The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-24
TIE SLAVE TRADE IN CUBA.
Historical Sketch of the Movements for lis
Abolition.
The Several Treaties, and how they have
been Observed.
THE POLICY OF GREAT BRITAIN TO PRE-
VENT ANNEXATION.
A REvOL LUTIONARY APPEAL.
&C., G0., &c.

REVOL APPRAL.
DO, &0., DC.
In a recent number of a Spanish periodical pub
lshed in this city, find very full and highly in
terestng review of the past policy Of Spain and Crest
Britain apropos of the Island of Cuba and the aho-
ltion Of the slave trade there The writer who isna
himself "A Planter" seems to have digested the
subject with great care and thought, and he presents
his views with remarkable force and perspicuity We
have considered the article very important and in
teresting, as well in political as in historical
sense, that have caused full and literal tranaa-
ton Of it to be made which we now present to our
readers
CRY OF ALARM IN CUBA.
In the Antilles the white appears destined to de
out and in the Continent the black raceDe 10cqws-
rilie's Democracy in Am RIGA.
Awake! Awake Such is the urgent cry which
should necessarily resound through all the extent Il
Cuba, il we would save ourselves from the terrible
abyss to whose edge we have been carried by the
machiavelist and stupid policy Of the Spanish gov
ement by the covetOusness of the slavetraders and
the Captains General, and by the blind carelessne0
of the inhabitants Of Cuba 1t is on the heads of the
latter and those of their sons that the misfortune
will alone fall whilst their barbarous persecltors viii
display their ill-acqured riches, contemplating pas
svey from distant and safe quarters the shoulder
ing ruins of an unfortunate people who imprudenuy
sheltered them and covered them with undeserveA
benefits.
Awake awake inhabitants of Cuba ! The o.
tastrophe Is impending. The barbarians have cried
that Scuba will be Spanish or African ami already
the moment is approaching when the extreme a
this impious representation is to be fulfilled, unless
we burst the clasp in which have been long held
and, acting in concert escape with prOmpttude aad
energy the grave evil which is approaching with
huge strides.
TO keep US in the oppressive dependency of des-
pissed colony, AMI to continue the Odious system
by which our property has been wIurg from
us, the government Of Spain has found no Other
means than that Of introducing slaves into the
island and Of opposing the admission Of white
colonsts, SO that, the population being divided be-
tween two opposed and inimcal races, we may never
raise our depressed brow to reclaim our violated
rights Hence that insolent resistance to the fulfil
ment Of the treaties celebrated with the civilized na
tions of. Emope-hence that insulting disregard =
faced and scandalous protection with which the
cursed African slave trade has heen favored, which
to-day menaces with destruction.
Certainly public opinion does not err in maintain
ing that Eogland is not abolitionist through tves
OF philanthrophy, but through an internal policy,
whose intent is to destroy her own and foreign cole
nies this side Of the New World, to protect the
fruits Of the East Indies aud to place barrier to the
expansion of the United States Besides the Spanish
government and the peninsulars have wished in this
way to call attention exclusively upon the English:
and by making public odium fall upon them,t to
up the insid0us conduct OF Spain and to force Us to
acknowledge a high favor that 1t thus obstnatey
violates the solemn treaties celebrated with Great
Britain and fills our island with negroes without our
one dreaming, perhaps, That 1T was our metropolis
which, day by day, was assassinating US, and that
sooner later we had to die in its parrcida hsnds.
Not s not England alOne but Spain, which Ia
principally the cause OF our present precarous stua
ton. Both felt themselves impelled by the principle
Of the humanitarian spirit Of the age which inspired
al civilized nations. Policy also some what dictated
the steps Of England and carries her to-day to the
| extremes which threaten us. Nor is 1t England
alone which has sought TO operate our ruin but the
government OF Span which always sacrifices us, be-
cause she possesses the exclusive gift Of hiding
wrong and death in the very remedies which pro.
mise to bring safety and life. Hearken t. history
and be undeceived, because it is time to clearly,
SO % as to be able to proceed I with certainty.
| manitariap sentiments, and awakened the ideas Of
political and civil liberty; and to the United States
belongs the glory of being the first nation which, In
organizing its Independent and supreme government
in l7S7 declared that In 1908 the slave trade should
cease in all its States. Engand followed this exam
pie, commissioning the Lords Of its Council in 1873
to get information upon the slave trade; but until
80 detestable q commerce. At this same time the
United States dictated the like resolution, and even
Portugal three years after Qsl0) consented to limit
| the trade to certain points of the African coast
Spain, equally influenced by the spirit Of the age,
without being in any way invited or compelled
raised ~ voice in favor Of the African victims, In
the menbaable sessions Of the Constituent Cortes,
held on the 26th Of March and I'd Of April 1911, in
| which Senior Deputy Guridi Acocer and Senior Ar.
queles proposed the first the absolute cessation of
the slave trade and the gradual freedom of the
slaves, and the latter that it should be instantly
decreed that the infamous traffic Is abolished fox
ever, and that the Council Of Regency communicates
the decree without the loss of Q moments time, to
the government Of her Britannia Majesty, for the
hat IN In
hropic measuIe they might succeed in realizing to
its utmost extent the grand object which the Eng
lsh nation had proposed in the celebrated bill for
the abolition of the slave trade" These motions
were taken into consideration, and referred to two
| committees. However, the Captain General OF the
island Of Cuba, and the municipal corporation, con-
sulate and patriotic society Of Havana, presented
with which 1t was wished to resolve on matter 30
| vital and grave.
See, therefore how the idea Of the abolition Of the
slave trade not original nor exclusive with Eng
land, but general intuition Of the age, which bad
no connection with policy, being purely humanitA-
rian. But more;
last coalition Of the kings Of Europe, the people
returned TO their old fetters, and Ferdinand VII
restored to the throne Of Spain, abrogated the
stitution Of ts monarchy by the celebrated decree
the same year this absoutist king, animated BY the
same spirit AZ the Constituent Cortes Of 1871 volun
tarily agreed with the king Of Great Britain that,
their sentiments being entirely in accord with
respect to the injustice and inhumanty Of the slave
trade he would take into consideration, with the
npeness Of thought which II required the means Of
| combining those sentiments with the wants OF his
| possessions in America" And, in fact, on the Sd
September. 1917 the treaty was celebrated with
England, by which, among other things, Spain pro
missed that after the 30th of May, 1890, the slave
traffic should remain abolished in ell her dominionss
she receiving on the Goth Of February 1918, four
hundred thousand pounds sterling-two millions o.
dollassas fu compensation for the losses sustained
by Spanish subjects in virtue Of the treaty.
Still more In the royal schedule Issued 10 Madria
ON the 10th December, 1877 relating to the fulhi-
ment Of the treaty. the preamble manifests the rcar
sons which originated the Introduction Of slaves INTO
the ccssaton of the traffic. adding at the same time,
that "the general enlightenment Of Europe and the