The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-11

vessels employed IN our coasting trade
would be her most tempting prey. We have
retained this part of our shipping undimin-
ished,. because our navigation laws do not
permit foreign vessels to participate in our
coasting trade. The Spanish cruisers would
pounce upon every steamer plying between
our ports on the Atlantic and on the
Gulf; the rates of insurance would become
so high and the danger So great that passen-
gers and freights would be driven to the
railroads; the vessels in the coasting trade
would be thrown out of employment; and,
as natural consequence, they would be
withdrawn and sold to foreign owners This
loss of vessels would insure to Great Britain
long continuance of the supremacy she
acquired during our civil war. When
therefore, the London Times encourages and
incites President Grant to make war on
Spain so intelligent journal must be aware
of the resulting benefit to English navi-
cation.
Our countrymen must not delude them
selves with the idea that the democratic ma
jority in the House is a secure protection
against war with Spain. 1t is true that the
power TO declare war is vested in Congress,
and that it requires the concurrence of both
houses to pass an act to that effect. But this
is a frail security. The management of our
foreign relations, in everything short OF war.
is in the hands of the President, who can
easily create such state OF things that war
is inevitable. The Mexican war was brought
on by President Polk, who ordered General
Taylor to march his troops to the Rio Grande,
and thereby provoked the Mexicans to cross
and fight him, when Congress declared that
war existed by the act of Mexico. 1t does
not require two parties to make war,
but only one, and when foreign Power has
been goaded to make war on us we have no
device but armed resistance. Nothing is
easier than for President Grant to make some
demonstration which Spain would forcibly
resent, and when hostilities had been once
commenced by the act of Spain Congress
would be forced to sanction counter hostili-
ties by our government 1t is clear enough
that President Grant can have a war with
Spain whenever he wants one and deter
mines to bring it on.
The country must not be lulled into q
fancied and delusive security by the pro-
fessions of moderation put forth by the adj
ministration. If it has resolved to push the
nation into q war with Spain such an
ostentation of pacific counsels is an
ordinary preliminary. 1t is an old and stale
trick, grown rusty in diplomatic precedents.
When government has resolved on war it
always seeks to put its adversary wrong in
the eyes of the world by professions of mod
Grafton and reluctance and the ostentatious
display of spirit of forbearance. Appeals
to arms are accompanied with simultaneous
appeal to the moral judgment of mankind.
1t is chief resource of diplomatic cunning
to represent that it is unwillingly forced
into hostilities. The annual Message of
President Grant was pitched in this
well-known key; but while faunt-
ing profuse professions of respect for
the rights of Spain in Cuba it put the
United States in such an attitude as renders
war inevitable if the domestic contest in that
island continues The Message tells Spain
plainly enough that unless she speedily com
poses the difficulty with her revolted sub
jects and restores tranquility in Cuba the
United States will take the matter out of her
hands. Disguise it as the President may,
such intervention is war. 1t will as certainly
result in war as European Intervention
would have done to put an end to our civil
war sin the interest of humanity" which is
the smooth phrase employed by President
Grant in his Message. 1t is q necessary
preliminary to put Spain in the wrong
in the general judgment of the world, and
the article in the London Times will lead him
to think that he has succeeded in this at
tempt 1t has been the strong preference Of
the HERALD to have this question postponed
until after the Presidential election; but if
action is precipitated now we must make the
best of it We are profoundly convinced
that war with Spain this year will disap-
point the political hopes of the administra-
ton. Instead of aiding the third term aspi-
rations of President Grant it will render his
reelection impossible. But this is question
which we must postpone for future consider
alton.
Mr.. Blaine's Speech.
The scene in the House of Representatives
yesterday gives fair measure of its temper
on the Southern question, and the defeat of
Mr.. Randall's Amnesty bill on a strict party