New-York tribune., 1875-12-15
IYTERlENrON ~ CEB4.

y
" the present distinctive point at issue between
I" the United States and SPAIN specifying .
minor question touching the trials OF American
citizens arrested in Cuba. But we all know
that the distinctive point at issue is something
quite different. Our chief demand, as the
President told lie in his Message, is nothing
iess than the cessation of the war; and we
are assured upon the same authority
that with this demand tho Spanish Govern
mcnt is not likely to comply except npon
compulsion. We are therefore brought face 10
face with the probability of an armed inter
vcniion, either alone OF in concert with other
pOweIS, to enforce u cessation OF hostlltles !;
and our Washington correspondent gives lis a
clear idea of the folm which this interference
is likely to take.
1t is well understood that the solution of
the difficulty which Gen. Grant wishes TO pro-
pose is the autonomy Of Cuba Us dc
tendency OF Spain, the island govern
ing itself under systom substantially
identical with that Of the Canadian Con-
federation. and retaining the relation Of .
colony of the mother country. II either party
decline to accept this schem. the action of
Great Britain. France, and Russia in regard
model for our next preceding. In that case
the allied powers, jusiifying their course by
regard for the interests of humanity and re-
ligion ard the safety Of commerce. offered
mediation to the Porte and demanded an
arnlstice pending negotiations. Greece ac-
cepted Turkey declined; and thcreupon
the allied squadrons attacked an1 destroyed
the Turkish fleet in the Bay of Noyarino, n
French force occupied The Moroa, and the in
dependence OF Greece was established. To all
intents and purposes therefore, though not III
name, this was intervention in aid Of the
Greeks, and if we interfere in Cuba it can
only be in tho same way, 10y an attack upon
the Spaniards,-th is by practically declaring
war in behalf OF tue insurgents OF Cuba.
Whether the American people will sustain
the President in such course is extremely
doubtful. The provOcation is not by any means
so great "a it was in the case of Greece.
The Greeks were q Christian people strug-
Cling to free themselves from Mohammedan
tyranny much worse than the rule of the
SpaniaId in the Antilles; the war was at
tended by unheard of atrocities; and the
action OF the great powers rescued whole
nation not merely from religious persecu-
" ton, but from the cruel alternative Of being
transported from their native land into
Egyptian bondage or eXtoiminated by their
meIciless oppressors." The dilemma Of Cuba
is by no means so bad as that of Greece was
in 1927; and though it is possible that we
might be justified in interfering it is certainly
not our moral duty to do 80, and the policy Of
such a proceeding is very far from clear.
The President strongly limited in his Message
that if he acted at all it would be jointly wtl
other powers, and an article which We cite
from EArGH National gives some reason to
believe that those other powers are France and
England. IL would be premature Ia discuss
the possible results OF an alliance whose terms
are entirely unknown, but the people viii look
with great suspicion upon any convention or
agreement with II European nation for inter
ference in the affairs OF this continent. An
aversion to alliances with foreign powers is
one of the Oldest traditions of the Republic,
and when the object of the alliance is to per-
nit European power 10 shape the destiny of
Cuba, the repugnance of the people will be
immeasllrably increased