New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-25
THE United STATES md CUBA.

y
General Badeau has embodied in a pamphlet
some important suggestions respecting Cuba
These were originally laid before the state
Department in the autumn of 1883, the memo
randum being marked "COniidcntlal.' because
the author did not think it proper to criticlSe
the Spanish Government publicly while he was
occupying The office of COnsul-GcGcral at la
vana The expressions which seemed likely TO
give offence to the Spanish authorities were
subsequently stricken ont and the remaining
portions were repeated in formal dispatch to
the State Department, with Che authors request
that the correspondence should be published
If is gratifying to observe that Mr.. Frcling-
huySen denied the request, on the ground that
the Consul Generals usefulness might be I'M
paired bv the frankncSs Of his language, II me
report should be read at Madrid or Havana
The state Department has evidently proiit2d by
its solry experiences in Publishing the conf
dental dispatches and reports Of Mr.. Sargent
and in compelling Mr.. TrcScot to receive the
modified instructions OF his own Government
through the Gillian Foreign Office. Care l.
now taken to revise the diplomatic correspond
cncc before publication and to suppress what
will be offensive to foreign Governments in the
way Ct political criticism.
As General Badcau is no longer in Office and
thc Government is not committed by his opin-
ions. he has considered himself at liberty to
publish his memorandum 70 the state Depart
mcnt # is a succnct and animated account of
the present condition OF Cuba-its natural adj
vantagcs climate population, corrupt admins
tlation and political disa1ecti0n. The island Is
described rs crushed by int0lcrable burdens of
debt, taxation and official rapacty, and as sink
ing under social and agricultural cmbarraNs-
mcnts. Misery has become so general that
political disahrctoH is spreading among resi-
dent Spanards and native Cubans alike. Bank
ruptcy famine. brigandage, riSngs OF blacks
and war of races are universally dreaded and
there j. Il general feeling that no remedy or re-
lief is possible except through annexation 10 the
United States. General Badcau, after re-
itcrating his recent charges respecting ailront'
outrages and impositiOns to which Americans
are subjected, atlirms that they have remedy
i'm their own hands, not only for these grievances
but for the misery of the island. lie urges the
Government TO negotiate commercial treaty
with Spain which Will relieve Americans from
these cxacti0ns and secure for them IN Cuba the
same privileges and immunitieS which Span
iards and CUbanS are allowed in the United
States. What he considers Indispensable IS
large measure of reciprocity by which the island
may be opened to American capital, enterprise
and labor He contends that the manufacturers
of New England and Pennsylvania, the mcr-
chants of New-York and the farmers of the
West would all he benefited by reciprocity with
Cuba. and that only one class would be injured
by 1.-THE Louisiana sugarplanterS. Such
treaty. lac Is confident, can be negotiated, II the
United states Government Is only percmptory
with Spain. dropping the polite phrases OF di-
plomacy and insisting that It's demands shall
be fully and promptly met.
Without entering into Che controversy which
General Badcau is carrying on with the State
Department, we fad much that is interesting.
and not a little good SENSE in this pamphlet.
Although not prepared 20 advocate so sweeping
a measure Of reciprocity as he proposes, we are
impressed with the necessity for change of
diplomatic methods in the relations of the
United States Government with Spain. Any
negotiations that are conducted at Madrid
ought TO be characterized by lirnness and in
dcyiblity. Americans do not want Cuba on
any terms. They should never be willing to
undertake the task Of governing that hot-bed of
mixed races, bIigandage, revolution and scrvilc
war. But whilo they should rcpudiate any
policy leading in the direction of annexation,
they know that it is within THEN power to OBJ
tain recognition of their rights and grievances,
if their Government will speak decisively and
with commanding authority.