Year: 1874




A Cnsus BeIli.


The reported transaction between Spain
and Germany which was to give the latter
Power q foothold in America has called forth
a strong expression of public disapproval in
this country. Whether the report has any
foundation or not the spirit shown by the
press will not be without its effect 1t is evil
dent that popular faith in the Monroe doctrine
subsists as strong as ever, and that any at
tempt to plant any foreign flag on American
soil would be resisted by the whole power of
the American people. 1t is just as well, per-
haps that ambitious statesmen in Europe
should know this. Unfortunately the mere
broaching of the question in this country is
likely to lead to very serious results. AS will
be seen in the graphic and characteristic
interview between our Washington correspond
ent and Secretary Fish the worthy states
man at the head of the State Department in
dulged in some very strong and somewhat
undplomatic language. II is matter OF
notoriety that the information in reference to
the agreement between Serrano and Bismarck
came from the editor of the Freeman Journal,
the recognized plenipotentiary of Don Carlos
in this country. 1t is probable that Minister
Fish forgot this fact when he blurted out his
opinion that only damned fool would
have written it. We cannot for a moment
imagine that our Minister would have spoken
with so little diplomatic reserve Of the repre-
sentative of the Carlist King. The story OF
the intended cession of Porto Rico appears to
our well inform ed Minister of State rather
clumsy fabrication; but then the Minister is
by no means intallible. On the contrary,
we should not be astonished it it should turn
out that there was some foundation IN the
rumor MIR. Fish is not always we'll informed
of matters Of the greatest interest to his de-
partment He feels inclined to initiate Dis
raeli' IS rudeness to the press. but he should re-
member that on more than one occasion he
has been beholden to the newspapers for very
important information. More than once has
the press managed to get its information be-
fore even the Secretary of State-notably the
HERALD in the Alabama case. 1t may be,
therefore, that the learned and devout editor
of the Freeman's Journal may have better and
more reliable means of information on this
subject than even Mr.. Fish. As the matter in
question affects SO closely the interest Of Don
Carlos it may be that His Majesty has COM
municated special information to his repre-
turn out to be tho case we should be alarmed
for the result Of the hasty words spoken by the
Secretary Of State. MIR. Fish ought to have
remembered the consequences which followed
from the Emperor Williams gruff reply to
Benedetti. His Germanic Majesty did not go
quite so far as to call the Frenchman fool
without the adjective), and yet the insult
brought war with all its horrors in it's train.
We can scarcely hope that Castilian pride
should tamely submit to the outrage put upon
the representative Of royalty, and, should Don
Carlos ever get the means Of fitting out an ex-
pedition we may look forward to the destruc-
ton of the White House as inevitable-that
is, if the warlike soul of the martial Able
McMasters will allow him to await
declaration of war. What we dread most is
that the redoubtable champion of Carlism
may make it O personal question with the
republican Minister. In such an event there
may be soon vacancy in the Cabinet for in
the hands of the Able pistols would be dan
gerous playtoys. Something of the inviola-
bility that hedges king guarantees his min
ister and we doubt not democratic bullet
would be turned aside by some potent charm
from the defender of divine right. The for
nidable cane or crozier, which the Able
carries might, at pinch, prove q dan
gerous weapon Of offence. We hope,
however, that both distinguished diplomats
will confine their war to words. The hasty
expressions of Mr.. Fish are, no doubt, capa-
BILE of being explained away. He probably
only applied damned fool to the worthy
Able in a Pickwickian sense, and will be
ready to withdraw the injurious expression as
| soon as he RECEIVERS his usual diplomatic
| frame of mind. We hope SO, at least, for we
do not wish to expose ourselves to the danger
of foreign war through an over bluntness of
speech in our leading diplomat


The Torpedo Trials.