The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-22

ate instruction under this date I abstain
from further reference thereto. Will
I have no desire to detract from
tho sentiment which was obtained
or to depricste the action OF Mr.
Castro, the Minister Of State, II
the payment of indemnity, particularly
as he seemed from the first presentation
of the question to be impressed with tht
Justice of the complaint, and to regard
with natural aversion, the acts which
gave rise to it it is but just in consid.
Grafton OF the general course Of the au'
thorities in Spain towards the United
States, to refer to the long delay
in reaching the adjustment, and princi.
pally to the fact that the basis of the
settlement was at last reached only
after every delay had apparently been
exhausted. As you are aware, Mr.. Ulloa
then Minister of State, under date OF
Aug. 1S, 1874, and probably impelled by
some pressing necessity, addressed the
British Charge DAffairs at Nsdrid, sub
stantially agreeing to settle the claim of
Great Britain for the execution Of the
British subjects on board that vessel.
The equally strong, if not stronger, claim
of the United States continued to be dis
cussed in Madrid, after the promise Of a
settlement With Great Britain hsd been
made, and information OF this adjustment
reached this government a considerable
time after its conclusion, and not through
the authorities of Spain. Our settlement
was only accomplished in the month Of
March following. In dong exact justice,
it is only proper, however, to give Mr..
Castro due credit for the payment Of the
amount finally and before the time stipu.
lated for its payment had expired. In
adverting to these delays and failures to
meet our just demands on the part Of the
authorities, must express satisfaction
with your patience and energy under
these adverse circumstances, and particu.
.arly in beginning anew with each
succeeding Minister Of State, and
representing again and again these diff.
ferent questions. Progress in these mat
ters has not been delayed from want Ct
information from you nor from any lack
of faithful and forcible presentation.
Having touched on these particular ques-
tions which have lately been prominent
as disturbing causes with Spain, 1t is
necessary to also refer to the general con-
dition of affairs in Cuba as
affecting our relations with our
mother country. In my No. 2
OF February 6, 1874, the first instruction
addressed TO you on general matters per-
tanning to your mission, l referred at
length TO tho views entertained by the
Pres dent, and the position of this gov
ernment. 1t was then more than five
years since sn organized insurrection had
broken out, which the government Of
Spain had been entirely unable to sup
press. At that time tho firm conviction
of the President was announced
that whatever might be the vicissi-
tudes of the struggle, and whatever efforts
might be put forth by Spain, that the
final issue of the conflict would be TO
break the bon Is which attached Cuba as
a colony TO Spain While remembering
and observing the duties which this gov.
ernment, as one of the family OF
nations, owes TO another member by
public law, treaties or particular
statutes of the United States, it would
be idle 10 conceal the interest and sym
pathy with which Americans in the
United States regard any attempt OF q
numerous people on this continent TO be
relieved of ties which hold them in a
position OF colonial subsection 10 distant
power and to assume the independence
and rights Of self control which national
rights and the spirit Of the age accord
them. When moreover this struggle in
progress of our very borders from its
commencement has injured the property
and interests Of citizens Of the United
States; has disturbed our tranquility and
has called upon US not unfre-
quently 10 witness barbsrous violations
of the rules Of civilized warfare and COM
PEELED US for the sake Of humanity 70
raise our voice by way OF
protest and when more than a., we
see in the contest the final
struggle in this hemisphere between
slavery and freedom, 1t would be strange
indeed if the Government and people Of
the United States failed At any time 70
take a peculiar interest in the termina-
tion of such contest.
In this early instruction was expressed
the sincere hope of the President that the
Government Of Spain would seek some
honorable and satisfactory adjustment,
based upon emancipation, which would
restore peace and afford aprOspect o! 3
return OF prosperity TO Cuba. Almost
two years haze passed since those lnstruc-
lions were issued and those strong hopes
expressed, and il would appear that the
situation has in no respect improved. The
horrors OF war have in no manner
abated. The inconvenience and injuries
which we then suffered have remained
and Others have been added. The rava.
geslof war have touched sll parts Of
the Island and well nigh ruined IL finsn-
cial and agricultural system and rs rels-
tions 10 the commerce Of the world. NO
effective steps have been taken 10 estsb.
lish reforms or remedy abuses and the ef-
fort 10 suppress the insurrection by force
alone has been q complete failure. In
the meantime the material interests oi
trade and Of commerce are impaired to 9
degree. which calls for remonstrsnce,
if not for another line OF
conduc. on the part Of all commercial
nations, whether it be from severity and
inbumanity, with which an effort had
been made 10 suppress an insurrection
and from supposed justification in re.
taliatioa for the violation Of the rules oi
civilized warfare by other violations and
by the acts Of barbariErn- incendiarisn
and outrage the world is Witnessing on
the par. Of the insurgents, whom Spain
still claims a. subjects, and for whose sct>
if subjects OF Spain, she mus: be held oc-
coun,able in the iudgmep. Of the world
a warfare, 'uot Of the legitimate strife oi
relative force and strength, bot Of Pillsgs
and ipeendiarism, the burning Of estates,
Of sugar mills, the destruction Of The
mensns Of production Of the Island.
The United States purchases more large
l. than any other people Of the prodoc'
ton. Of the Island Of Cuba, and also BY
reason of its immediate neighborhood, !,
interested in the arrest Of the uanton
destruction which disgraces the age, and
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