Year: 1875




by any European Power in America IL Is almost con
tile In the production OF objects OF commerce, which
are OF constant demand in this country aud with Just
regulations for reciprocal exchange OF commodities, u
would afford a large and lucrative market for the pro
ductons Of this country. Commercially, as Wen as
geographically Z ls oy nature more closely connected
siops IN Cuba, and especially sangunary hostIes
such now raging there, produce effects ia the
United States second IN gravity 10 those which they
produce in Spain Meanwhile political relation 10
Cuba is altogether anomalous seeing that any injury
done TO the United States their citizens In Cuba We
have no direct oi redress there and can obtain
it only by slow and circutous BY way OF Madrid
The Captan General OF Cuba has in effect by the laws
OF SPAN, supreme and absolute authority there Tor
all purposes Of wrong 10 citzens but this govern
ment has no adequate means Of


DEMANDING IMMEDIATE PREPARATION


for such wrongs on the spot except through Consul
who does not possess diplomatic character, and TO
whose representations. therefore the Captain General
may, II he choose, absolutely refuse to listen. And.
grievous as this Inconvenience Is TO the United
States In ordinary times II Is more intolerable now,
seeing that abundantly appears the contest Cuba
Is between pennsular Spaniards the hand and
native born Spanish Americans the other; the for
mcr being the real representatives OF Spanish force in
Cuba and exertng that force when they choose with


little, II any respect for the metropolitan power Of
Spain. The Captain General Is efficient TO ignore, but
not to redress and II disposed TO redress he may be
hampered f not prevented, by resolute opposition
the part of Spanards around him. disobcdent alike to
him and 10 the supreme government In fine Cuba,
like the former continental colonies Of Spain in Amer
ica ought TO belong TO


THE GREAT FAMILY OF AMERICAN REPUBLICS,


with political forms and public policy OF their own,
and attached to Europe by those OF inter
national amity and of intelectua commercial and
cial intercourse The desire OF independence on the
part Of the Cubans is natural and legitimate aspra-
tion of theirs because they Americans And whic
such independence Is the manifest exgcncy OF the po-
ltical interests of the Cubans themselves 1t Is equally
that of the rest OF America including the United
States. That the ultimate issue of events in Cuba will
be ITS Independence however that issue may be pro-
duced, whether by means OF negotiation, or as the
result OF military operations, OF those unex-
pectcd Incidents which SO frequently determine the
fate of nations, II is impossible 10 doubt II there
be one lesson In history more cogent in its
teachings than any other, 1t is that no
part OF America large enough to constitute
sell sustaining State, can be permanently held in
forced colonial subsection to Europe Complete sepa.
ration between the metropolis and its colony may be
postponed by the former concedng to the latter a
greater less degree OF local autonomy nearly APP
preaching to Independence But in all cases where a
positive antagonism has come to exist between the
mother country and its colonial subjects, where the
of oppression is strongly felt by the latter, and
especially where years Of relentless warfare have alien
aed the parties one IRON another, more widely than
they sundered by the ocean itself their political
separation Is inevitable. 10 of those conclusions
which have been aptly called


THE MEMORABLE EVENTS


Entertaining these views, the President, at an early
day, rendered TO the Spanish government the good
Offices OF the United States for the purpose of eecting
by negotiation, the peaceful separation Of Cuba from
Spain and thus putting stop to the further eiusion of
blood ia the island and relieving both Cuba and Spain
from the calamities and charges of protracted
civil war; and delivering the United States



tions the side OF either Spain Cuba But the well
intended proicrs of the United States that
unwsely rejected by Spain, and as it then
already oreseen the struggle has continued in Cuba
with incidents OF desperate tenacity the part OF the
Cubans, and of angry nerccness on the part Of the
Spaniards unparalleled in the annals of modern war
fare. True IL is that now, when the war has ragged
than five years, there is no material change in
the military situation The Cubans continue occupy
unsubdued the eastern and central parts OF the island
with the exception Of the larger cities and Of
fortified points held by the government but their ca
nf he m Ghnn md
with abatement of their resolution persevere
the end IN repelling the domination OF Spain Mean
while this condition OF things grows, day by day. more


ISsupPoRrABLE TO THE UNITED STATES


The government is compelled exert constantly the
utmost vigilance 70 prevent arrangements OF our law on
the part Of Cubans purchasing munitions or mate
rals of war, aborng TO lit out military expeditions
in our ports; are constrained TO maintain large
naval force TO prevent violations of sovereignty
either by the Cubans the SpanIards people are
horrilcd and agtatcd by the spectacle at our very
doors of war; not only with all It's ordinary ndants
of devastation and carnage, but with accompanmonts
OF barbarous shooting OF prisoners OF war; their
mary execution by military commissions to the scan
da and disgrace of the age under the necessity
of interposng continually for the protection OF
citizens against wrongful acts of the local authorities OF
Spain in Cuba; and the public peace s every moment
subject TO be interrupted by some unforeseen event
like that which recently occurred to drive us at once to
the brink OF war with Spain In short, the state OF
Cuba Is the great Of perpetual solctude in
the foreign relations of the United States.


PIE QUESTION OF SLAVERY.


While the attention of the government Is fixed on
Cuba the interest of humanity by the horrors OF
civil war prevailing there we cannot Mr. Fish remarks
forbear to reflect well in the interest Of humanity
in other relations that the existence of slavery in
Cuba and its influence the feelings and interests of
the Pennsuar Spanards lie at the foundation OF all the
calamitics which atllict the island Except in
Brazil and Cuba servtude has almost disappeared from
the world. Not in the Spanish American republics
alone nor in the British possessions nor in the United
States in Russia in those countries alone, but
in Asia and Africa itself, the bonds of the slave
have been struck or and personal freedom is the all
but universal rule and public law at least to the nations
OF Christendom II cannot long continue in Cuba
environed that island is BY communities OF
Islands and the United States. Whether IL
shall be put TO an end by the voluntary act OF the
Of the revolution of Yara by what other
possible means, Is Of tho grave problems OF the
situation OF hardly less interest TO the United States
than the independence OF Cuba.


A POLICY EXPECTANCY.


In these circumstances, Mr. Fish says in conclusion,
the question what decision the United States shall
Is serious and difficult one, not be determined
without careful consideration Of its complex elements
oi domestic and foreign policy, but the determin
of which may at any moment be forced upon w by
occurrences in Spain in Cuba Wthal the President
cannot but regard independence and emancipation OF
course the only certain and even the necessary solu
tion OF the question of Cuba And in his mind all incl
dental questions subordinate to those in this respect
IL requires To be borne IN mind that in TAR may
contribute TO the solution Of these questions this gov
ernment is not actuated by selfish interested
motive. The President does not mediate desire tho
annexation OF Cuba the United States but its elev-
into independent republic of free men, in har-
mony with ourselves and with the other republics OF
America You will understand, therefore, that the
policy of the United States in reference Cuba the
present time is one Of expectancy, but with positive
and liked convictions as to the duty OF Che United States
when the timo emergency OF action shall arrive.
When II shall arrive you will receive specific nstruc-
tions what 10 do. Meantime, instructed as you now
10 the ultimate purposes of the government you
act in conformity Herewith In the absence OF any
specific instructions and to comport yourself accord
ingly in all your communications and intercourse OH
cla or uno1icial with persons or public men Spain

WHAT THE PRESS THINKS OF "ON TO CUBA"