New-York tribune., 1876-01-24
TIE CUBAN CORRESPONDENCE.

TIE CUBAN CORRESPONDENCE.
II cannot be said that the publication OF Mr.
Fish's able dispatch of the 9TH of November
to our Minister at Madrid throws much light
upon the Presidents purposes with regard to
Cuba, but it will be read by men of all parties
with interest and admiration. Oar complaints
against the Spanish Government are set forth
with great strength, clearness and dignity and
although there is nothing in the language OF
the communication at which proud and sus-
ceptible nation could rightfully take offense,
the Secretary causes it to be distinctly under
stood that this country is in no mood to brook
any further trifling or excuse any further
needless delays. The principal specific grlev-
ances of the United States are stated under
three distinct heads. These are, first, the en-
bargo and cOniiscation of the estates OF Amer
lean citizens in Cuba; second, the trial
of American citizens in Cuba by court-mar-
tial in violation Of treaty obligations and
third, the delay of Spain in carrying ont the
agreement for the trial and punishment of
Gen. Burriel on account of the Nirginius mas
sacrc. The exposition of our wrongs under
each of these heads, while temperate and
courteous is made with so much energy and
decision that if the dispatch stood alone 1t
might be interpreted as Indicative of a most
serious diplomatic complication But we have
recently been assured. on the authority of
Mr.. Fish himself, that since the date of this
note Spain has manifested every disposition to
comply with our demands. and that 50 far rs
sneciiic complaints are concerned there are no
questions open between the two countries
which threaten an interruption OF our friendly
relations The return of Jovelar to Havana
may therefore be taken as the first step to-
ward redreSsing the gTieyOus wrongs under
which our citizens il the Antilles have long
been oppressed.
SO far the published correspondence is en-
trcly satisfactory. But half the note IL de-
voted to another and more embarrassing
branch Of the question" the general condi-
"tion of affairs in Cuba as affecting our re-
"lations with the mother country" Here we
find substantially the language of the Prcs-
dents message, distinct statement that the
continuance OF the nsurrcctlon is itself
grievance and that i'll the absence OF any
prospect of the termination OF the war, or OF
"any change in the manner i'll which 1t has
"been conducted on either side. the
&" time is at hand when it may bo the duty OF
"other Governments to intervene Somewhat
later-that is to say, after the excitement
FIRST aroused in the London newspapers bad
communicated itself to this couptIy-Alr. Fish
explained, in note to Gen. Schenck, that in
tervention was mot contemplated as an i'm
"mediate result but as a contingent neccs-
"sitv - nevertheless the menace remains; the
Spanish Government is warned that the sub
ject will be laid before Congress "at an early
"day in the firm conviction that the
"period has at last arrived when no other
course remains for this Government and
Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Aus
tria, and Italy are invited to lend us their
moral support, and by expressing their approval
of our views TO influence Spain toward
the adoption Of measures which will render
intervention unnecessary. "Thc Government
"of Great Britain" says Mr. Fish in the note
TO Gen. Schenck, "may possibly of its own
accord think proper, in view of its own IN
"terests, TO cooperate with the United States
in this effort TO arrest a cruel war OF devasta-
"ton." To this suggestion Of general re-
monstrance, though 1T does not amount to
proposal of joint action, the American people
will be inclined to object, holding very prop
ery that, apart from all consideration of the
much misunderstood "Monroe doctrine" it is
better for us to deal with the affairs of this
hemisphere entirely upon our own response
Liity.
We see no reason vet to conclude that the
effect of Mr. Fishs note has been satisfactory.
Mr. Cushing telc2rlphs on the 4th of Decem
Der that tie Spanish Ministry admits our com
plants and promises redress. But Spanish
Ministries have been promising redress for years,
and our representative at Madrid has been
modern S.syphus, perpetually rolling a huge
mass of grievances up the steep hill OF Spanish
diplomacy, OILY to see it roll to tho bottom
again with the periodical revolution in the
Cabinet. We have no proof yet that Spain
intends to keep her new promises to Mr.
Cushing no proof that she can keep them If
she wishes to; and if We have no assurance
cat an early day" of the termination of the
war. then what is it, we still ask, that Gen.
Grant means to propose to COngress7
a.