New-York tribune., 1875-05-15
upon intelligent and conscientious convictions
of public needs and political morals
THE ALBANY OUIXOTES.

might at first appear. II Mr.. McGuiIe had aiy
right to commit tho people of the State on the
subject, or il the passage OF the resolutions
could have the slightest practical effect, there
would be serious objections to such an airy
and hap-hazard disposition of an import
ent question. But MS the action Of the As
senbly was perfectly supcrnuous and will re-
main perfectly barren of results. it has Mt least
this point in its favor. that it kept our law
givers out of worse mischief for little WHILE
and diverted some Of Speaker McGure's en-
ergy and elOquence from the defense OF tie
Canal Ring to far moro harmless purpose
It is only to be regretted because it sets
tho bad precedent Of n State Legislature
hastily committing itself, without information
or reflection, TO tho uttcrance of violent senti-
mcnts on n matter which requires deliberate
consideration, and to tho sill graver error Of
instIuct;ng Senators and Members of Congress
to pursue an extreme course of action in a case
where it Is their duty to bO better informed
than the member of the Assembly. When such
foolish instructions arc Obcycd. it is = damage
to the whole country, and tends to lower the
character Of our representatives in Congress.
When they arc treated with the contempt they
merit, the State is thus subjected to ailiOnt
through the impcrtinence and hecdlessncss OF
its Legislature.
Nobody defends tie Spanish rulo in Cuba.
It il thoroughly corrupt, cruel, barbarous, and
demoIuliz;ng. As long as it lasts there is lit
tie prospect of peace in Cubn, Whatever may
be the prospects after that. Whatever changes
arc made seem to move hy a steady fatality
from bad to worse Even good man like
IL.
The deprayity of the situation mado his best
intentions worthless. ith the fall of the
Republic in Spain all pic.cnsc Of reformation
in Cuba was cast away, and Valnaseda, the
mC.lnest rufijan of modern times, has been
sent back to represent in the unhappy island
the worst phase OF the brutal Peninsular spirit.
All this il seen and known by every one,
and it il natural that it should I've regarded
with disgust and Indignation. Bat what a
pucrilc business it ia, to jump from these facts
to the false preamble and ridiculous resolves
of Our Assembly. There is scarcely one word
of truth in the preamble, and not one grain OF
Law or common sense in the resolutions. The
instruction has not been successful it has
not been maintained by people," it has
not "Organizcd and established a govern
"ment republican (or anything olse) in
form !" il las rot gained possession of two
thirds OF tho island; it is rot apparent that
the Republic possesses the ability to drive
"thc Spaniards TO the scabOard towns fer pro-
"tection :" and it is certainly not the duty OF
the United States to extend their sympathy to
every nsllrrcction calling itself republican.
The slightest examination Of the matter
would have shown the most feathcr-braned
&C Al, ~ To- tlrt ia
was ridculously untrue, ard that its adoption
was discrcditable to the men voting for it.
But bad as the premises were, the conclusions
were worse. The rcsolutioUs declare that the
time has core for the Government Of the
United States 10 take steps TO put an end to
the war in Cuba, and to secure to its people
" the advantages of free government" No
Spaniard, ulished and inspired by the spirit
of Don Quixo;e from his youth up, ever put
forth n moro fantastic and absurd pre-
tension than this. Not satisfied with recog-
nizing tho Republic. assisting it to
he born, and reducing tho island to
peace by cxtclminating the Peninsulars,
the only way in which peace now seems prob
able, thcsc Anacharsis CoOtzes of Albany pro-
pose that we shall "secuyc tO Cuba the advan-
"tages of free government" For this indc-
scribablc proposition we are told every member
of tho Assembly voted; not only Speaker Ne
Cure, WHO may be supposed to have con-
genital love of o ructiOD, and Mr.. AlyOrd. who
tells us that if ho wcro President he would
make the known world toe the mark, or words
to that effect, but such men rs Mr.. Seward.
who knows what law il, ard what are the
limitations Of national knight errantry.
We suppose nothing can prevent even scriOns
men from doing foolish things on the last days
of "a session. But there is something more
than usually Amazing about this proposal of
OUT Assembly. Has any man of them consid-
cred what would be necessary to put it in
practce7 After all tho complications arising
from Our interference were disposed of. and
the Spaniaids were driven from tEe island, the
work Of SECURING to it the advantages Of Il
free government" would only begin. And il
is safe to say that two million policemen
armed with the most recently improved re-
volvcrs would be 10 moro than sufficient to
effect that object. We expect a good deal of
folly from tho majority in Congress next Win
ter; but we shall rot be willing to believe
thar ihcy can bc carried of their feet by un-
thinking rhetoric, go far as TO adopt the absurd
il ,tructiOns OF our Assembly.
Az END or IT.
As the great trial nears its clOae. r1lmOrs
tb;oEon nf .nn, iuU Statements" which are Tn