American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-18
Cuba.-An Impartial View.

we quote the 1ouowlng remarks from the
New York Christian Adoocate, the organ of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Knowing as we
do that the conductors of that print are neither
political partizans, stockholders, robbers, nor
pirates, and believing that none but the over
righteous of our conservative contemporaries will
feel disposed to pronounce them such, we have
looked into their columns for clear and calm
judgment upon the matter in question; and
there we have found it. II embodies the senti-
ments we have time and agoin expressed and,
if we do not greatly err, the sentiments Of the
American people.
CUBAN AFFAIRs.-The recent effort to reyolu-
tionize Cuba has resulted in the signal discom-
future Of the expedition under General Lopez.
The torch of war has been quenched in blood,
and the leader and hundreds Of his followers have
died in the vain attempt to wrest the "queen
of the Antilles" from Spanish domination.
We are not, perhaps, in possession of data
sufficient to justify positive opinion of the
character of the enterprise which has resulted
so disastrously, yet we cannot forbear speaking
word in depreciation of the utter and sweep
ing condemnation of the gallant dead. 1t has
been said, can unsuccessful revolution is a re
bellion, and a successful rebellion is revolu-
| ton" The principle involved in this apothepm
is, doubtless, that by which the popular mind
is too often guided in judging of the character
of the struggles which occur TO change existing
forms Of government But the right is not in
validated by failure, nor the wrong sanctified
by success. 1t is mortifying to observe the
course of some Of the public prints on this SUBJ
ject While the success of the expedition un-
der Lopez was problematical, they were ex.
tremely cautious of condemning it; but as its
prospects grew darker, their indignation in
creased until the epithets of pirates, freeboot-
ors and banditti we're freely lavished upon the
leader and his followers Let us, however,
speak as kindly as truth will permit ofthe dead
If the invaders of Cuba erred, they have fear
fully expiated their error. And Judging by
principles recognised as sound on this side Of
the Atlantic, il is not clear that Lopez and his
followers deserved the epthets Of pirates and
bandtti.
The latter may have been, nay, doubtless
we're deceived, with respect to the state of feel
ing among the inhabitants Of Cuba, but their
motives were probably pure and disinterested.
They peried their lives, to aid, as they sup
posed, an oppressed people struggling to be
free. The smallness of the force that landed in
Cuba, sending away the vessel that carried
them, and thus depriying themselves of all
means Of escape from the island, confirm this
view. That the object of the invaders was
plunder and robbery, we cannot believe. The
hapless Crittendcn we knew in other days, as a
gentleman OF transparent integrity, and lofty
sense Of honor, and we cau never believe he
would become the leader or companion Of rob-
bers by sea or land. Neither can these epithets
be Justly applied to Lopez. He did not GER
tsinly Intentionally deceive his followers. He