Year: 1875

1


Finally General Grant and his advisers demand that
preparation shall be made for the resumption or cash
payments in 1879 and propose to convert greenbacks
gradually into bonds bearing 65 per cent interest,"


cent per day for every 800 We have belief in
the last piece OF advice for the rae Of interest the
best security In America Is nearer per cent than y,
and the credit OF the government is lower In proper
ton to that OF private debtors than most countres
The United States must be TO pay at least five
per cent for their money The call Congress 70 pro-
vide for the resumption Of specie payments the lst
january, ls7s is simply clever party dodge


WOULD GRANTS INTERVENTION SERVE THE


CUBAN CAUSE?


From the London Daily News, Dec. 9l


But the President says more. He tells
Congress that Spain has made promises OF reforms,
which, II they carried out will difficulties;
but he does not give her much time carry them out
II is not likely that after years OF chronic anarchy can
early restoration of peace and the removal of future
causes Of complaint be accomplished; yet Presi-
dent Grant says that unless this s done he will during
the present session of Congress make other proposals.
President Grants words are so generally IN foreign
matters stronger than his deeds that not quite
sure how the peremptory language OF the Message Is
be interpreted II IL means glance in the direc-
tion OF Interference he is open the retor that an
insurrection-which by his admission, has not
now sufficient foothold to justify recognition
/ may deserve enectual aid We have no sym
ment. in tring, as It do with the Cuban
surrection, and allowing the Spanish volunteers to
Keep up reign OF terror IN the name or the mother
country But peremptory interference such Presi
dent Grant seems to intimate would create general
sympathy with Spain, and, however 1t might affect the
state OF parties at home would detach from President
Grant and his administration the moral support Of all
the outside world. We hope, however that such
meaning lies behind his words and that his
further appeal to the present session Of Congress would
only be for support In further diplomatic step in
the removal OF scandal Of which the Americans justly
complain and which public opinion generally will sus-
tain them in urging the spanish government TO cure


THE PRESIDENTS IDEAS ON PUBLIC EDUcATIoN-


SPAIN ON HER TRIAL IN CUBA.


From the London Times Dec. 81


President Grants Message, in what Il says alike
about the free school system Of the United States and
the rebellion in Cuba, strikes somewhat disquetng
note II shows that America is already beginning to
feel the difficulties of old country II any
thing for which she cnvied II for her freedom
from the political battles of the sects Episcopalians
Methodists Baptists, Roman Catholics, all equal
in the eye OF the law and they did not carry their
theological rancor into politics There LIBERIA
ton Society," unseemy squabbles between Church
and DISSENT Birmingham League All the sects
sent their children to the same public schools,
and II seemed as II they would grow up with
good viii for each other which would more
than half dsarm the animosties OF their rival dog
matte tenets But of late years this fair promise has
been blighted and the Presidents Message is q con-
fesson OF that sad fact The utramontane spirit has
spread to the United States as well as to less demo-
cratic lands and the preates of the Catholic Church
declare the free public schools dangerous the faith
and the morals OF their young people. They think
that4an unsectarlan atmosphere Is only another
for rreligious influence, and they believe that at
best il predisposes those who breathe 1t the freer
air of Professionalism. Naturally therefore, they in
sist that CATHOLIC children shall be sent to Cath
ole schools. But they demand, further, that
they shall not be made to pay for an edu-
cational system they condemn, ard thus they
a fatal blow that Dubic gchool avs
TEN which the chief pride and hope of America.
President Grant oresaw the danger several years ago.
the most silent man in America must have thought
il of great Importance before he OF his way
he recently did to call all Americans JOIN hands
the defence of their Free unsectaran schools Re-
peating this same summons in his Message to Congress-
he recommends that the most sacred political docu-
ment in the whole worid-the constitution Of the
United States-sha be so amended as to provide for
the establishment OF free schools which shall rigidy
exclude the teaching OF religious athestic or pagan
tenetsn BY the same amendment he would forbid the
application public money the support of
schools. The President will at present be aided by
most OF his countrymen; but IT remains to be seen
whether the interesting experiment OF the United
States succeed In the long run. To
other countries, II not TO America herself the
is that which speaks of Spain and Cuba Here again
the Presidents words will be read with uneasi
The conflict between the Spanish troops and the
Cuban rebels Is conducted he says 'wIh general dis
regard Of the laws OF civilized warfare and the just de-
mands of humanity" So much is perfectly true Nor
can we ind fault with the that there Is no
reasonable assurance OF near termination of the
struggen But while the President thinks 1t doubtful
whether Spain subdue the rebels he frankly admits
that they do constitute civil organization recog-
nizable independent government capable Of per-
forming international obligations and entitled to be
treated Power" He therefore confesses that
70 recognize them as government would be 'incon-
sistent with the facts Any other conclusion would
have strangely indeed from the Chief Magistrate
OF q Lation which angry with this country for
recognizing tho belligerency OF the Southern States
although they had regular government, fixed capt.
tai, agents abroad, formidable navy and an elabo-
talu (uhan nra 70
yet little better than splinters of revolt On the
other hand President Grant reminds his country
that some cases IL may be the duty OF nation
to recognize the belligerency of rebels who have
not yet constructed settled form OF government
In other words, the success of their resistance
would be great gam that they ought to be
helped at all hazards; but as the President points
out this war He fails, however, to
why the Cuban rebels should be thus favored, and,
therefore, he thinks that IT would be unwse, prema-
and indeiensibe a measure Of right to treat
them regular begerents SO far the Message gives


fat contradiction TO the recent report that the United
States had sent Spain note OF so peremptory charac
ter to make inevitable. So far also the Spanish
journals might find in the Message tribute TO Spanish
pride But all these soft phrases merely the pre-
lude TO peculiarly sharp note OF menace The Presi
dent throws in if half carelessly the threat that If
80 runousn conflict should not be speedily brought
to end il ''must compel the States suffering
thererom to consider what their interests and their
duty may demand" Now, II Spain cannot suppress
tho rebels IL the island must be half ruined so long
she holds ii # she will not put an end to the nstitu
tion which is a main source or the disturb
ance, il would be hard to expect the United
States let the work OF devastation proceed unchecked
merely OF regard for the nominal sovereignty OF
Spain Were Cuba TO Cornwall as II is TO Florida
should certainly look sharply 10 matters OF fact
than to the ncetes Of international law But every
thing repeat depends those matters OF fact 1T
Spain suppress the nsurrection and prevent Cuba
from becoming a permanent source OF mischief TO
neighborng countries she has the fullest right TO keep
IT, But she Is her trial. and that trial cannot be
long When she Is made 70 clearly understand that
make that rule reality she will not he slow 10 show