The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-13

Our Washington correspondent, in yester-
days HERALD, called attention 70 the dis
quieting rumors that have been for some
time in circulation in reference to the admin
istration and the Cuban question. Our cor
respondent thinks that large portion of the
forthcoming message of the President will
be devoted ito presentation of our duties
as nation in the matter of the war with
| Cuba. Should the latest efforts of Mr..
Gushing in urging Spain to settle the
troubles in the island of Cuba by ceding it to
the United States end in nothing. the policy
of recognition of the Cuban Republic will
be recommended to Congress, a precedent
\ for such step being found in oar course
toward Mexico in recognizing, annexing and
subsequently fighting for the Republic and
State of Texas" Further reference is also
made to the preparations at the Boston ana
other navy yards, and to the fact that the
| Secretary of State and the President are not
in accord on the questions between SPAN
and this country. AS our correspondent
puts it. "The President and Secretary Fish
will differ forever on the subject Of recog-
milton of Cuba" A despatch from Madrid
says that the Madrid Cabinet is now
considering the reply that should be made
to the note Of Mr.. Cushing, which was some
time since delivered to the Spanish govern
ment and the nature of which, as we were
told at the time, was of an energetic and war
| like character We only know of the tenor
of Mr.. Cushing's note from general rumor.
Mr.. Cushing has always had strenuous
notions of the duty of government in
dealing with its rivals. He is not a
dplomatist who would temper instructions
if they gave him any latitude for "vigor.
We can well assume that what he has said
to the Spanish government will puzzle the
ingenious and shifty statesmen of the Madrid
Cabinet.
We do not care to exaggerate these rumors
in reference to our relations with Spain
Those relations have been on the most
delicate foundation, not only since the
administration came into power, but
ever since the time of Mr.. Buchanan.
The acquisition of Cuba was not only
the dream of the old slave-holding poll
ticians who had no other ambition than
the annexation of slave territory, but even Of
statesmen like Mr.. Greeley, who held
slavery and its ambitions in adherence
If this were the abstract question Of
the annexation Of Cuba, if the pear
were ripe and we were asked to
pluck it. if there were no other consider
atoms than the relations between our coun-
try and Cuba, the problem might easily be
solved. We venture to say that the general
opinion Of this country would be that if we
could annex Cuba in a Territorial capacity,
and thus end the terrible and distressing
war there raging the country, without any
serious difference Of opinion, would consent
to the union and even welcome it. We have
enough Of our share Of what Theodore Parker
was wont to call 1.-The land hunger" of
the Saxon race, to take what we can
find in the way of new territory. We should
have been burdened with an indigestible San
Domingo of half savage, nondescript races
which have no sympathy and no possible
utilization with our people but for the cour-
age and foresight of Sumner and Schurz. SO
long as there is a European Power on this
continent there will be strong public opin-
ion, republican and democratic, in favor Of
any policy that looks like ''vigor" Demo
Gratis will be as anxious about Fifty
four forty or fight" if it comes again in the
same old shape, as they were in the time of
Polk. 1t is the surest passion to which the
politician can appeal when in the stress Of
party canvass. And when we find the pres
ent administration quietly, unostentatiously,
steadily tanning this passion, we see that the
President is governed by high conception
of what is possible to an ambitious and able
man in the White House even with the linn
itations of our political system These limit
atoms will have more force under the coming
Congress than in ordinary times, when the
House was in harmony with the President.
We must always remember that the Presi-
dent Is about to meet hostile House and q
Senate that showed on occasion at the last
session degree of restiveness that may re-
suit in serious differences at the coming
meeting. 1t will be o suspicious Congress,
disposed to investigate, to inquire to hold
the servants Of the people to a strict scrutiny,
to look sternly into the management Of the
government since the republican party came
into power
A Congress thus disposed will not be anx-
ious to encourage General Grant in any
Quixotic adventures in search Of his lost
power. He will meet an inquisition, not
body Of supporters. AT the same time, with
q restless Congress peering into all man
ner of curious problems-into Indian and
revenue and railroad and other rings
what could better distract and destroy its
usefulness than a question like this, about
which so much has been said and writ
ten for the last generation, and about
which 50 much sympathy is felt by all who
admire the courage and perseverance Of the
devoted band Of patriots who have sustained