The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-01
The Cuban Qucstion-wor Not Impos-
nihle.

least expected astound the country by
precpitatiug u crisis from which peaceful
escape will be impossible lie holds the
cards IN his hands, and is prepared to play
them desperately Whenever ambition aud
interest demand the venture.
Although the papers communicated to
the House are dishgured Ivy nstcrisks and
impressions i'm the most important parts,
still enough IL revealed in some of the
dispatches and tclegrams TO make clear
the underlying policy at Washington, aud
90 show how absolutely il is controlled by
the will of the President. That policy is
plainly enough described in Mr. FIsus
despatch to Mr.. CUSHING dated Nov. b.
ls,5. IN these words:
In the absence Of any prospect Of ter
Hlnatloh oi tue War, or Of any change IN the
manner IN which IL has been conducted on
either side, hc THE presdentl feels that the
tme Is at hahd wheh II may be the duty Of
other governments to fntcrrcns, solely with the
view Of bringing to an end disastrous aud de-
.truciiNe conflict, aud OF restoring peace in the
island Of Cuba"
The Spanish Government was thus ex-
plicitly notified that unless the war ter
minated or the manner OF conducting II
was changed, the United States would in
tervene; or in other words, the President
would iuterpose by force, II conditions
weic not fulfilled Of which he made him
self the sole and absolute judge. This is
the plain English of the notice served on
Spain, and il admits Of no other construc-
ton consistent with reason.
On that Same day, November 3, 1875, the
Secretary of State addressed despatch to
Dir. ScHENcK at London, enclosing a copy
of that to Mr.. CUSHING. and iustructing
\. Mn.
oil the British Government. The follow
Ing extracts are significant:
This being the case, tho President 4. Of
opinion that II Is just to the Government Of
hitt brtlu 10 cpmmunlcitr IN confidence
these conclusions and 10 suggest that in his
Span OF Ts approval ~ ne rictr ~ thus GOrci1i-
mo- 4, ana uS influence TO induce n settlement,
Will tend TO more speedy adjustment.
The Government Of Great Britain may pos
.ibN, of Its own accord, think proper, In view Of
IT. own interests, TO cooperate with the United
etIes IN TINS effort To arrest cruel war Of de-
vast .tiun.
MIR. CUSHING has been further instructed TO
ueier MS interview with the Minister OF State
uptI non shan hare communicated 10 MS depart
DERBY. lou will read to Lord Denny, in con
nacn,e, The COPY Of the instruction to Mr..
.v-niNG encioscd herewith and win distinctly
Interior objects IN view, and no desire 10 take
advantage Of the difficulties which have sur
rounded the Spanish Government"
~ - ihiiS apparent tDHI the AL
ministration sought to conoiliate the good
will and aid OF England before even de-
claring its policy TO Spain, SO as to estop
opposition from that quarter. Lord
DERRY had TO be consulted in advance
upon question exclusively American in
Its character, and the result OF an inter
view " with him was to be made known
before Mr.. CUSHING could move at Madrid
This is the Illuminating spectacle presented
officially in the correspondence.
Ten days later on Nov. 10, 1875, Mr.. FISH
addressed similar instruction 20 Mr..
WAsBnrRNE nj Paris, in which he said:
You viii further state that the President is
Of 0iNon that should the Government to
witch you are accredited ind II consistent with
IL We've 10 uTse upon Spain the i'm portance and
contest e. ' tne riensI vDr nSnd9nng
Fuch views 10 Spain might lead that Government
10 "a dfnafsionate consideration Of the hope
nt II the contest, and tend To the earlier
avon ~ peace anu prosperity 10 Cuna, II
HH9h course on the part Of the Government
tNiJdN'B ~ tie United States"
S.niar instructions were sent to the
Ministers mt Berlin, ~. Petersburg, Vienna,
aud Rome. 80 that in fact Mr.. FISH by
direction Of the President. invited the six
great powers Of Europe to enter into an
alliance with the United States against
Spain. He solicited them to make sepa-
rate representations in favor Of the policy
Set forth In the despatch to Mr.. CUSHING
Of the 5th OF November ana thus adj
Hilted these foreign States To a free dis
cusslon and participation in the affairs OF
this continent, right in the teeth Of the
MoNRoE doctrine, and all the accepted
traditions connected with il.
While these instructions were on their
way t. Europe, "a telegram was received
from Cushing, dated the 10th OF Novem-
Der IN which he stated that the Spanish
note has come in. IL is eminently amicable
In spirit Two days later FISH instructed
hCnENCK 70 delay ms conference with Lord
DERBY until he could communicate fur
iher with CUSHING. Then, after q Lapse
OF a week, and without any interu ening
papers except halG-suppressed Telegram
from CUSHING, FISH instructs CusHn5o ON
the 9th OF November aa to the tenor Of
the Presidents Message, and authorizes
him TO give copy OF the despatch OF the
9th of November 60 the Minister OF For
sign Affairs.
On the same date CNov. "a he instructed
ScHESoK as follows;
You will explain that Intervention IA not
contemplated AZ an immediate resort, but as a
uWnV'u hfctsSup IN case the contest be prose
gnets he not reached"
The situation MS thus defined is u ot at all
changed in any Of the few later dispatches
winch were sent 10 the House OF Repre-
teniniives. 1t is boldly avowed that inter-
Nehlloh II reserved rs n contingent ne
co'Slty, 10 be employed mt the discretion
me PRESIDENT. There is no concealment
t"o"l ms purpose in case the two Ilterna-
yves pr''rp'~ 40 NOT disappear, one Of
""4eA - 'llp. iL.c wDle u cuban pguio,