The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-11-17
r.,,,a and the Centennial.

has been suggested py WIG .ose s''..s .sss.se
,,,,;n. THAT President GRANT will in his
fortaconaing message take . "strong posi-
flor, y in relation to Cubs. A astrong POSI-.
4io,., Ia a military sense, is position as
nearly impregnable as possible. and from
which the greatest annoyance may be given
the enemy. ltisa position assumed IN view
Of probable, or certainly possible, war. So
that il there DO any truth In The telegram on
ahe subject we must irfer that our relations
with Cuba are such as to justify the appre'
hepsion Of such disagreement that 1t is, In
General GsASr's opinion, proper ZOE the
Federal Executive to take a"ssrong posi-
tiopS
70 an ;rnpartial observer 1t would seem
little Singular tha. the Federal government
should lust now feel it proper to take this
"strons position" To the eye Of the poll
.;cisn-wel mean in his elevated character OF
s,atesnar--it has been more than half a CEN
fury apparent that Cuba was a cause OF.
trouble and apprehension to the United
States, and that for peace sake and for
the protection of our Atlantic coast.
it was proper that she should belong
to the United States. The kingdom
to which 1t belonged has been all
that time in o condition of uncertainty, and
has met series Of cmbarrassments and con-
ficts thai rendered 1t probable that this rich
island would at almost any time fall into the
hands of some other great nation. Inc
"MosRsa doctrine" so truly reflected the
gepins and sentiment of the American peo-
pie that nobody in this country supposed
that change Of ownership OF Cuos "oRid
be quietly regarded by the United States
And notwithstanding these facts the Fed
eral Government made no movement TO-
wards the acquisition of Cuba until lately,
when. BY wretchedly botched piece OF diplc-
macy, that fraud Of politician SIcKLEs came
forward with purse to offer for it. Inc
awkward approach ended in an indignant re-
lection from the poor Spanish Government,
which had more pride than money.
In forty years opportunities have occurred
when something might have been done, but
good people at the head of the Government
esteemed temporary peace as more important
than measures for securing permanent peace
that might cause temporary war. The
LOPEZ. Ca1rrESDEN failure and the massacre
of many of their American followers, which
shocked society, were smoothly floated down
the stream; and even GRANT, whose life
would suggest that he loved summary pro-
ceedings and "strong positions " whenever
alteration arose, sweetly slept over the BUR-
R1EL murders, and only claimed that the
blood.stained Virginius should be sent back
TO her native country, after FREY and his
crew, along with the men his vessel trans
ported to Cuba, were sent to the sleep OF
their unsvepged graves.
The calm observer would say that it is
little strange that since that event there has
occurred anything in the way Of new cause
to excite the vigilance of the statesman to
new measures for the protection Of public
interests, or to arouse the sensibities of hui
manity, and thus lead to the taking OF
"stropg position" with regard to Cuba.
Doubling the truth Of the rumor, we neV-
ertheless say that if it is true, absence for oil
occasion for sharp measures with regard to
Cubs would leave no way to explain 1t save
upon the ground that the matter could only
be designed to piece out General GRANTS
Htb;rd- term policy" A bit Of war, great
hustle at the navy-yards, and the clang of
hammers, and movements of men and NUM-
tions, might once more impress the nation
with the idea that now again General GRANT
was necessary to the safety of the Union.
Tia. would be cunning expedient, and
would, no doubt, work well.
Again expressing our incredulity about
this strong-position" story, we observe
with some amusement the EXPLANATIONS
against any disturbance next year, because
that is to be devoted to joy as the centennial
of " American liberty" Why, what nom
sense! II there be indeed case for arms,
will it not be better to sanctify the Centen-
NAL with a new baptism in blood of the
principles of 1776? Away with any such
fastidiousness Coming so soon after the
late unpleasantness," it reminds Us of the
case Of the marriage of the widOWer of two
days to new wife, and the shock ne felt at
being serenaded on the night of his marriage
to his new wife. Hosting the window OF
the bridal chamber, and in great Indignation.
he thus chided the serenaders: "Boys, are
YOU not ashamed of yourselves to make this
noise so soon after the funeral?"
We trust that if the President has case
BE will not be deferred by any such fastidi-
ousntss. When the "life" or the "honor''
OF the nation is assaied it is no time for fes-
tivities-it is no time for grim.Visaged
war" TO "smooth his wrinkled 'front.'" nor
for him to "caper into lady's chamber to
the lascIvious blessings OF lute,' nor to
waste time on blooded horses and dogs, or
wine and cigars. The stern warrior who
"neyer surreuders" should not be guilty OF
any sort of dalliance with pleasure when his
country calls MIN to the saddle of his war
horse. The Centennial be -. General
GRANT should not hesitate though 1t re-
auired that he should take charge of the AID.
ministrasion for a third term. The Centen-
nisl may be postponed, as is the Fourth of
July often but guns, and drums, and war
odds locks and triggers
GRoss INJUSTICE TO TIE SOUTH Senator
BAYARD, In his anxiety to please Wall street,
ana possibly to find some excuse for the
presumption Of the southern people Ia
daring to differ with him as to the policy of
AZ TIL. - s..k1