Year: 1875




As Is usual In the case OF troublesome communica-
tions, the spaniards endeavoring to minimize the
importance OF the opinions expressed by General
Grants government the situation OF Cuba The
date the purport the possible consequences Of any
despatch which may have proceeded from Washington
any conversation which may have been held at
Madrid, are critically discussed, and tho
clusion is that. whatever may be the ma
tional longings OF the American people,
tho ambitious views OF their statesmen, there
will be no interference the mother country
its turbulent colony. The rumor OF extraordinary
Spanish equipments Is denied and the nation is
couraged TO believe that, the hopes ofthe Caris
waning, Spain will be able spare reg
ments to act against the insurgents and the ntrguers
for independence or annexation will be speedily
vinced that their schemes futile AS regards the
present believe tho Spanards are right
II look TO the ultimate future we can
hardly resist the conviction that Cuba will
be independent attached the mother country
by links sghter than bind the most vigorous of Eng
lish colonies 10 the United Kingdom. These
mote developments Of history are comparatively easy
TO divine, but the practical politician has 10 deal with
imme Iate contingencies and with regard these the
more reasonable opinion is that Spain Will for some
time longer be allowed 10 struggle on in the enterprise
which has wearied her for many year and
threatens her with exhaustion The Spanish
people will continue TO spend their blood
and such treasure remains to them in dealing
with a rebellion which is the formidable be-
1t does not present definite rlsngs that may be
suppressed or tangible armed force that may be de-
feated and dispersed 1t will be their fate for
time longer deal with deeply rooted disease If
could be cured by stroke of the knife and TO believe
that when they have occupied this that district and
find no overt resistance their patrols they have
established their authority They will have further
term OF vain hopes, exhaustng efforts; of military
plans destined to disappointment even when techni
cally successful; of sanguine dispatches sue
ceeded by omnous revelations the whole end the
conviction that what the island when they began that
1t continues to be Another lesson they will learn is that
the attitude and the expectations OF the Power they
most suspect remain the same, and that it has not
lost by knowing how TO wait


The significance and effects of the communications
alleged to have been made by the government
of the United States naturally much dis
cussed in the Spanish press The nation finds it con-
sistent with its own dignity, we'll reasonable
froma review of past events TO attribute compare
lively little Importance to them. The President is but
the mouthpiece American democracy as it speaks by
innumerable ballots All that he Is politically and all
that he hope to be depend upon his ntepreta
tion OF the popular sentiment Now 1t is well known
that there has hardly been an election for the last
thirty years In which the name of Cuba has not
csed appreciablo influence The wealthy and
nourshing but most restless OF islands has been IN
American politics pretty much what Poland was to
France in the last generaton-somethng TO talk about,
TO cheer about 10 nscrbe on party banners to use as
the theme of patriotic satircal addresses General
Grant, though raised TO power q soldier and a
queror has, like every American who himself
with politics. the electioneerng instinct and takes up
with Cuba for party interests 1t is meant to influence
votes and when votes are influenced the purpose
will be satisfied This notion that no American
government has really meditated interference
between the Spanish and its depend
ency has always prevailed, been affected, in Spain,
and the latest incidents are treated another example
of the old tradition The Spanards are probably IN the
right The government OF the United States have
present desire for the annexation of Cuba The hi
clustering epoch preceded the great war, and
publican President and his colleagues would shrink
from Incorporating into the Union an island which is
the most conspicuous example remaining in the world
of that peculiar institution which has been
overthrown on the North American Continent by
fire and sword Tho United States could not now con
| a
either be held abnormal dependency subjected


to the process or emancipation, which would be simply
10 let loose multitude of barbarans TO destroy the
prosperity Of the island The Spanlards think that
whatever ambitious section OF the Americans may
have desired IN times past the present sympathy with
Cuba IS vague sentiment unlikely to produce politi
cal effects and that II need not prevent them from
presenting bold 'front.' TO the macontent colonists
and 70 every one else who affects to espouse their



Consequently the Spanish press IS full of high handed
counses and sounds every noto Of defiance. The
Madrid journals especially angry with the express
sons of opinion in this country which they declare to
be inspired by national ambition "lf we lost Cuba,
saws one journal british interests instead of suffer.
ing would gain Immensely One and all the journals
declare that the notion OF yielding anything to the
OF the Cuban insurgents to the selfish remon-
strances of foreign nations is quite inconsistent with
the national honor on such occasions 1t is the most
decided and boastfu language which comments itself
to the popular feeling ana constitutes the ruest utter
of the country. Hear then. the TEMPO which is
of the chet organs OF the present Ministry Mot
only ought not to abandon Cuba It's late, thus
coniessng our debility and impotence to all the world,
and exciting our enemies to snatch our remain ng
colonies from US but so long there exists single
Spaniard in our territory and single centme in
Treasury ought 10 spend the and shed the blood
Of the other in defending our honor and right" We
have wish to question the proprety and dignity Of
the determination expressed the above paragraph.
nation with such history as Spain may be excused
for resenting suggestions which like dctaton-
Nor motives wanting which may be called humane
and conscientious. When what level some
of the ancient colonies OF Spain have sunk since their


independence We cannot hastily set aside the argu-
mcn which the Official Madrid journal urges in behalf
oil retaining a hrm hold in Cuba. The island, as
everyone knows Is productive beyond comparison
with any other possession Of Spain past present,
and its fertility has been developed by a govern.
ment which, Whatever its faults, has assured
the primary conditions Of prosperity ''lf Cuba
independent says the Madrid journal 'he fabulous
prosperity enjoyed up to the time OF It's
rebellion would succumb in short time To the
7 trigues, revolutions, pronunctameftos and disturb
ances OF successful generals, OF ambitious per-
OF turbulent oligarchies, as a
rule incapable of founding anything strong
and stable; and when time has passed che will be
absorbed by the Unsuitable Colossus of the North y
This judgment IS probably sound enough; and in
vites inquire whether who clearly
discern the shortcomings of the colonial community


unity may be reconciled the parent State and the
predicted disasters conured But OF this there is no
sign National pride, military pride and worst of all
the pride Of shallow and obstinate statesmanship pre-
vail even among those who have discernment OF
the future


is THIS wHIsKEY OR WAR GRANTS TELEGRAM
TO SHERMAN ON THE SAME DAY WHEN HE