New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-25
As TO FILTBCSTERING.

There are runors, not incredible. but unwel-
come, that the Spanish reply to the representa-
tons of the United Strtes Government concern
ing the Cuban war Will contain strong COM
plant Of ilbusterng The statement Is COM
monty made in Tie Spanish press, in both SPAN
Itself and Cuba. that this country has violated
its neutrality obligations, and thus has con-
tributed largely TO SPANS embarrassment and
10 the aid and comfort Of the Cuban rebels. IL
Is even said that this country is thus responsible
for the prolongatlon Of the war and may justly
be called upon to pay Spain round sum by way
OF indemnity. 1t is possible. but. we nope I'M
probable that these utterances viii ma oinclai
echo in the message of The Madrid Government
For they are entirely mnfounded. and any such
repetition Of them would show the Madrid GOV
eminent to be sadly mslnforlned upon the SUD-
icct. and thus cast nndeserved reflections upon
its diligent and accomplished Minister In this
country.
The fact Is. ms every careful observer or
affairs must know. that there has been almost
no fbusterlng from this country. The uniten
States Government has been most diligent ana
unsparIng In checking all attempts at 1t. IL mas
kept It's fleet busy. and spent probably millions
of dollars In maintaining It's neutrality laws, ana
has succeeded TO an extent without parallel IN
the history Of the world. 1t may be SAID seri-
ously and without fear Of contradiction that no
other government. under anything like such cir
cumstances, has ever kept Itself SO free from
even the suspicion Of reproach. Nor Is this
merely the American view. expressed In SELF
defence. The representatives Of other impartial
nations have said the same, and indeed the
Spanish Minister at Washington has himselr
given testimony TO the same effect.
The error arises partly from sensational and
exaggerated reports, and partly from gross
INSTRUMENTATION Of terms. Not more than one
In ten OF the reported Cuban expeditions" has
ever had existence outside OF the Imagination OIL
sensationalists And Of those that have actually
sailed not ono in ten has been guilty OF INDUS
terlng Arms and ammunition have no douot
been shipped. But that Is not llbustering IL
Is lawful commerce. Just as lawful as the snip
ping OF olives and grapes from Spain to the
United States 1t Is not for the United States
to prevent such traffic, but for Spain to see that
the merchandise Is not Improperly used when II
reaches Cuba II A Cuban wants to buy gun
this Government Is not called upon to forbid an
American manufacturer from selling It to him.
II rests with the Spanish Government to pre-
vent him from using Il against Itself. Tne
United States cannot man the Cuban custom
houses. nor patrol Cuban waters with revenue
cutters nor furnish police force for the island
Of Cuba II can only prevent armed expedi-
tons from setting out from its own ports. Tna'
Il has done and Is doing most effectively Inc
Spanish Government must do the rest.
The current talk about the searching OF Ameri
can vessels IL also altogether !njudclous That
IL A war measure only. and war does not now
exist; or nj least the Spanish Government says
/, does not The only pretext for searching
them would I've that they were suspected OF con
tanning goods contraband OF war. But there
can be no such goods, because. according TO the
Spanish Government ITSELF there Is no state OF
war Many Americans long ago thought wal
did exist and wanted this Government to recog
n,ze the fact, and thus give Spain the right tf
search American ships and TO seize all munitions
OF war found on them. But Spain was under
stood 10 protest vigorously against such recogn'
ton, and indeed 10 be prepared TO regard 1t al
an unfr!cndly act Well, II she VIII nor adm'
that war exists. she can scarcely claim tina
goods contraband OF war exist. lf she denie:
the right Of this country 10 grant her the RICH
Of search. with what grace can she herself ciain
that right? II a state Of affairs justlfyng thu
exercise OF that right does not exist, on wha
pretext can that right be exercised:
II Is earnestly TO be hoped that the spanish
reply will be far better than the advance reports
OF H. that Il will no, give credence 10 Idle tale:
OF men IN buckram. and that 1t VIII not stultif!
the principles which the Spanish Governmen
has put forward and consistently maintained
throughout the present Cuban troubles