Year: 1869

Our telegraphc report from Europe yester-


day brought consoling advices to Mr.. Secre-
tary Fish in the shape of an encouraging pat
on the back from John Bright's Quaker organ,
the London Star, ''for taking measures to
prevent the departure of 6libustering parties
for Cuba" The only drawback to the
pleasure Of our worthy Secretary of State, II
1t is drawback, is the fact that his measures
do not seem to have prevented the departure
of single flibuster. We admit the doubt
because private assurances from persons very
near to Mr.. Secretary Fish insist that he SYM
pathizes with the republican cause in Cuba,
that he desires to see it triumph at an early
day, and that he is only coquetting with Spain
for the purpose Of keeping dreadful
European complication Off of the backs of the
belligerent Cubans. The said private assur-
ances furthermore intimate, with tone of in
tense wisdom, that something particularly
private in relation to Cuba is going ON be-
tween our government and that at Madrid
that General Prim has been seen, Serrano
looked after, and that the best results may be
hoped for if we will not commit the govern
ment.


Our experience in both public and private
affairs is that straightforward truth and man
liness is the best, and, as Sir Boyle Roach said,
that the only way to get round a difficulty is to
meet it plump. Now, as the administration is
about to send filibustering expedition into
the very heart Of the Iberian peninsula, under
the command of one of our most keen and
audacious generals, and as the Cabinet is pre-
pairing his instructions, both public and
private, we desire to say few words on the
state Of affairs in these Spanish American
questions. The first point of interest is that
we mean to keep faith-not such faith as Spain
kept with us in our late war, but loyal, good
faith-with the friendly Powers of Europe and
America, and we wish it to be distinctly under
stood that this determination does not commit
us to the policy of assisting Spain to break
faith with her own people, or to the waging of
a style of warfare in defence of her resisted
claims, which shall be an outrage to humanity
and Christian civilization. The second point
of interest in these great questions
is this. In common with the whole
world we hold that prisoner is
not to be punished for avaling himself
of an opportunity to escape, nor an
oppressed people for improving an occasion
to throw off the hateful chains of colonial
despotism; and we desire that this feeling on
our part shall not be hidden from Spain, but
rather do we desire that it shall be clearly
made known to her.


The third point with which the commander
Of this new Spanish expedition should be i'm
pressed is this Should any of our enthusiasts
tic and liberty-loving citizens, believing that
the cause of republican Cuba is the cause of
freedom, which all true men love, choose to
emulate the example Of Lafayette, and, run
ming the risks of hostile cruisers at sea and
well armed (seeing that we sold them their
breech-loaders) foes on shore, proceed to take
part in honorable warfare in Cuba, we will not
under any circumstances hold that they are
pirates, enemies of the human race, or in any
way entitled to harsher treatment than what is
imposed by the laws and chances Of war. The
fourth and last point which we desire to
be made known to Spain in the outset
of any little private discussion is this 1T


lie man and private citizen in this
country that Scuba gravitates towards
the American Union,' and we are by no


means ignorant of the weakening which re-


cent events have brought to the ties that bind


her to Spain. We therefore cannot admit that
the latter Power, because she finds it impossi-
BILE to retain Cuba herself, has the right to do
anything which shall have merely the effect to
reduce the value of Cuba per Sc, and make it
less useful to us when the ripeness of time
shall have brought it into the fold of free and
independent States.


With these injunctions and reminder to
the commander that he had finger, if not an


entire hand, in the Ostend convention, we
think Mr.. Fish may venture to send his new
! expedition into the heart of Spain We ad-
| not to expect too much from their enterprise,
| nor to let the grass grow beneath their feet in
| the pursuit Of it, Events on the American
| shore Of the ocean are Fastening to new and
greater complications, and If they delay too


long their hoped for adjustment of present
| questions others of more urgent import will


push them from the field of diplomatic con-
sideration.


ANxIoUs-The bondholders of the old At
! lantic Telegraph Company. With respect to


the profits of the new line


UYEAsY-The Austrian government as to
the issue of the Ecumenical Council. Its
course cannot be 'foreseen,' it is said Most


likely not in Vienna, as the Emperor is not