The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-30
Portrait of King Alfonso, Drawn by
His Minister Of State.
NO MORE PRoNuNcIAMENTos.
Demanding the Hand Of the Fu-
ture Queen OF Spain.
THB DIPLOMACY OF THE FUTURE.

captains through the medium OF tho press, that Inc
Spanish government had carried out good faith
the promise made to the government OF the United
states to admit American ships to Spanish ports on
the Same terms as Spanish ships, tho HERALD
spondent called on the Spanish Mnstcro TO re-
quest some information on tho matter SeHor SiveIa
received the correspondent with his accustomed
courtesy and benevolence and before entering the
subject Of the Immediate visit took occasion to make
hattering reference to the result my former CONFER
ence, which the HERALD has already made known 10
tho public.
THE DIPLOMACY FUTURE
Senior Siivela began by saying:-.T must felicitatc
you on tho moderation and OF your report
OF our former interview. Indeed, am puzzled TO un-
derstand how you could havc RENE SO VOL the
many subjects upon which converscd. and am
well pleased with the Iinparliallty moderation you
display in your COMMUNICATIONS to the groat journal
you represent believe that this is tho best kind Of
diplomacy Indeed, l am oil opinion that diplomacy
IA future would best be carried this way by i'm
partial newspaper correspondents 1t has tho advan-
tlge that the foreign Minister speaks directly to the
Chief OF State, who therefore certain to learn his
exact opinions; besides 1t exercises direct and
healthy influence public opinion. No report of IN
ambassador could roach wide circle or exercise
30 wide an influence public opinion as the careful
and impartial report OF the correspondent OF grcat
Of our conference has been translated by the Spanish
press Tho Epoca published It In fuil, and even the
Cronisa, OF New York, which is remarkable for It's
exaggerated patriotism (espaaohsmol published 1t
with very favorable comments
THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR
CoRRRsPoSDENr-I feel natlered by tho kind senti
menis Your Excecncy has been pleased to cxpross
twill be my constant care 10 present with correct.
ness and impartality whatever views Your Exceency
may DO pleased to express in any future conferences
with which you may honor me. The immediate mat
ter which has lod to my ntruding your time s the
complaint made BY some American captains that tho
agreement OF reciprocity in evying dues OH shipping
Is not in all cases into effect by the Spanish
government.
Tho MINISTER OF STATE-My attention has already
been called to disqualification in American news
papers OF letters from captains OF VESSELS complain
ing that heavier duties exacted In Spanish ports
from American vessels than were exacted in Ameri-
can ports from Spanish vesselz l was at nrst
. good deal annoyed at the comments
made by some OF these newspapers, which
seemed TO impute bad faith to the Spanish govern
ment. However, on considering the m after moro as.
tentively, became convinced botn The captains
letters and the comments OF tho press were due 10 err
rors Of appreciation. AS soon as this matter was
brought to my notice Immediately ordered inquiries
TO be made OF tho port officials In order to discover
whether or not my to treat American vessels
In ALI In exactly tho way as Spanish YES.
ses and In case Of violation OF this order would nave
promptly punished the offending officer.
SISTER MARINE
The desire Of the Spanish government Is to treat
American vessels as sister marine. orders to this
effect we're issued tho settlement OF the trouble
arising out Of the Treasury circular and these orders
mn beon Scru Mime v ri.
appreciation on tho part OF American captains and
newspapers is due, no doubt. to as
to what constitutes true reciprocity. Captains trad
ing TO Spanish ports find that they are obliged
TO pay something more than the thirty
cents per ton levied on Spanish vessels In Amer.
lean ports. They regard this an injustice and
failure to carry out the stipulated reciprocity. In
their minds reciprocity consists In paying the exact
sum per ton in Spanish ports which Is levied on our
ships In American ports, and hen thcy find them.
selves compelled TO pay something more than thirty
cents per ton they charge with breach OF faith.
THE MINISTER'S PROMISE.
This reasoning Is founded error. True reel.
procty consists In admitting foreign vessels on ex.
actiy tho same conditions as national vessels This
was what the Spanish government agreed to do. and
this promise has bcen kept regiously In fact, any
other arrangement would lead TO no end OF trouble
Bile to grant tho kind OF reciprocity which
'ome OF the complaining captains demand, be-
sause tho port charges even for national
vessels vary very much In the different ports. All
that can be done therefore Is to admit American
vessels on exactly the same footing national
vessels. II any American captain will provo to me
that 10 any Spanish port the officials have exncted
from him one cent more than they would have levied
IN a national vessel OF equal tonnage l promise you
that the offending official VIII be Immediately dis
missed This Is true reciprocity II reciprocity
sisted In levying 10 country the exact amount Of
dues levied IN another, Italian vessels would pay no
dues In American ports because the italian govern.
nent lcvcs NO tonnage dues, yet Italian vessels are
compelled to pay thirty cents per ton in American
ports, the Same as the marine OF any other nation
The HERALD Will render good service to both countries
by enligbtening public opinion on these points and
rec.iying the Views OF the disconnected
INTERNAL CONDITION OF SPAIN
CoRRRsPoSDESr-Has the government any news of
tho insurgent band which lately appeared In Cata-
Iona?
The MINISTER OF STArR-It seems 10 have crossed
the frontier and dispersed II Is supposed TO have
been q republican party, though II was under the
leadership OF Carist chief who strangely enough s
known as "E Ingies," probably because his parents
were English, because no Is of fair complexion. ono
circumstance In connection with tho appearance OF
this band was communicated TO mo by the Governor
Of the province. When the band appeared tho Som
ascn was rung BY all the church bels the whole
population assembled 10 HINT down the insurgents
who we're compelled to cross the frontier Without any
need TO call on the army guardia civil This Som
dten. or iev6e masse is relic Of tho Middle Ages
and peculiar TO Catalonia. When this signal
Is gwen all mon capable OF bearing arms
are obliged to Immediately assemble In tho
public square OF tue village town armed with what
ever weapon no possesses. As this appeal Ia
sounded tho ploughmen abandon their teams the
harvest men their labor, and, armed with scythes
pitchforks or whatever else servo offensive
and defensive weapon, repair 10 the public place to
put themselves under the adershp OF tho cho OF the
.Sommaten, who is generally some cx-soldier. This
force. from military point OF view, Is not very
valuable, but II exorts immense moral influence.
Against bandits or maraudors II Invaluable II Is
impossible to escape from its pursuit. because tho