The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-03

In the message sent by President Mo-
KINLEY to Congress at the beginning of the
present session, he showed that he had read
carefully and approvingly the message of
his predecessor, dated Dec. z, 1875, In
the recognition Of Cuban belligerency or
independence, but intimated that interven-
ton would be a necessity, unless satisfac.
tory results should soon be reached. BY
satisfactory results was meant the inde-
pendence Of Cuba. In one particular, how
ever, we hope and believe that Mr.. MCK1N-
LEY will not model his conduct upon that
of the Grant Administration, which, after
threatening Spain with intervention, in
quired deferentially of foreign powers how
they would regard such a course, and, learn
ing that they would view 1t with disfavor,
swallowed its words. and suffered the re-
bellion to go ON for two years longer until
1t collapsed, partly through exhaustion,
partly through treachery, and partly
through reliance on the perlidious promises
of Spain. That we backed down, meekly
renouncing our published intentions con-
corning an American question because they
were discountenanced abroad, was denied
Nv a'N AAi y l. ioht u 10 hO"
u~ndisputed in view of the correspondence
transmitted to the Senate on April Is, 1895.
1t is this correspondence which forms the
basis of u timely article contributed by Mr..
JOHN H.. LATANE to the March number of
the North american Reriep. 1t will be
remembered that on Oct. 81, 1873, the
steamer Virginius, sailing under American
colors and carrying a United States regis
try, was captured on the high seas by a Span
ish war vessel and taken into the port of San
tiago de Cuba, where more than fifty of the
passengers and crew were summarily shot.
More thar two years after the preparation
of this outrage, that is to say on Nov. 8,
1875, Mr.. HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of
State, addressed a letter to Mr.. CALEB
CUSHING, our Minister at Madrid, in which,
after reviewing the course Of the insurrec-
ton that had then gone on for over seven
years In Cuba, he said "In the absence of
any prospect of a termination of the war,
or of any change in the manner In which it
has been conducted on either side, the
President feels that the time Is at hand
when 1t may be the duty of other Govern
ments to intervene, solely with the view of
bringing to an end a disastrous and de-
structive conflict. and of restoring peace in
the island of Cuba. No Government is
more deeply interested in the order and
peaceful administration of this island thar
is that of the United States, and none has
suffered as the United States from the con.
dition which has obtained there during the
past six or seven years. He will, therefore,
feel it his duty at all early day to submit
the subject In this light and accompanied
by an expression of the views above
presented for the consideration of Con-
Yress.' Mr.. CUSHING was instructed to
read this note to the Spanish Minister for
Foreign Affairs, and, Mt the same time,
copies of 1t were sent to our representatives
at London, Paris, Berlin. Vienna, Rome, |
Lisbon and st. Petersburg, with instruc- |
lions to communicate it's purport orally, or
by reading the note to the Governments to
which they were accredited.
The reply OF Lord DERBY, the British Min. |
lister for Foreign Affairs, was made on Jan. |
20, Z 1t was to the effect that, "if
nothing were contemplated beyond an ami.
cable interpretation, having peace for its OBJ
Ject' the time was ill-chosen aud the move
premature and that the British Govern.
ment was not prepared to bring pressure to
bear upon Spain In case she repealed media.
ton. The answers of the other powers were
unsatisfactory or e~vasive, none of them
being willing to apply coercion to the re.
Gently established Government of ALFONSO
NIL, which, at that time. had a Carllst
war upon its hands.
SPANS answer to the note of Nov. 8
was dated Feb. 3, 1879. 1t refused to give
Independence to Cuba or to tolerate the In
terposition OF . foreign power between