The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-05
spain and the Island of Cuba.
From The London Times, dug. 10.


ment by the court of Madrid for the improved ad
ADMINISTRATION of Cuba have, doubtless, been suggest
ed bya sincere anxiety 10 confirm the imperial ten
of that valuable colony; but II is less apparent
that they have been calculated with proper APP
probation of what circumstances actually required
The captain general will be attended by a
military retnue of imposing strength. Nor can II
be questioned that the garrison of the island, when
thus reinforced, will be sufficient TO overawe NAL
contents at home, no less than TO scare away the
piratical desperadoes of the contiguous gulf. But
the position OF Cuba is so extraordinary, and the
conditions of its tenure peculiar, that unless APP
peal is made to the interests well as the fears OF
its inhabitants, il ID highly improbable that the I'M
perial control can be permanently maintained.
The population of Cuba may be considered under
tripartite classification of social parties each with
its own distinct interests; These are the creoes'
the colored classes, and the slave population itself
exactly the elements which were summoned into
such fatal activity at ST. Domingo by the first
French revolution. To these may be added, as a
separate class the officers and retainers OF the colo
NAL administration, and the garrison OF the Island
n migratory and variable body, having little or no
share in the chief interests of the population, and
serving only to maintain and symbolic its Po!itica!
subjection
to which the imperial government might most nat
urally appeal is left, recently took occasion
to explain, without any recognition Of its rights as
an integral portion of the Spanish people. They
have no immediate dependence on the crown or
government OF Spain, but are considered the pecu-
liar subjects of the captain general for the time be-
ing, who administers the affairs of the colony ac-
cordng to special code which supplies few prac-
teal checks upon absolute power. The larger class
of the free population which partakes the color OF
the blacks is not will be readily supposed, more
highly favored by its rulers Nevertheless, these
colored families both numerous and influcn-
tial, possessing very considerable wealth, and
ranking, not only among the chief proprictors of
slaves, but, as was also the case at st. Domingo,
among the most resolute advocates of slavery.
The creoes and colorcd classes together form what
may be termed the natural constituency OF the col
ony, and yet they vigorously excluded from all
access to the more eligible grades of the public
service, whether military civil This arrange
ment, of course, largely increases the patronage in
the hands of the ministers at home, and enables
political adventurer to tortify himself in the pos
session of power by lavish distribution OF lucra-
tive places; but it has operated to the efectual
arrangement OF these influential parties from the IN
terests of the imperial State, and it would probably
have snapped the tie of allegiance long since, but
for considerations to which shall presently al
Jude.
The position of Cuba is such that we may de-
scribe it without disguise of facts virtually con-
ferrng upon its inhabitants the privilege of deter
mining their political connexions. more
powerful State than Spain is eager, on almost any
terms that any party could dictate, to annex their
territory TO its own domnions 1t would OF course,
be vain to deny that if the inclination OF the colony
had been sincerely and generally turned to the
American alliance. even the expedition of Narciso
Lopez would probably have effected the intended
revolution nor can it be conceived that the Span
fectual resistance to plain declaration OF popular
will, justified by years Of misgovernment, and sec
ondcd by the resolute co cooperation OF the United
States under pretcxs which would not be wanting
for the occasion. On the other hand II has been
recently demonstrated that without such genuine
consent of the colonial population no enterprise on
which the Americans would choose to venture Is
likely to succeed 1t may be thought, perhaps,
that if events should tend to crisis eligible al
Tentative might be found in the absolute independ-
for which Cuba, by its wealth and resources, Is
LlrD ,E.. l,az
in fact, been much kept in view of late years by
secret discussions of the malConents but the LA
biliues inseparabe from II formidable that 1t
is never likely to be promoted or accepted by the
bulk Of the constituency. With n :" black" en-
pire lying at few leagues distance from their very
shores, and with numerous and excltable slave
population swarming on their estates, the Cubans
would not forego the security for life and property
offered by powerful government. Their indie
pcndcnce would probably soon resemble the indie
pendencc of Hayn-a contamination to which II
may be presumed that no desires are now pointing.
They thus practically reduced TO the alternatives
of Spanish American conn cxion, but within these
limits their choice is virtually free.
Both reason and experience concur in suggesting
that this choice would naturally fall on that con
nexion which at present exists. So preponderant,
in fact, the attractions of the old Spanish crown
those of an Anglo Saxon republic, that moth
ing short of the repulsive and inveterate i'll
usage could ALLEVIATE the colonists from their orig-
nal allegiance; and that even systematic in
justice has hitherto failed in bringing about such n
result. Against these ties Of tradition and lineage
the Americans can only advance equiyocal pros
poets of improved prosperity and earnest assu-
RANGES of political consideration. They promise
the Cubans equality of civil rights and conhr-
nation of slave Institutions. The represent Spain
under the influence of abotionist England-an
influence which will be necessarily eNcrtcd until
slavery is prescribed efectually in Cuba as in
Jamaica. This view Of the case is strengthened by
the circumstances under which alone English
agency is visible in the island. The British flag is
rarely seen beside the Spanish and American en-
signs in the spacious harbor of Havana, and the un
popular tribunal of the mixed commission serves
TO represent exclusively interests in the island
That American influence, therefore, should largely
predominant, not only our own, but even in
some sense over that Of the Spanish government it.
sef, will be readily conceived Still, such is the
instructive repulsion existing between the Amer-
and Spanish characters, and such the tradi-
tonal inclination towards the old connexion, that
the Court of Madrid might place its legitimate au-
thority beyond the risk of impairment by the most
moderate concessions in favor Of the remonstrant
colony II the constituency, of which we have
spoken, were admitted TO reasonable share in the
administration of local affairs and the honors OF the
public service, there can be no doubt that Cuba
would remain as thoroughly Spanish as any parties
could desire
Considering that the largest portion Of the whole
Of Spain is RENTED from Havana, and that
the patronage Of the crown and its ministers is 20
substantially improved by the resources Of the col
ony, it may perplex the reader 10 comprehend how
reports of the alienation sale Of this precious ap
pendage could have ever obtained credit. IL must
be remembered, however, that the Spanish govern
ment, though never necessarily poor, has been
often needy and not rarely in circumstances where
prospects Of immediate realization would act with
considerable force. The Americans, in whose cycs
purchase has long been familiar method of ac-
curing securing territory, would not be parsi-
monious in their appraisemcnt Of this much coveted
appendage TO their continent; and though the value
OF Cuba would represent a sum formidable even 60
the owners Of California, yet we have little doubt
IL might be raised in few months; nor could the
revenues Of the island well fail Of yielding ample
provision for tho eventual liquidation Of the loan.
If large and tempting bait were constantly sus-
pended before the eyed of Spanish minister's IL ia
not impossible that IL might some day be taken.
The unruincss Of the colony itself might fur
nsh argument for the transaction, as anticipat-
ing, to the great profit of the nation, result other
wise impending without any profit at all.
That these considerations arc not without direct
interest this country will be evident TO any reader
who will be at the pains TO glance at map Of the
localities in question lie will there that If the
Island OF Cuba and the lsthmus Of Fordaare vested
in the same State this state could close at pleasure
the navigation Of the Gulf Of Mexico, and would
command to no slight extent the waters of the Ca
ribbean sea We trust that such contingencies as