Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-08-12
MISCELLANY N Y
Cuba, and her Destiny.

Cuba, and her Destiny.
One of the most interesting questions at
present TO the people of our whole country is
the probable destiny of the Island of Cuba
The tragic termination of the Lopez exped-
tion was not regarded by many persons as fl
nal settlement of the question, but only post
ponement of a crisis which sooner or later was
sure TO come. That the people of Cuba are
suffering grievous expressions from a tyranni-
cal government is very well known in these
States, and it is natural therefore that our peo-
pie should strongly sympathize with the Gu
bans in any efforts they may make to better
their condition by change of government
While the great body of The people in this
country would give no encouragement to 'fl-
libuslcring exPeditions,' got up here for the
purpose of exciting rebellion and revolution in
Cuba, still, should the Cubans themselves,
take their destiny into their own hands, and
with energy and perseverance strike the blow
for freedom, unquestionably this whole nation
would rejoice to see them successful.
We have new evidence, within the past
week, that the smouldering fires of Cuba are
still spreading and gathering force and intensi-
ty for new outbreak. 1t appears that new
revolutionary paper, called The Voice of the
People, has been started and circulated Sc
crelly through the Island, in spite of all the eff
forts of the Government TO suppress it. The
paper is not published regularly, but as cir
cumstances favor. Two numbers have already
appeared. The Courier and Enquirer of this
city is informed by Cuban merchant, who
came from Havana by the last steamer, that
thirty thousand copies of the first number were
printed, and that they are Sl rculated secretly
from hand TO hand among The people, The
Government has offered tarenty thousand dollars
reward for the discovery of the printing office
of this paper, and an additional reward for the
seizure of the papers printed, but hitherto
without the least success. The paper is full
of stirring appeals to the Cubans to prepare
for the coming struggle. One article in No.
2. closes as follows:
To arms, then, fellow countrymen, delay
is TO US dishonor. The holy love of country
burns in our hearts; he who fights for liberty
must conquer
This view of Cuban affairs is strongly con-
frmed by Mr.. John S. Thrasher, who has
lately returned to this country from SPAN,
where he had been sent prisoner from Ha-
vana for his supposed connection with the Lo-
pez affair. Mr.. Thrasher is a gentleman of
talents and responsibility, native of Portland,
Maine, but has resided in Havana, if We recol-
published paper there some years, which was
suppressed by Government, and he was thrown
into prison for exerting himself rather too free
ly 10 relieve the sufferngs of the unfortunate
American prisoners of the Lopez band who
were taken and carried to Havana Since
Mr.. Thrasher's return to this country he has
been at New Orleans, where he was compli-
mented with public dinner, on which occa-
sion he made a very entertaining speech on
Cuban affairs. We annex one or two brief
extracts. He makes the following comparison
between Cuba and old Spain
'Cuba, in her industrial and intellectual de-
velopments is far in advance of Spain. With
her million and quarter of inhabitants, she
exports far more in value than does Spain,
with her fourteen millions. Her domestic
commerce is thrice greater than that of Spain.
Her railroads are counted by hundreds ofmiles,
while those of Spain are counted by tens. On
every side in Cuba, you see the application of
machinery to productive labor. In Spain you
can hardly fud machine shop or a machine
out of the Government arsenals; and, in one
instance at least, which have seen, portion
of the fixed machinery there was sent from
Cuba, and all the rest from England. Her
press, though under the most severe and arbi-
trary censorship, is far higher in intellectual
vigor, far better in Typographical appearance,
and far more universal in its circulation, than
that of Spain
Mr.. Thrasher closes his speech with the
following earnest expression of his own feel
ings and opinions:
i have said to you am no fllibuster in the
vulgar sense. | am not. Yet do | sympa-
thize with the Cubans in their ardent desire
for liberty. Yet would my heart leap fol joy
TO see Cuba free. The love of freedom is In
nate in every mans bosom Yon all svmpa