The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-01-24
FISH ON CUBA.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE SECRE
TARY

FOREIGN COUSTS-cOAMERCE WITH CUBA.
The correspondent OF the World telegTaphs
from Washington: Last night I had the
honor 20 obtain from the secretary of state a
verbal explanation of our relations with
Spain and Cuba, together with his interpre-
tstion OF the tenor of the recent miscalled
'fcircular note" and SPANS alleged reply
to 1t "a autographed on Sunday to New York
from Madrid. "Fr0m the synopsis of that
reply which has been published" said Mr..
Fish. 81 presume that the news is in some
degree Trustworthy. I perceive in the
synopsis several passages which are respon-
sive to those in my note to Mr.. Cushing,
which I sent Just after my return from
hurried visit 10 NeU York on the 9Th of last
November" "But the dispatch, as pub
lshed. states that Spsin's reply Is belliger-
ent." 81 see nothing in the dispatch TO sus-
tain that assertion" said the secretary,
"nor do believe IL. The note to Minister
Cushing, when its contents were cOmmuni-
Gated by him to the Spanish government,
was received in very friendly spirit, and
we have no knowledge that the feeling of
friendship has since changed. There were
some points in that note which /, for one,
anticipated would arouse discussion, and
even argument" "Msy l ask how and
why?" 'sWell," answered the secretary,
81 can hardly show you the note itself, or
reheaTse all iis points. That might be
OF Representatives, which has called for it
entire. There is not the slightest reason
why it should not bs made public, and it
will be sent to sbe House within two or
three days. Here is copy of it." The sec
rotary opened drawer in the library desk
behind which he was seated and produced 80
neatly written pages OF fOOlscap. "Bnt l can
say this" he continued, "the note contained
M demand III Waa nzda nm Of q oarpful
temperate review and statement from our
point of observation of the disturbances in
Cuba, and embodied an appeal and protest
for their cessation, especially on behalf of
the interests of the United States. 1t set
forth the long seven years' Continuance of
the Cuban war-a period marked by the
decline of our commerce with the island,
and By the ruin and oppression
of the estates and property Of hundreds OF
American cisjzsns. l. was an earnest,
friendly piece of urgency in favor Of a set
Element OF Cuban difficulties ct once and
permanently. 1t was something" said
Mr. Fish at last, sin the spirit
OF a mother pleading for the rights
of her children. IL virtually said
to Spain, we don's wan, TO trouble you,
but must take care of our own {"
'Didn't it contain something about the hu-
manities or inhumanities of the conflict?'
perhaps that was included in the review. +"
"Then the note did not amount to an actual
attempt AZ intervention in Spanish-Cuban
affairs?" "No," answered the secretary,
with smile, land in That respect we are
behind the days even of
THE so-CALLED MONROE DOCTRINE.
The very nexs year after President Monroe
advanced that doctrine the United States
asked Russia to mediate with Spain to stop
the war between Spain and me South Amer
lean government, whose independence the
United States had acknowledged. We
haven't gone anywhere neac as far as that.
"Isn't it true, then, Mr.. Secretary, tha
you have dispatched circular note through
American ministers abroad to all the Euro
pean powers, suggesting their Intervention,
with the United Sis e., tor the pacifcatiOn o
Cuba?" "Certsinly not.
There is the doctrine, as probably provided
for Mr.. Monroe by Mr.. Adams. IL estopped
European governments from oppressive
interference with th5~sffsirs of independent
American states. 1t didn's deny the right
of any European power over its existing
American colonies or dependencies. On
the contrary, it acknowledged that
right, and with that acknowledged right
Spain has so far kept her troops and
asserted her sovereignty in Cuba" SIS
Spain, in your judgment, on the way to
conquer a peace in Cuba?" In respose to
this very undiplomstic question the secre-
tary of state smoked his cigar. Presently
he said, musingly: "They have got two
rebellions on hand down there in Cuba-one
by the Cubans and the other by the Casino
EspanOl. The condition Of affairs there has
at times besn shocking" Mr.. Fish here
entered upon review of the government
OF Cuba, and of the characteristics of the re-
cent Spanish captain general, which was
characterized by great moderation, discrim-
instion and courtesy but was probably not
intended for ths public ear. "But after all
this is ssid,"I inquired, "what about the
note which you are at least accused of send
ing to the several European poweIs?' Gan
that was done, was this: Copies OF
THE NOVEMBER NOTE
to Mr.. Gushing were enclosed to our several
ministers in Europe. The ministers were
authorized not to deliver these copies, or
duplicates OF them, to the governments they
were accredited to, but to read them and
suggest verbally to those governments the
question whether they could each coincide
with the United States In the suggestions
respecting the pscifeation of Cuba which
the note embraced. The object of this way
OF bringing the condition of affairs in Cuba
TO bhe attention of foreign governments was
that they might in the first place consider
without embarrassment the facts as stated,
and in the next place decide whether they
would or not aid rs in our appeals to Spain
on purely right grounds without any preiu-
dice in our favor whatsoever" "Have
many responses from these foreign
governments come to hand7" I am conn
PEELED to suppress the secretary's answer
reminded him at last that in the reported
reply ofSpsin to the note sent to Secretary
Gushing the statement that commerce be-
tween the United States and Cuba had fall
len off was uiscredited. "a very deceptive
case" said Secretary Fish, lean be made out
In consequence of the great increase this
year OF the Cuban sugar crop and the large
importation of sugar by the United States.
The state Of affairs in Cuba thrust a large
number OF lsborers out of the eastern and
central departments, where coffee and cattle
were raised, and transferred them to the
great sugar district In the west The sugar
crop was, therefore, greatly augmented, and
It's nearest market was in the nited States.
But this fact does lot destroy the other
that our healthy and natural trade with
Cuba Is seriously affected by the continu-
anca of ha frnuhla Lnara y