The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-20

, and anv government with sense of self
, respect would e. ht rather than yield to sucl
dictation. AS there is, happily, little reason
to fear that President Grant means to be takel
at his word, we may look at his demand quit
calmly. The precise terms of it, as our cor
respondent said yesterday, have not beef
made public"
The Times here gives statement of tn,
terms of the note as reported and says:
"If such was really the language of the
note, 1t is one of the most peremptory mes
sages ever sent to State even of the second
or the third rank. 1t is none the less often
sive because much of it is true. Slavery has
done indescribable mischief in Cuba, as il
does everywhere else. II has brutaliZed the
slave-owners almost as much as the bonds
men themselves, and it gives a peculiar
savagery to the wasting contest in the island.
Many partisans of Spain are fighting for
slavery rather than for the rights of the
crown. The colony also costs Spain far more
than it is worth. But for the drain of men
and money to put down the rebellion, Spain
would have long since concluded the Carlist
| war; Nor has she much chance of pefma-
nently reducing Cuba to a state of peace. II
she could drive Don Carlos across the Pyre-
nees, and if she could add few more millions
to her debt. it would be easy for her, no
doubt, to send such an army as would put an
end to the revolt for time. But the United
States are so near. and disaffection is SO easily
famed by people with genius for flibust-
ering, that such a pacifcation would be a
mere reprieve. The cooler minds in Spain
can scarcely ex pect that she will long retain
Cuba, and, perhaps, they would gladly aban-
don it if the pride of the people would per-
NIT them.
"But, in truth, that pride forbids any
statesmen or party even to hint at surrender
of so great remnant of SPANS once vast
Colonial Empire. The Spsniards are still the
same proud race as they were in the time of
Philip Ii, and, SO long as Cuba is still theirs,
they feel they can put on imperial airs despite
recurring pronunciamentos, chronic civil
war and bankrupt treasury. R=public4ns,
Alfonsists and Carliss all compete with each
other, therefore, in loudly refusing to give up
the Pearl of the Antilles. But even il
they were less eager to keep it, they would
resent the summons of foreign power to set
it free If anything would unite the Carl
lists and the A consists, it would be the
necessity Of defending Cuba against agrees
sion from without King Atonsos min
listers could not afford even
to daily with such threat as that which is
said to have come from President Grant. He
and they would be ruined if they were to
take it even into consideration. The case is
but necessity; and they would be forced to
resist the summons even if it had come from
Prince Bismarck instead Of Gen. Grant. As
yet they do not seem TO have answered the
note; but they can scarcely fail to make as
naughty response as if Spain were still the
greatest power in the world. They will grail
fly the pride of the nation by the lofiiest
phrases in the vocabulary of Castilian pride,
and they will deal them out all the more
freely because they can scarcely believe
that the United States intend to strike.
Mean while, it is said, orders we're given
on the 25th of last mon,h to prepare five iron
Reinforcements are already arriving at
Havana These preparations have caused
much restlessness at Washington, and the |
government is said to be also preparing its
navy for action. Eight sloops- of-war are
undergoing repairs; ten iron -clads are |
ready for outfit and the Navy Department /
hopes that the fleet will be well siren gthened I
by the end OF the year. 1t the United States
we're seriously determined to set Cuba free,
here could be but one end to a contest with
Spain. The richer, more vigorous, more
compact nation would, OF course, ultimately
win. But it is almost equally certain that the
United States would not win at first
Weak and embarrassed as Spain is, she
Aeso |
or her fleet is ready, and it is really formid-
Ible, while by turning the war against the
Jarlists into merely defensive contest, King
Alfonso could spare large body of soldiers
or service in Cuba The United States, on
he other hand, would have to equip botn an
rmy and an effective fleet, and before that
could be done Spain might gain some cheap
,lories. Nor can King A!tonso's Ministers
dismiss the reflsction that if Spain must lose
Tuba, it would be better for her to lose it in
ontest with great power like the United
,sates than in a series of skirmishes with
alf-armed insurgents.
"But we do not anticipate that the result of
be quarrel will be so grave. Perhaps the
ontents of the Presidents note are less fiery
han they are represented to be by the Ameri-
an press Perhaps he has used threatening
anguage loosely. American diplomatists have
cen known to do SO, and there is no reason
} believe that President Grant has mastery
YER the delicacies of political speech. Il
IT, Caleb Cushing had any hand in the com :
osition OF the note, it might easily betray
tile spread-eagleism' without doing violence
the rhetorical reputation he won by his re-
ly to Sir Alexander Cockburn's judgment
q the Alabama Claims But the more proba-
le explanation is that President Grant is not 1
unwilling to try whether the prospects of the Ii
epublican party or of third term can be
frightened by spirited foreign policy
rye party in the United States would GER
inly like to annex Cuba, and another
arge party would be glad to see it formed
TO an independent Republic. The insurrec-
on binders American trade SO much that
sace is loudly demanded by many OF Pfes-
ant Grants countrymen who care little what
ay become of the island. All those classes
Guild be gratifed if the President should give
pain peremptory notice to qnit, and if she
lould obey. But the success of such an
pertinent will depend partly on the degree
skill with which the note has been framed.
ID partly on the behavior Of Spain. II it
IS left sufficient means of dignifed escape,
may be well, for the Government
the United States will not
we bound itself to do anything, and yet 1t
III have limited that it may some day do
eat deal. Cheap hopes of one day govern
3 Cuba may have a certain elecuoneering
lue; but the diversion may be disastrous to
resident Grants party if the note has been SO
sulting as to draw forth defiant reply We
n not believe that the good sense of the
nerican peonla WOuld hermit them To ba I