The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-22

Aoo&y - ~ OU000 8X2H0ns ;.
ADSH1ss o. THB JUEfA 10 rU CuBAN PATRIOTS.
BHoT.xns :-On the 22d day Of March last, the
Queen o. Spain issued general amnesty In favor Of
those who have been connected with the plans for
hberstiDg our country. the complete execution of
which was left to the discretion of the Captain-Ge-
neral Of the Island. This officer has removed that
obstacle, granting TO all, without distinction, the
liberty to return to the bosom Of their families and
It does not comport with the positions Of those who
sign this address, to remain silent in respect TO
measure whose only object is to arrest the mar III Of
the revolution, and which has only been dictated
under the force Of circumstances.
When We pledged our fortunes, our lives and our
honor to the regeneration Of Cuba-when we came
to continue in sad exile, labors for freedom we
did not act under the impulse of personal interest
nor Of error nor OF passion, but only Of that of
love for the noble cause of the emancipation Of our
country. 1t is not personal question to the pol-
tical refugees: it is question of principles, Of the
rights OF the people Of Cuba; it is question Of her
political existence, of her social welfare and OF her
future being. Has the struggle ended? No, for it
has hardly been begun !; the blood of our martyrs
i mas 5een sned, and we have sworn to continue to
the death or to victory.
The amnesties ofdespots are but means for contn-
uing and consolidating their gloomy policy blasphe-
mously masked with the name of clemency, and they
nave but one opportune moment, when the triumph
OF the oppressor has put end to every aspiration
i0r freedom In such moment the certainty of
power may afford to the tyraTt the mask Of benig-
nifty. The amnesty which the Queen Of Spain to-day
cOncedes to us, when she ia servilely begging from
Europe treaties which shall assure to her the pos
session OF her escaping prey, and when the people
Of Cuba anxlously wait, with renewed hopes, for
the moment when they shall fly to arms to continue
the struggle unto victory it is political anchorism,
asovereign fear to exhibit this ridiculous ostenta-
ton OF disputed power, and this forced magnanimi-
ty, compelled by the circumstances Of the position
in which its allies stand in reference to the existing
questions in America.
It is some time since the Court of Spain had enter
iupAf IF tot fal
tizans Of Cuba. The system of terror which 1t has
never abandoned and its constant expectation of an
imme date revolution in the island well known
led il to abandon entirely this project, and it had
to Madrid of Senior lsburz, the Spanish Minister to
England 1t was revived and carried out at the sng-
gestioa, doubtless Of the Courts of London and Pa
III, after the declaration Of war with Russia.
At this time, which seems to have been the act Of
Providence for the redemption of Cuba, the amnesty
is the result Of tie exgencies Of the moment and is
apallative to delay the revolution in Cuba for the
evident purpose OF avoiding the complicated pres
luton Is inevitable, and Cuba will be free. Who,
with such hopes, will not resist q desire to enjoy,
under expressions, the delights Of the fatherand
But what fatherland2 How have VIZ left it How
Is it to be returned to us2 The naked earth,
sceIe of tyranny that has no parallel in America;
community that Is the antthesis Of oil its neghbor
ing communities We left it enslaved, but at heart
with some appearance of stability; to-day we are
change Of its social condition. the loss Of all its
hopes, and the contamination of its ruin.
Yes, brothers, that Queen who is said to be in
clned to clemency and full Of Kindness and Of love
transformed our beautiful country into mansion Of
horror by the despotism Of her government and the
rapacity OF her agents. has signed already the de-
cree of our determination in the system Of African
apprenticeship, which has been established as the
first step Of policy that must shake the constitution
of our social system to its CENTRE or reduce Cuba to
the present condition of Jamaica, If the revolution
does not intervene to save her. The patriots Of
reason to attain political freedom; from this time
forth, the question is Of life or death, while at
the same time, that government which thus con-
demning Us to misery, and in the end, to the domi
nation Of the most degraded savages tells US we are
pardoned. What derision! What scornl
And does It truly pardon us2 Will it forget an
enmity which has not ceased, and whose continuance
menaces it with the loss Of the most precious jewel
q the crown Of Castilef Unhappy he who believes
make them victims Of an insiduous craft. The want
Of good faith in the Spanish government is proved in
history Open only the history of the revolution Of
her colonies on this continent, and see how the false
hoods Of the Spanish chiefs forced the leaders of the
people to demand that capitulations should be
sworn upon the affairs of the Omnipotent in presence
Of the Holy Sacrament; and still the pledges were
broken.
At the point which we have reached, the govern
mcnt, exhaustng the ecundingeniousness OF despo-
tsm, and the people drinking the drcgs of the bitter
cup OF suffering, no accommodation is possible. No
amnesty now, nor even freedom ITSELF at the hands
OF u cheasanro a. nuuu. WnIB we JnuS prepare to
achieve by conquest this greatest good OF civilized
nations, after so many noble Efforts SO many gene
Ious sacrifices, when the moment approaches for the
revolution to burst forth in ts strength and to tri
umph, our punishment is more sweet through the
hope Of freedom and the amnesty which opens to us
the portals of Cuba, will now prove to our tyrants
that its exics Of yesterday are to-day selfexiles,
until the end Of their mission and tho fnllment OF
their plighted faith.
GAsPAR BETANCOURT CIsNER0s,
DOMINGO DE GoICoRIA,
JOSE ELIAS HERNANDEZ,
P0RPIRIo VALIENsE.
New Orleans, May 9th, 1864.