New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-26
INTERVENTION,

; | Europe, two of which have been for sew
eral months in open revolt or rebellion
against the Ottoman government TIL
states of Austria and Russia, possessing
territories Immediately adjacent to thes
rebellious provinces, have taken it upol
themselves to intervene for the purpose
restoring peace in their vicinity. In
ground taken is that persons processing
the Christian religion are prosecuted b!
the Ottoman government, and that tn
war for the suppression of revolt has beer
waped in q manner inconsistent with thu
principles of. civilized warfare, in this
that prisoners have been massacred anc
their bodies cast into the river. Very
recently the Austrian Minister Of Foreign
Affairs (Andrassy) has addressed note te
the principal governments of Europe tc
invoke their cooperation in prescribing tc
the Ottoman government terms upon
which the obedience Of the revolted prov.
inces shall alone be enforced.
The government Of Spain holds colony
near the borders of the United States and
there has been an active and important
interchange of commercial products be-
tween the two countries. For six or seven
years past Spain has been engaged in
suppressing the armed resistance Of por-
ton of her subjects in this colony to the
government which she has imposed upon
them. There is no doubt of these propo-
sitions:
| l. That the war in Cuba is waged on
both sides in a manner inconsistent with
| the laws of civilized warfare.
2. That this warfare has involved the
murder of American citizens who were
| either entitled to the rights Of alien citi-
zens of friendly power, or of prisoners
of war.
3. That the prosecution Of this war has
interrupted the commerce Of the United
States, aud has imposed upon that COM
MERGE, in common with that of other ma
tons, an added tax of twenty per cent on
imports into the Spanish colony.
If under the sanction Of natural and ma
tional law neighbor nation is entitled
to intervene in behalf of humanity when
fragrant violation of that law is perpetu-
ated within sight and hearing; if the doc
trine Of common prudence may demand
that flame shall be extinguished which
may involve contiguous interests; if the
great powers of Europe may intervene in
regard to the Turkish provinces of Monte
negro and Herzegovina, as they did fifty
years ago in behalf of the Turkish govern
ment of Greece, we demand to know why
the republican powers of the American
continent may not in consimilar cases do
exactly the same in respect to the OPP
pressed and maltreated province Of a des-
potism equal to that of Turkey?
The publication of the correspondence
between the American and Spanish gov
ernments shows the following state of
facts: While the governments of Europe
have interviewed in Turkish affairs, and
presented an ultimatum within the first |
year of the provincial war, the govern
ment Of the United States has waited for |
six years before doing the same thing with |
respect to Spain.
While the intervening governments in
the Turkish case do not allege injuries
inflicted upon their subjects, the govern
ment of the United States has to COM
plain of wrongs done her citizens. and an
insult offered her flag, for neither of which
has full atonement been yet rendered.
The position of the United States has
been taken with much deliberation, and
wholly without regard to the practice,
presidents, or permission of other gov
srnments. The principles of justice re-
luire that she should repress barbarism
it may disturb the peace Of the
people. Prudence requires that she
should not consent to an increased tax
upon her commerce to furnish the means
% maintain either the political despotism
If Spain, or her system of African bondage.
We have seen good deal of political
7aporing about the designs of President
Grant to involve the country in a war for
he promotion Of his own popularity, and
% create necessity for employing his
military ability to bring such war to
successful end. AS to the first imputation,
We would ask if there be Southern sympa-
hizer with the murderers Of Fry; South
I'm merchant who approves the Spanish
var tax on American exports to Cuba, or
my one who is Indifferent to the woes of
ivil warfare? If there be such persons,
ct them openly protest against American
to stop or to humanize the
ruel war in Cuba As to the supposition
hat it will require the extraordinary mill
airy genius of the President to lead the
american soldiers in behalf of freedom
nd reduced tax on American products,
re may suppose it would make General
1rant smile at it's absurdity. Should the
come to such point, there
night be difficulty in landing an Ameri-
an army, but once ashore, President
1rant could find dozen federal or ex-
Confederate Generals who could drive the
oldiers of Spain into the sea.
We have to express the hope that our
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