The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-15
Consulting HIVES.

Tho indignation OF Senators BRUCE and
CoNovER over the reported ensavcment. in
Cuba, of sundry colored citizens Of Florida
and Louisiana, seems To have cooled Three
weeks ago they were hot-footed for Con-
Rrcssional inquiry; but, instead Of bringing
into the Senate n resolution directing the
Committee on Foreign Relations to probe
the matter, Mr. CoNOvER. IL seems, con-
cludcd TO consult Mr. HAYES" about it.
Accordingly, IN Mr.. CoNovER' = recent speech
on Cuba, while the colonial policy Of Spain,
so oppressive to the island, so injurious to
the commercial interests Of the United
States, is denounced with great force, we
find not one syllable regarding this other
matter OF kidnapping and slavery, in which
the national honor is intimately concerned
an outrage so great, IL the allegations re-
gardng it are true, that the rightng of the
offence and the rctribution of it should not
be delayed an hour.
How consulting HAYES on such subject
could end otherwise than in smothering 1t,
seems not to have occurred to Mr.. CoNovER.
He was advised that investigating outragcs
committed by or against American citizens
in foreign lands came within the power and
duty of President 50 II does but TO trust
20 the investigation or adjudication of the
man who chose PURIo WELSH for the high
est post in the diplomatic service Is folly.
The contrast between GRANT and HAYES in
this matter. as in nll others, is wide; for
GRANTS faults were At least not the faults of
HAYES Without rrctcncc Of crying over
them. GRANT stood by the Southern colorcd
men who voted for him; HAYES. when the
news of his defeat for the Presidency came,
said the tdings made his heart bleed for the
coloicd men he had intended to do 50 much
fur them, and nobody knows better than
Mr. CONoyER what HAYES has done for
them. GRANT rarely wrote an annual mes
sage to Congress. during his eight years.
without strongly dcnouncing Americans
who hold slaves in Cuba; HAYES ignored
the subject in his December message, and
when the Amcrican-Furcign Anti-Slavcry
Society. holding n joint mass meeting with
the friends Of Cuban freedom in Cooper In
sttute. passed resolutions calling HAYES
attention To this great wrong, aud asking
him to show by some conspicuous act which
side OF the Cuban slaycholling question he
was on. lac ignored them 80 far az any cour-
tcous reply In words was concerned he
did not ignore them in acts a few days
after lac appointed man officially recorded
to be part owner Of Cuban save plauta-
ton, as Minister TO the land of WILBEI-
FoRcE-this was HAYES answer to the mass
meetings appeal to show which side he was
on. Mr. CoNovER is crcdulous when he puts
enslaved American citizens In HAYEs's
hands.
The evidence regarding the alleged ell
slavcment does not merit being pigeon
holed or pooh-pooh The statements Of
Mr.. J. c. HESTER and Gen FERNANDO LOPEZ
NE QUERALrA are certainly noteworthy.
The latter. an officer Of the Union army
during our warand aft"rward of the Liberal
army in Cuba testiics. in his affidavit made
before United States Commissioner WEEKS
that he found in ls72 in the jurisdiction of
Santiago lie Cuba, IA colorcd man who had
been working since 1866 "a Il slave ON sugar
plantation. He had been taken to the plan
tation from Louisiana. with four other col
orcd hands. formerly slaves on plantation
near New orleans, against his will. The
conversation between this man and himself
il given in QrERALrAS affidavit. and the
statement is also made that on a neighbour
ing plantation We're " three or more negroes
who spoke the English language and were
not natives OF the island The affidavit
adds;
II further declare amt totc best ~ my knowledge
ami hic' that iror neefo, r0u the United states az
varOa, place. thc Island Of cuba. are. mp this day.
hchi slaves, shipped from the rnited state, under
l,i.e ir trnoc- since he rebellion IN the uned states
anl on American vca-cls
1t has been said that upward Of twoscore
such cases or probable cases, Of enslaving
free colorcd citizens, have been pointed out.
But whatever the nature Of this evidence, it
il all one to HAYES. Mr.. EvARTs has kindly
expressed his willingness on two distinct
| occasions TO have Gen QUERALTA and Mr.
HESTER "call and talk ~ at his Office; but
he has declined to send any messenger from
the Department Of State to inquire into the
facts. Perhaps HAYES would consent TO an
Investigation Of these dark doings in in
terror Cuba if the investigator could be
chosen by PUIIo WELSH.