The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-11-21
THE PRESIDENTS CUBAN poz1cv

OF the government with regard to Cuba m.
Herald says that it is fair to presume tb..,s'
purpose of the President in permitting !. =.
be given Sut that he will take strono NM,
ton" in relation to Cuba in his fortbcom;s.
annual message, is to get an expression ~
public opinion in advance, as means of ind
ing how far it is safe for him to 90.
After stating the sentimental consideration
which might render war with Spain uppor,.
lar at this time, the first of which 10 tb..
that country assisted Us nobIy dnripp tbs
Revolution, the Herald enters at length NM,
the discussion of two points of the greatest
practical Importance. First, with regard n
the duration of such war, it says:
We are aware of the impression that a wa,
with Spain would be brief; that we shouH
probably seize Cuba and end the contest within
sixty or ninety days, thus re-es.ablishing peace
Exposition. Even if we should make 80 spesay
q conquest of the island (which is quite uncsr.
tain) it does not follow that peace would be
the Immediate consequence. Spain is the most
her claim to her revolted colonies in South
America for q score of years after they had
established their independence. 1t is contrary
to all we know of her national character to
suppose that she would give mp the contest A
soon as Cuba had been wrested from her. Ia
loss would release her navy for other employ.
ment, and being no longer needed for guarding
cruize in all seas for the destruction Of our
commerce. The tenacious Castilian blood,
would not permit Spain to make peace until,
ehe had inflicted on our commerce al the injury
in her power. Even If Cnba should prove al
easy conquest there is no likelihood that TEL
war would be short.
In this connection it should also be reua9l.
bered that the Spanish navy is ct the present
time far superior in the number, charactcrand
armament of its vessels to that of the United
States. Besides, whatever internal dissensisn
may exist in Spain when she is at peacs With
other nations, cannot be expected to continue
when foreign war has commenced, a. the
proposal for an arnistice, made this week BY
Don Carlos to the Madrid Government, in view
of the attitude of the United States, clearly
proves.
With regard to the second and most import
ant point, I. c., the probable attitude of Eng
land and France during such g war, the Herald
enquiries
What if Spain should have alliesf Cuba is
constantly discussed as if it were a mere quas-
ton between the United States and Spain in
which no other nation would interfere. Can
we be SO sure of thatf This is not question
asked at random, not the suggestion of vague
and remote possibilities; it has So strong
basis in fact and history that it cannot be ig-s
nored by any person wishing to examine every
part of the subject and see the whole ground.
1t must not be forgotten that SO recently ss in
1852 England and France attempted to bind
the United States by perpetual treaty never
to acquire Cuba. We had many times given
notice that We would never permit Cuba to
pass from Spain to any other European Power.
England and France gave q counter notice
in 1859 that the island must not pass from
Spain to us. In dispatch from Lord Malmes
bury to Mr.. Champion, then English Minister
at Washington april 8, 1889, His Lordship
said: The Government. Of the United States
With indfsrsnse Of ca Easd fs lGS into sSs
the possession Of any other European Power
than Spain. Her Majestg,s government shares
in the most unqu Allied manner in the views
thus put forth by the government Of the
United States, and would never see with in
difference the island of Cuba in possession OF
any Power whatever but Spain. The govern
ment of France, with which Her Majestys
government have been in communication on
this important matter, cordially adopt the
view" When England and France thus de-
clared their opposition to see Cuba pass from
ever" they pointed this declaration ct the
United States. Unless there is some reason
for surprising that the government of England
has changed its views on this subject, it will
not do to lay out of view the chance of Spain
having allies in war with u.s. If it should be
said that De object of President Grant is not
to acquire Cuba for the United States, but to
make the island independent, it is quite certain
that the British Government would regard this
profession as subterfuge. England has fore
seen its possibility and protested against it in
advance. In q dispatch from Lord Russell,
who succeeded the Earl of Malmesbury in the
Foreign Once, to Mr.. CHAMPION, February IT,
1853, he said: A pretended declaration Of in
dependence with a view of seeking refuge
under the United States would be justiylooke
upon as the same, in effect, as formal sanexa-
ton" 1t is quite certain that President Grants
proposed Strong policy" would excite the
active jealousy of the British Government and
lead to complications which, if they must come
at last, had better not come in the Centennfs
year. Oar Government claimed in 1852 thd
the status of Cuba is a peculiarly American
question. The British Government denied ana
strenuously resisted this claim. Lord Russell
in the dispatch from which we last quoted
said: Her Majesty's Government at once r.
fuses to admit such q claim. Her Msjestys
possessions in the West Indies alone, without
insisting on the Importance to Mexico snu
other friendly States of the present distributor
of power, give Her Majesty an interest," in TINS
question which she cannot forego." The d1plO.
matte correspondence from which we have
taken these short extracts proves that it is nOs
safe to assume that the United States a .1I
Spain would be the only parties to war ~
spectiDg Cuba.