The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-22
VOLUME XXIv---NUMBER 13O.

government for considerable time after
It's conclusion, and then not through the
authorities OF Spain. Our settlement
was only accomplished in tho month Of
March following. In doing exact Justice
1t is but proper, however, TO give Mr..
Castro due credit for the payment OF the
amount finally and before the time stipu-
lated for payment had expired.
in adverting to these delays and fail
ures to meet our just demands on the
part Of the authorities, 1 must express
my satisfaction with your patience and
energy under these adverse circum-
stances, and particularly in beginning
anew with each rapidly succeeding Min.
lister OF State and representing again and
again these questions. The progress in
these matters has not been delayed loE
want of information from you, nor from
lack OF faithful or iorcible presentation.
Having touched on these particular
questions, which have lately been prom
inent as the disturbing causes with Spain,
it is necessary also to refer to the general
condition OF affairs in Cuba as affecting
our relations with the mother country.
In my (No. 2, February 0, 1874 first in
structions addressed to you on general
matters pertaining to your mission, re-
ferred at length 10 the views entertained
by the President and to the position Of
this Government. 1twas then more than
FIVE years since an organized insurrection
had broken out which the Government
OF Spain had. been entirely unable to
suppress. At that time the firm coll
viction OF the President was announced
that whatever might be the vicis-
situdes Of the struggle, and whatever
efforts might be put forth by Spain in
Cuba, no doubt could be entertained that
the final issue Of the conflict would be to
break the bonds which attached Cuba as
a colony to Spain. While remembering
and observing the duties which this gov
ernment rs one OF the family otinations
owes to another member, by the public
law and treaties or particular statutes OF
the United States, il would he idle to at
tempt to conceal the interest and sympa-
thy with which, Americans in the United
States regard any attempt of numerous
people on this Continent to be relieved
Of tics which hold them in position OF
colonial subsection to q distant power,
and TO assume independence, and the
right OF self control, which natural right
and the spiritof the age accord to them.
When, moreover, this struggle in pIo-
gress on our very borders, from its COM
mcncement has involved the property
and interests OF the citizens Of the United
States; has disturbed our tranquility and
commerce; has called upon us not un-
frequently to witness barbarous viola
tions Of the rules Of civilized warfare,
and compelled US for the sake OF hu:
manity 10 raise our voice by way OF
protest; and when moro than all We see
In the contest the final struggle in this
hemisphere between slavery and freedom,
1t would be strange indeed il the govern
ment and people Of the United States
failed ut any time to take pecu-
liar interest in tho determination 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 satistac-
tory adjustment based upon cmancipatcd
self government which would restore
peace and afford q prospect OF return OF
prosperity to Cuba. Almost three years
have passed since those Instructions were
issued and those strong hopes expressed,
and 1t 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 ravages Of war
have touched new parts OF the Island and
well nigh ruined the financial and agri-
cultural system and its relations to the
commerce Of the world. No steps have
been taken to establish reforms or remedy
abuses, and any effort to suppress the
instruction by force alone has been n
complete failure, and in the meantime
the material interests Of trade and Of
commerce have been injured to degree
which calls for ,remonstrahce II not for
another line of conduct on the part Of all
commercial nations. Whether It be from
the severity and inhumanity with which
an effort has been made TO suppress
insurrection and from supposed justiii-
cation OF retaliation for violation OF the
rules OF civilized warfare by other viola
tions, and by acts Of barbarism, incen-
diarism and outrage, the world is wit
Messing on the part OF the insurgents,
whom Spain still claims as subjects, end
for whose acts, II subjects, Spain must be-
held accountable in the judgment of the
world, a warfare not OF legitimate strife,
OF relative force and strength, but Of pill
lage and incendiarism, the burning Of es-
tates and sugar mills, the destruction Of the
means Of production and Of the wealth Of
the island. The United States purchases
more largely than any other people Of
the productions Of the island OF Cuba,
and therefore more than any other for
this reason and still more by reason Of its
immediate neighborhood is interested in
the arrest Of this wanton destruction
which disgraces the age and affects every
commercial people on the face OF the
globe. Under these circumstances and
in view OF tho fact that Spain has re-
iected all suggestions and offers OF
reform, or offers Of mediation made
on the part OF this government, and has
refused all measures looking to a recon-
ciliation except upon terms which make
reconciliation an fmpossibllity, the diff
Guilty Of the situation becomes increased.
When, however, in addition to these gen.
eral causes Of difficulty, we find the Span
ish Government neglectful also Of the
obligations Of treaties and solemn COM
pacIs and unwilling to afford any redress
Tor tho long.contiaucd and well-founded
wrongs suffered by our citizens, it be-
comes a serious question hew long this
condition Of things can or should be al
lowed to exist, and compels us to inquire
whether the point has not been reached
where longer endurance ceases to be pos
sible During all this time and under
these aggravated circumstances this Gov
ernment has not failed to perform her
obligations to Spain as scrupulously as
towards other nations. In fact, it might
be said that we have not only been long
suffering because Of the embarrass-
ments surrounding tho Spanish Gov
ernment, but we have been particularly
careful to give no occasion for COM
plant. For some reason, regret TO say,
the authorities Of Spain have not al all
times appreciated our intentions or our
purposes in thesercspects, and while claim.
ing that state OF war does not exist in
Cuba, and that no rights as belligerents
should be accorded TO the insurreC-