The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-15

Iorego. The diplomatic correspondents
from which we have taken these short ex-
tracts proves that it is not safe to assume
that the United States and Spain would be
the only parties to a war respecting Cuba
Sound policy and wise caution re-
quire that we should defer such an enter
prise until We shall be in a condition
TO face all its consequences. The Centennial
year must pass in peace we must strengthen
our finances before we engage in war, un-
less one should be forced upon us by foreign
insult or aggression. We suppose no Ameri-
can has for the last half century doubted
that Cuba will some day be ours but for
the present we must wait and watch the
natural progress of events without inter
fering to hasten or force them.
We should be reluctant to think that
President Grant could resort TO foreign com
plications and incur the risk OF a foreign war
as means of influencing our domestic pol
itics on the eve of a Presidential election.
This is one ofthe devices by which Napoleon
III. maintained his power in France, but the
final result was a warning, not an example
Such course would not only be unworthy
of President Grant but inconsistent with the
character of any public man who values
the honor or the interests of the country.
1t is still more difficult to believe that he is
capable of descending to empty menace on
SO important a subject, hoping to win q
cheap popularity by proposing measures
which he does not expect Congress, as it is
now constituted, to support. If the ''strong
policy" of his Message should stir the coun-
try to war fever the democratic House
might run in advance of him in such a race
for popularity. If the democratic party,
when it was in possession of the govern
ment, should reclaim its ''stolen thunder, I"
the infationists might be glad of so good an
excuse for flooding the country with new is
sues of greenbacks as "a war measure" The
President needs to look at the matter on this
before he commits himself irretrievably in
his Message.
If the President contemplates nothing
beyond according belligerent rights to the
Cuban insurgents it needs but slight fore
sight of consequences to see how difficult
it would be to stop there To do that
and nothing further would not benefit the
Cubans Belligerent rights are acquired at
the expense of neutral nations. AS neutral
acknowledging state of war we should be
compelled to respect the belligerent rights
of Spain as we'll as those of the Cubans.
- ~
merchant ships and search them for contra
band of war. The only reason why her seiz-
ure of the virginius was illegal was that our
government had not acknowledged state Of
belligerency between Spain and her revolted
subjects. If we had recognized the
parties as belligerents Spain would have
had an unquestionable right to search the
Virginius, though sailing under our flag and
to capture and confscate her for carrying
contraband of war. With belligerency
recognized vessels laden with arms could
not hover around the island safely awaiting
thick fog or a dark night to run in and land
their cargoes, as they may now do under TIE
protection of a neutral flag. 1t is obvious,
therefore, that we should rather harm
than help the Cubans by according
them belligerent rights and proceeding
no further. Having taken that step
and Endorsed their cause we should
be forced to go on by resulting entangle-
ments. We could not preserve our neutral
ity because our people would be encouraged
by the action OF the government to make ex-
petitions in aid of the Cubans, and the exer-
else by Spain of her belligerent right Of cap
ture as soon as the vessels were fairly out of
our ports would stir up such commotion
that war would be unavoidable. SO until
our government is prepared to 60 all lengths
it had better do nothing beyond protecting
merchant vessels entitled to carry our flag
We shall be in a more favorable condition to
deal with this important question wisely
twelve months hence than we are at present,
when foreign war would fatally disturb our
Centennial celebration and prevent the re-
covery Of our financial and industrial pros
perity.
Judge DAILY on PtOIemy and Stanley.
We print this morning full report of the
recent discourse of Judge Charles P. Daily
on the exploration and discovery Of the Nile
sources before the American Geographical
Society. AS the production of the learned
president of this body of Swans the address
would command attention at any time, but