The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-01-29
Spain and tae United States.


of the delay aud bad faith Of Spain in
carrying out the provisions of the protocol
of November, 1873, in regard to the "vir-
ginius case. Noprosision has been made
by Spain to indemnify American citizens
who have been deprived Of their property
BY condscation aud embargo, nor for the
arbitrary seizure Of the property Of Amer-
lean citizens. Some Of our citizens have
been subjected to arbitrary trials, and no
provision made for the trial Of Burriel,
who butchered others Of them. It was a
part Of the settlement Of the Nirginius
affair that Burriel should be tried and
punished, and Spain has taken no steps to
carry out this part of the agreement, tho
now two years have passed. The note
also complains of the protracted war in
Cuba, the ruin Of our commerce with that
island, and of the barbaIous and brutal
manner in which the war has been carried
on by Spain. The United States have
exercised great forbearanee in consider-
ton Of the civil war in Spain, and the re-
bellion in Cuba. But the President now
shows his teeth, and directs Mr.. Cushing,
through Mr.. Fish, to inform the Spanish
government that all pending questions
must speedily be settled; that the relations
Of this government with Spain will be Sc.
riously endangered by further delay, and
that the settlement must be early, salts.
factory and conclusive.
Here is the key to all the naval prepa.
rations which have been going on here
the past three months. The newspaper
press has insisted that if they did not mean
war, they meant nothing, and involved an
inexcusable outlay of public money. Its
now apparent that the press was correct.
Whatever belligerent intentions the Presi.
dent may entertain, Congress should hold
him in check, for we are as little prepared
for war as Spain. Groaning as we are
under heavy public debt, war with any
foreign power would only add to the pub.
lie burden, and increase taxation. We
have borne with Spain thus far, We can
bear with her longer 1t would be far
preferable to do SO than to 90 to war with
her and make matters infinitely worse.
Besides, her policy towards this govern
ment seems to be peaceful and coucil-
iatory one, even in the face Of the last
threatening note of Mr.. Fish On the
Both Of November Mr. Cushing telegraph
ed to Mr.. Fish that his despatch of Nov.
5 had been delivered to the Minister Of
State, with verbal explanation as near as
foreign idiom would permit On the 4th
of December Mr.. Cushing tclegraphed to
Secretary Fish as follows;
have had an important interview with the
Minister of State. He admits our grievances
He is opposed, on principle, to the sequestra
ton Of the property Of foreigners, condemns
the delays Of redress, and will take up and
promptly settle each case. He will remove
all cause for complaint as to the treaty, and
reprobates the conduct of the authorities in
Cuba, as more injurious to Spain than to the
| United States.
Mr.. Fish makes out tolerably strong
case, but there are three weak points in
his note-the interference with slavery in
Cuba, the commercial interests of other
nations, and the invitation to other powers
to participate with us in the work of in
Prevention, should this government under.
takc.it. With Caban slavery and the com
mercial interests of other nations We have
nothing to do, and the Intervention of
foreign powers in our affairs is violation
of the Monroe doctrine and of all the ira
ditions of our government.