The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-31
aRANrs TWO ornER CARDs.

which he causes TO be communicated to tho
public IL that the policy Of the Administration
toward Cuba and Spain has not been changed.
The other source Ia OF course Attorney-General
Pierrepont. with him. az | conclude, these plen-
teous limitations must originate that new and
more vigorous policy has been adopted by tho
Government, and Is to be carried out.
Mr.. Perreponts Information IL true; and MT.
Fish's Is not.
Gen. Grant has ALWAYS been In favor Of doing
something for the people OF Cuba. This was
strong impulse In his mind before his FIRST In
auguration, and Gen. John A. Rawlins, his Chief
OF STAFF In the Army and his FIRST Secretary OF
War after he became President, not only shared
this Impulse, but strengthened II in the Presi-
dents mind. After Rawlns's death, however,
Secretary Fish, with his conservative disp )aition
and his strong interest In favor OF the great
merchants OF New York and Philadelphia who
own large sugar estates 10 Cuba aud are very
unwilling that Spanish control should be ter
minated in the island, and his stlll stronger in
terest In favor OF his son-in-aw, Sidney Web
ster, who Is paid enormously ns the counsel OF
the Spanish Government in the United States,
gained the control OF the Presidents mind and
thus, with Caleb Gushing to help him, Fish has
managed the Spanish Cuban question ever since
Rawlns departed pretty much as he chose.
But when Judge Plerrcpont came into the
Cabinet, a change doomed up on the horizon; and
the message proves that this change has been
realized. Pierrepont Is az heart Cuban sJmta-
thizer, as every warm-blooded American must
be. More than this, he Is an accomplished cour
tier and very active man, thinking ten thoughts
while Fish thinks one, and doing ten things
while Fish Is doing nothing. Besides, Fish has
the great disadvantage in Grants eyes OF being
a candidate for President, which Pierrepont Is
Al.
Influences together, the shrewd Attorney Gen
eral has found very little difficulty IN getting to
the windward OF the Secretary OF state, and in
shaping the policy Of the Government toward
Spain and Cuba In anew and different waY. That
part OF the message which relates 20 this sub
ject. and which argues that active Intervention
and not merely the recognition Of Cuban 0elli-
| gerency offers the only suitable way for the
United States to deal with the subject, bears all
the earmarks Of Picrrepont's work and in
deed, It Is not too much 70 say that nothing re-
garding this business except what has been pro-
| posed or inspired or approved by the Attorney
| General, has been done by the President or the
state Department for the last two or three
months. Thus it is that Mr. Fish has become a
nudity In respect Of our policy toward Cuhl.
and that only his own extraordinary unwilling
ness TO retire from ollce, and his readiness TO
sacrifice what he calls his opinions. have Kept
| him here TIL the present time. Ills early With
/ drawal, however, 10y expulsion. now seems more
/ probable than at any former time: aud yet, "a
/ we know, when he resigned the place once be-
| fore, the Republican Senators, headed by Sena.
tor Conk INK, wuo is not friend OF Pierreponts >,
| got up round robin beseeching Fish 60 remain.
| This was effective, and Don II milton s'ill holds
on tut when Pierrepont wa. made Attorney
General the retirement Of Fish, either into pri.
waite life or total Official ln-i-n,ncancc, with a
change In our foreign policy. ceased to be any
thing but question Of time.
when Fish goes out, Judge perrepOn. viii
become Secretary OF state, unless senator Conk-
ling. who Is fertile In strategy A. ne Is change
less In purpose, should again be able to head
him on Ibis, however. he will hardly succeed
| 10 doing second time; for although II Is
understood that the Senator has become a sup
porter Of the thirJ-term project, he Is not so
Jealous In that cause as judge Pierrepont. and
can never gain suca favor with the President ~
the supple, quick, accommodating, lattering
| Attorney General ENJOYS.
The prospect that the President will at an
early day propose an armed intervention Ia
Cuba in accordance with the argument Of his
message, Is thus something much more actual
than people generally suppose. IL will 90 In
| with the Auti-Catholic movement. aud form one
| OF the notable plan&s II the third-term platform
for 1879.
Another important card which Grant inter nd
to play As early a. ma seem convenient, Is the
plan OF taking possession Of a consider ,ble part
Of the repubhc of Mexico, and annexns IN
sane to the United states. TINS has Away,
been fiyoriie idea In his per,inacloIs mini
and has been mach ENCOURAGED by the Ring Of
loose spectators who are his most tutimlt,
cronies. In fact. next to his election for thl-d
~ Of d..
ing districts Of northwestern Mexico, Is tn,
thing dearest t. his heart. Ifhe can complet,
this annexation, he will feel that his adminis
tration has left great monument behind him
and he IA convinced, moreover. that the pro
posal viii Gre the he ut Of the wh he country
and put new ana more pleasing aspect upol
politics.
For the accomplishment Of this project.
favorable opportunity sc.ms now 10 be at hand
The Mexican Claim Commission has nearl
COMPLETED It's labors, and the aggregate Of Il
awards will be from ten TO afteen million
against the Mexican oyernment when thes
awards re finished, Grant Will demand ptymen
OF Mexico. She has not the money, aud canno
pay .nd then his policy IL that We should pa
ourselves by taking possessi lon Of such n exten
Of Mexic IN territory "a we may think worth III
money. THIS he me ms 10 do icihn sir'
days. The whole OF Lower California, wher
Ben Butt 'r aud hs friends have a large contin
gen, interest, Is, Of course, included In ia
scheme, and, at the same time, a sufficient slic
OF Chihuahua and Sonora Will be taken to Civ
us good boundary IN that quarter and also 1
assure our control Of the eastern coast OF Tn
Gulf OF California as far down as Guaymas, q
some other convenient point.
These are the two additional cards which Gran
Is prepared to play in the third-term game. tn
plan Is thoroughly matured In his councils. an
no trfing accident and no small opposition ca
prevent its execution. The existence Of Tai
plan also fully explains his great unwillingnes
To admit or even to contemplate the propose
reduction Of the army to ten thousand men. Il
to allow OF any restriction upon the patrloti
plumber Of Secor Robson.
The Capital Penalty.
To THE EDToR or THE sUN-Sir: Man
newspapers protest against the barbarism Of the "a
"A 4a f4aV do