The republic., 1851-09-03
Cuba
Erom the london 1Ymes, A,gust Is.

From the London Times, AugustI5
The accounts recently received through some
of the American papers with reference to an
insurrection in the island of Cuba, which is
said to have broken out early in the month of
July, require more authentic confirmation be-
fore they are altogether credited, for the state
ments OF the New York journals not entirely
disinteEested, and they are moreover contradic-
tory. The state of Cuba is SO intimately connected
with the late piratical attempts to invade and rev
olutionize the island from port in the United
States, and indeed with the grand question of
slavery throughout the Union, that all representa-
tions this subject tnged with the party feel
ings of our American contemporaries. A revou
tion In Cuba, If it should turn out that these dis
turbances' are not effectually repressed by the
military power OF the Government, ia not merely
a question between that important colony and
the crown of Spain; il will speedily be found
to be mixed up with American sympathizers,
and identified with the predatory liberalism of the
southern States; and it would inevitably give rise
topoitical considerations of the utmost impor tance
between several OF the maritime powers. We re-
gret to say, however, that we cannot dscredit the
statements published by some of the New York
papers to the existence of disturbances of Sc
rious nature in the island indicating the existence
Of an extensive league or conspiracy among the
white population against the authority of the
mother country; and we have to believe that
accounts have been received from the consular
agents of the principal European powers in Cuba.
which have excited some apprehenslons, and have
led to communications between the allies of the
Queen of Spain.
The Island of Cuba differs essentially from all
other European settlements possessions in the
West Indies, by the fact that it contains numer-
Gus native population OF Spanish descent, but far
closely connected with the insular and
American interests of the country they in
habit than with the traditions and admins
tration of Spain. The Hapaneros are, in fact,
people of American Spaniards having strongly
marked character of their Oyn-imhued tn
certain extent with the republican principles cur
rent on the neighboring continent-connected by
the closest commercial ties with the traders of the
United State5-identified with the southern States
by the existence of savery-and prone to view
with increas ing suspicion and repugnance the colo
nial administration of the once famous Council of
the Indies, now commonly represented at Havana
by the last needy soldier sent out to make his for
tune by favor of revolution at Madrid. Thus
far the tie of their allegiance to the throne of Isa
bella hangs lightly enough upon them and the
cry which may be raised with effect in Cuba is not
much that of annexation of independence.
But as in the case of Texas, such independence
would be the infalble prelude to annexation, and
in ceasing to be Spanish the island becomes Ame-
rican. On the other hand, the planters of Cuba
still indebted to Spain for the existence and
maintenance OF q well appointed and efficient army,
which Is absolutely required at all times to keep
the black population in subjection to their mas
ters, and to protect life and property throughout
the island from the periodical horrors of negro re-
bellon. country in which the slave trade has
been carried on to an enormous extent till within
very recent period stands in this respect in diff
ferent condition from the southern States of Amer
ica, where the whole slave population ia born in
servitude, and ia comparatively tame. This state
of things renders the occurrence Of disturbances in
Cuba matter OF most critical importance, for, If
strife arise between the government and its white
subjects in the island the blacks can hardly fail to
take advantage of whatever weakens the dominant
race, and may require extraordinary encour-
agement from their liberated countrymen in the
adjacent islands to give most formidable charac-
ter to such a conflict.
Even if it be supposed that the authors of the
present rising have no definite or immediate OBJ
ject but to sever the connexon of the island from
Spain-which may justly be charged with many
and grave faults in the government of such de-
pendency-it is not the less certain that, if ever
the Spanish dominion in Cuba be terminated,
the social condition of the island will depend on
the condition TO which the black population may
be reduced and its political incorporation would
become an object of intense desire to large
portion OF the American people. The loose and
abortive expeditions made within the last few
years, diaavowed though feebly repressed by the
Federal Government, are indications of the direc-
ton easily to be given in the United States to that
territorial ambition which has already absorbed
Texas and invaded Mexico; and the occurrence of
such an event as Cuban struggle for independ-
ence would Immediately become the war-cry of
party in the United States. If we are to witness
the return of the Democratic party to power, as is
not improbable at the next Presidential election it
is easy to foresee to what purposes such cry may
be turned; for, although we acquit the present
Cabinet of Washington of designs inconsistent
with is public engagements to friendly powers, it
ia not the less certain that the annexation of Cuba
has long been favorably entertained and perse-
veringy watched by large and aspiring class of
American politicians
1t is evident that such change in the condition
OF that island would powerfully affect the commer-
cial and maritime interests of several other States,
and that it could only be effected by violation of
all rtorht sNF Gn,T ,f,,
colony in which slave labor is carried to its ut
most extent with the slave-markets and slave-
owners of the southern States of the Union; and
it would assign to the rising naval power of the
United States the most important military station
in the West India seas. Once in possession of
Cuba, as the principal seat of its power in that
ocean, the Government of the United States would
encounter comparatively few obstacles in the
QUESTION OF other islands, such Porto Rico and St.
Domingo, until we ourselyea might be compelled
TO defend, under the most adverse circumstances,
possessions which have belonged for a couple of
centuries to the British crown, and in which for
the frat time a negro population has been raised
to the level of free peasantry II will never, we
trust, be in the power OF any conqueror to restore
in those islands the oppression and inhumanity of
slaveholding or slave-importing government,
which we have swept at immense sacrifices, from
the British soil But il cannot be denied that the
extension Of the United States Government TO any
portion OF the West Indies is identified with the
maintenance OF slavery and the extension of slave
hardly subsist permanently in adjacent terri
tories side by side.
To this it may be added that, in common with
France and the other allies of Spain, we are in
terested in preventing any occurrence which may
contract her pecuniary resources and lessen her
available strength. Cuba and the PHILIPPINES
the last romaina Of heg magnificent colonial en-
pire They are both Of them highly productive de-
pepdenoies-they both deserve ADLER and more
disinterested administration. But the transfer of
those islands to any other maritime power would
only augment the weakness of one State by
dcring the aggressions of another more success
full. Against any such projects the government
of this country, in conjunction with that of France
and of Spain herself, is bound TO make early and
effectual stand; and, from the wisdom which the
Cabinet of Washington Gao sometimes evinced in
avoidins the blind and perilous impulse OF popu-
lar feeling for annexation, hope that it may not
be wholly disinclned TO concur with other GOVERN
ments in endeavoring 10 preserve the permanent
union of Cuba into the crown of Spain,
MAJOR HARpIss-The order for the transfer Of
this accomplished officer from the command at the
Aleghauy Arsenal near Pittsburgh 10 that OF Wa
tertown, Mass., has been received with very gen.
eral feeling Of regret in this community.
PittsbtTg Journal.