New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-08

venting further bloodshed. but the refused
There at this time series Of indemnity claims
OF United States citizens against Span and these
| pcatons formed the most delicate task in Mr. Fishs
| diplomatic Americans naturally SYM
pathized with Cuba Filibusering movements were
rife in the early days of President Grants Admins
| tration Upon Mr.. Fish devoved the responsibility
Of preserving the neutrality of the United On
the hand he forced contend against Ameri-
can sympathy with Cuba, which his energy In en-
forcing the neutrality laws walked open personal
hostility, and on the Other when seeking redress
! from the Spanish Government for wrongs inflicted
| upon American citizens, he was met with miscon-
struction and suspicion. while at the same time loud
| y blamed by Americans for not pursuing actively
aggressive policy. III 1869 and 1870 occurred the
murder of Spearmsn and Wyeih. two American c
zcns who had become unincntionay identified with
a revolutionary expedition 10 Cuba the seizure OF
| the Lloyd Asplnwal an American steamer for Ia
vana, by the Spanish authorities. together with a
series OF arbitrary proceedings which called forth
letter from Secretary Fish TO Lopez Roberts. the
Spanish Minister. This letter is dated June 0, 1870
on which date there thirteen American ct-
zens whose property had been enlarged, fifteen
who had been imprisoned and fifteen who had been
arrested by the Spanish authorities In Cuba with
| opportunity for trial
Finding the Spanish Minister without power to
| act Mr. Fish communicated with General Sckes,
| then our Minister 10 Spain, instruc'ing him TO ask
! 1Of The release or Ifldi OI inc pflSOH-
| crs I'm accordance with The provisions of
| the treaty of 1895, their naturalization
and the restoration of their property. There also
communicated to the Spanish Government the earnest
hope of the United States for the emancipation Of the
slaves In Cuba The claim Of the owners of the Lloyd
Aspinwa in the of the year referred
| to arbitration. and settled by the payment Of
| about 100000 10 the owners and a Mixed Com
mission provided for by the XlI Congress for the
purpose OF adudicatlng upon American claims against
Spain. But the most serious difficulty was yet 10 be
In 1873 the activity Of the Cuban Jnnia' In New
! YoIk was at its height. Attempts were continually
| spain. Finally the steamer vIrcn,s. flying the
United STATES flag bu, suspected of carrying men aud
supplies TO the nSlrgeni CnbanS, was captured by
spanish cruiser. the Tornado oil the coast of cuba.
She taken into port and many Of her passengers,
| the military authorities These idings were iele
graphcd Secretary Fish by General Sickles. on
state teiegra phed General sickes as follows: Unless
abundant reparailon shall have been voluntarily
Virginia., and the release and delivery 10 the United
STATES of the persons captured on her who have not
States be saucd in the port of santiago and the signal
| punishment OF the officials who were concerned In
the capture of the vessel and execution Of passengers
and In OF refusal of satisfactory lcparation
within twelve days frOm this date. You VIII az me
praton of that time close your Legation. and WILL
together with your secretary. leave Madrid. bringing
with you the archives of the legation In this country
| the feeling against spain was intense and al Madril
the press advised the Government % Order General
sickleS Of the country. and one occasion mob
collected sack the American dsgation. Everything
| seemed TO ponf toward war with spain. But Mr..
Fish, while zeaou,ly adherine Ia the maintenance OF
our National honor. prudent and far sighted
] TO act l-advisedly upon hasty information Adnrsl
Polo, in behalf Of spain stated mat inc pape,s on me
pirate and might be the subject of reclamatons against
The United and that orders from Madrid I" stay
the execution failed to reach Santiago in time owing
10 the destruction of telegraph wires. The long con
ference which followed showed Mr. Fshs tact. self
control and Judgment in the most forclbe manner
| Despite the aggravated character of the outrage Inc
claims of spain we're heard with Just attention. But
In firm his demand mat inc snip De
delivered up once. On November - a piotocO Oh
conference drawn up between Mr. Fish and Admiral
vessel and survivors should be returned at once thaI
the salute should be dispensed with II spain before
December o. satisfied the United states that the VIZ
gnius had right 70 carry her nag. ana ,hst IN Me
vessel and survivors implicated ON December -
Mr. Fish acknowledged the receipt of evidence satisfy
ing the United States that the vhginus was not en-.
titled TO carry the flag the time of her capture that
the salute would be dispensed with. and IN accordance
! with the terms of the protocol proceedings begun
against the vessel and the persons appearing to be
guilty of illegal aSS connected fhersM'h; on 'h hn
nary % Admiral Polo expressed 10 Mr. FISH, on De-
half Of his Government disclaimer OF an MEM OF IN
dignity 70 t1g ns Of the nS sd in n"i bnen ar
the wise conservatism and fine sens, OF mps ,r
justice displayed by secretary Fish. would undoubtedly
| have given rise 10 dsas tIOls war
| THE GENEVA ARBITRATION.
| sida bv side with this Spanish embroglio Mr.. Fish
carried on the delicate negotiations with Great Britain
which resulted in the formation Of the Joint High
Commission for considering disputes between America
and England and subsequently in the establishment oil
the Geneva Tribunal Of Arbitration This settlement
Of disputed claims by arbitration instead OF war was the
great triumph of Mr. Fish's administration OF the state
! Deparment To him more than TO any other one per-
| son The adoption of this method of settling nierna-
tional disputes IS due. At first there was cohsdelane
opposition which Mr. Fish used his influence TO over
| come. As he has said himself: When that plan OF
, taking M our claims against Great Britain was first
broacled II met with veiy little favor In the Cahine'
| and finally became part OF the
pocys The causes which demanded this arbitration
I will be readily called to mind. The points which the
Commissioners of the United States were instructed 10
| present for consideration were: l. The fisheries. =.
| The navigation of the 81. Lawrence River. 81 Re-
ciproca trade the United States and the Do
| minjon of Canada 4. Tho Northwestern boundary
| and the Island of san Juan. 3. The claims OF The
United states against Great Britain for compensation
| for injuries committed by Confederate cruisers t.
Claims Of British subjects against the United States
for losses and injuries arising out of acts committed
| during the Civil War; Chief among the claims under
the fifth head that fOr damage done American
commerce by the Alabama, British ship. manned
chiefly by British subjects at British port armed
!, with British cannon and provided with Bnthh sup
plies which under Semmes Ioamed the seas pundcilng
American shipping until her career was cut short by
the Kearsarge The question of responsibility for her
acts became issue of the gravest importance
Almost equally serious the question OF the North
western boundary which in various phases had been
under discussion for over half century These aics
tons especially that Of damage to American shipping
Mr. Fish took up AT the outset OF his diplomatic
career after rejection Of the johnson Clarendon
! treaty Mr.. Motley instructed 10 say that this
Government I'm rejecting the recent convention abaI-
don, neither It's claims those Of its citizens.
nor the hope Of early satisfactory friendly settle
ment and base the cause OF grievance against
Great Britain, not much upon the Issuance OF her
recognition of the incpient state OF war, but upon
her conduct under and subsequent TO such recognition
II Is unnecessary dwell here upon the dsapproVal
| Of the course pursued by Mr.. Motley and his recall
OH the ground Of the necessity for our representation
| BY a person In harmony with the Government In
| January 1871, Sir Edward Thornton, the British
| Minister at Washington. wrote 10 Mr.. Fish. under
Instructions from his Government. proposing Joiht
--l.. NJ nIIlN