spain or in Cuba
Wtllal the President cannot but regard indie
pendence and emancipation, of course, as the
only -certain, aud even the necessary solution
of the question of Cuba. and i'll his mind all in
cdental questions are quite subordinate to
those. the larger objects OF tile United States
in this respect. The President does not meti-
tate Or desire the annexation Of Cuba to the
United States, but its erection into all indie
pendent republic of freenien, in harmony with
ourselves and with the other republics OF
America. The policy Of the United States in
reference to Cuba, at the present time, is de-
clarcd to be one of expectancy, but with posi-
tive and fixed convictions us to the duty of the
United States when the time or emergency Of
action shall ariye.-Balto. Aneericuu