The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-11-23
Tltooleburg Srslster.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER %. 1875.
The Late War Cloud.

The Late War Cloud.
For several days last week there was
great excitement 10 commercial centres
over the prospect OF war with Spain. To
those not acquainted with the action Of
the government there was quite threat.
ening look, Our navy was put in state
Of unusual activity, fitting up the iron
clads and apparently making prepare.
tons for an active campaign. This cir.
cumstance, coupled with that other which
made considerable noise Don Carlos Of.
fering his services to King Alphonso to
serve against the United States. was
quite enough to set the gossiping, sensa.
tlonal newspapers oil agog, and for two or
three days it was all the came to them as
If the war was certain.
The immediate cause for all this ex.
citement was an effort on the part of our
government to secure protection for our
citizens in Cuba as guaranteed by the
treaty Of 1875, and perhaps to secure
the removal Of an Objectionable feature in
that treaty allowing Spanish vessels to
board American ships and examine into
the regularity Of their papers. The
Spanish government gave the soft answer
which turneth away wrath, and all Of
sudden the angry war cloud vanished
like mist before the morning sun.
There is sensitiveness of the public
sentiment to the subject OF war with
Spain, however, which will not let the
m latter rest here. 1t is known that con.
siderable sympathy is felt by the people
Of the United States with the Cuban 10.
surgents; that some even hope for :hei
independence, with the expectation Of
eventual annexation to this country /;
that not few Of those inAuentially re-
lated to high government officials are in.
terested in the Cuban bonds. 1t is also
asserted that the President, 10 his annual
message, will recommend that cur govern.
ment shall insist, first, that Spain shall
send q sufficient force TO Cuba to justify
her in continuing to carry Oh the present
civil war secondly, that American citi.
zeuts III Cuba and their rights in person
aud property shall no longer be subjected
to Spanish military tribunals; thirdly,
that slavery shall actually be extin-
guished in the island and finally, that
Cuba shall have representation in the
Cortes the same as other provinces of the
Spanish monarchy.
Our government can scarcely find q
plausible excuse for the FIRST demand
aud it is not likely such recommends.
tion will appear in the presidents mes
coRC. ut cCttuu mas
unnecessary by the concession above re.
ferred to. That slavery should be abol
ished is Legitimate desire for any hui
mon'tarian Int it is q question whether
our nation would be justified i'll making
even that great wrong the prelext of in
reference. The fourth demand is mani
testify al improper one. The United
States may be great and,glorous nation
but she has no divine commission to reg
uate the domestic affairs Of other nations
1t is right that We should protect our
selves from too great annoyance from the
quarrels Of our neigbbors, but it must bi
an extreme case 10 warrant us in de-
mandiug any special political favors for &
province Of another power We shall
not DO it in this case.