The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-24
our Relations with Spain.

iiHlucht Oh inc united states ana spain in
relation TO the island of Cuba" to send in
mass of stale and imperfect papers. to
tlvpress the most important points in Mr..
itSuNG's recent correspondence. and TO
Withhold altogether the answers Of the
foreign Governments that were invit ed to
NEEDLE in our affairs.
The country is no wiser to-day in regard
T. the real situation than 1t was when the
b-callcd leader of the House made his
mistaken movement. The substance Of
The despatch To Mr.. CUSHING of the 5th of
november has been well known for the
past two months, ana therefore is I'm no
tcnsc now. We now have It clothed in OIL
t.al form with measured words ana fixed
responsibility; and that is the only addition
T. our previous Information on the subject.
With an ingeuuousncss hardly to have
been expected. Mr.. FISH confesscs that
The Government of the United States
has heretofore given expression to no
YNcU in reference to the insurroctIon I'm
inha.' This declaration follows after an
hrriiSnmcnt of Spain for nigraut viola
tons OF the treaty of 1875; for murders OF
aud outrnges upon American oitizens for
Sluestration of their property, and for
injuries inflicted on our commerce.
This confession tells the whole story I'm
Two words. There has been ono policy"
IN these six years of disturbed relations
with Spain; no manly assertion of our
rights; no vindcation of American prn-
tIpics; AID no rule OF straightforward
conduct by which the action Of this Gov
prnment could be measured mt home or
abroad. The sympathies OF the American
n. a. ~.
patriots have been perverted by venal
and trucking diplomacy, directed and
purchased by the Spanish Legation at
Washington.
The causes OF complaint which Mr. FISH
has now rccited ut so mucn length. haveex-
isted every year since he has been in Office.
They are only aggravated by time and by
accumulation. If he had followed out in
good faith the line OF policy which Gen.
GRANT favored during the lifetime Of
Gen. RAwLINs. instead of bctrayng and
circunventiug it in every way, there
would now be no grievances to deplore and
no proteXt for irritation with Spain.
Let IA be just II Il not Spain. but a
treacherous diplomacy at Washington that
Is now responsible for whatever trouble
may be threatened. a frank and positive
policy at the outset such as Gen. JACKSON
employed toward France for far less cause
would have removed every difficulty long
ago, and rendered to Spana service which
she is not able 10 render to herself. But
after tampcring with negotiations for
these long years and cnrichng the as nts
who lowered between the Department OF
State and the Spanish Legations Mr.. FISH
upsl ..t,fx .t 81.
preaching Presidential election to an-
nounce an Affirmative policy in these
words:
"In the absence OF any prospect Of tie ;sr-
mination or the war. or inY change ~ the titn-
ner In which n has been conducted on either
side, he [ihe President feels thai the time is At
hand when II may be the duty Of oucr G0rTn-
Ing t. an end disastrous and destructive con-
nict, ana restoring peacein the island OF Cuoa."
Mr.. FISH has no proper concern with
other Governments, and no authority to
refer to them. He speaking forthc United
States only; and, diyested of all diplomatic
gloss, his language Is a positive threat OF
war, and nothing else. No nation can
peaceahly intervene in the affairs and
jurisdiction Of another against its remon-
STRANGE, without war. The President also
makes himself the judge of the condi-
lions upon which he may intervene. "In
the absence" he says "of any prospect of
the termination Of the war, or any change
In the manner in which it has been conduct
I'd on either side" it will be his duty to in
tervone, that is. TO begin war.
II may be assumed that the outlook is
more pacific from the recent promises of
Bpain, the return Of JovELLAR to Cuba
nd ba ri hV Mr. ('TaTTNg
No faith is to be placed in any such as
sumption. The vicious influences which
have hitherto controlled Spanish councils
under all the changes OF government and
the mutations OF parties, Will dominate in
the future, rs they have done in the past.
Besides, both sides have been preparing fol
acriss, and phase has been reached whom,
rs in the case Of Mexico, war may be pre-
oipitated without warning. GRANT has long
ago worked out the problem in his schem-
Ing brain, aud he will not be restrained by
any motives OF prudence in striking the
blow, II his personal ambition can be
Bery cd by war;
In this correspondence tho United
States are made 10 present the huuil-
Eating spectacle TO the world, for tn,
nrst time, OF inviting the opinion oil
Foreign Governments upon question OF
purely American policy, aud indirectly o
asking their cooperation against Spain
This step is a direct abandonment of tn,
whole spirit aud lutoution Of the Monro,
doctrine, as cherished by the people, but
not rs interpreted by the counsel OF SPAR
for the Department Of State. 1t is IA de
parture from all the oonsecrated tradi
tlons, and opens the door to entanglinG
alliances against which the fathers pro
tested as one Of the greatest dangers to tn
Sepubhc
Before taking any positive action on thi
subject, Congress ought to demand ever!
line of the correspondence. When tn
peace OF the country is imperilled ant
played rs stake by desperate politica
gamblers there is no public interest to b