Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-21
CUBA.

sion of which may not be deemed either i'll
timed or uninteresting.
Until Cuba shall become incorporated with
the United States, it will always be the scene
of tumuts and disturbances. Spain will ever
be on the tenter hooks, England and France
will be FESTIVE and suspicious, and the Creole
inhabitants will be the objects of suspicion and
jealous vigilance that will tend to increase
their dislike of Spanish rule, and to stimulate
that vital impulse of independence that all
people must sooner or later catch who live
within the shadow of the great model republic
Of the New World.
Whether the suspicious of Cuban disaHec-
ton that SO alarmed the Governor-general, and
led him to order the arrest and imprisonment
of many persons, were well grounded, we can
not yet undertake to say. But whether well,
or illgrounded, his conduct must inevitably
result in producing dsafection.
Among those whom the Cuban authorities
have lately seized as traitors-that is, as patri
otic revolutionists-are men the most inhuen-
tial and most respectfully connected of any in
Cuba. Jose Cintra, arrested at Havana is a
lawyer OF great eminence, and high social stand
ing, holding an ONCE under the government
similar to that of our Corporation Counsel
Miguel Albania, for whom an order of arrest
was issued, but who escaped from the city, is
also prominent man. In Matanzas, the ar.
rests included such men as Jose Gener, a dis.
tinguished Catalan; Beningo Gener, wealthy
planter; Jose Oveida, another wealthy planter,
and Francisco de la o. Garcia, the most prom
inent man in Matanzas.
If such prominent and influential men have
really been engaged in hostile movements
against the Government, then indeed it is in
critical condition. A revolution that works
downwards-that begins with the upper classes
and takes in the lower classes is the most for
midable of all revolutions. II combines all the
elements indicated by those two terms, patriot
ism and interest. 1t binds together with re-
sstless sympathy, the high and the low, the
rich and the poor, the bad and the good, the
Young and the old, the patriot and the merce.
nary No popular movement having so broad
and 50 solid foundation can be despised It
boasts the three essential qualities, intellect,
morale and sinew.
But if the suspected disahection is only the
idle coinage Of the governors brain, then the
cruel and degrading punishment inflicted on
prominent men will inevitably tend to en-.
gender discontents and disturbances. The peo-
pie will argue, that if great and loyal subjects
who have committed no offence are liable to
be, seized and imprisoned on idle and unbound
ed suspicion, the Spanish yoke is burden too
grievous to be borne. They would rather be
punished for something than nothing. From
loyal, but suspected subjects, they will soon
become either secret or open enemies.
Nor will they be without the hope Of foreign
aid. They are aware that whilst our govern.
ment disclaims all sympathy with illbustering
expeditions, there is yet strong and glowing
Cuba feeling among the people of this country.
They viii proceed at once to enlist that feel
ing, and to organize plan that will enable
them TO throw off the Spanish yoke.
While we are, and from the first have been
in favor Of the acquisition Of Cuba, yet we are
not Fillibusters. But we are not quite certain
that the course Of the present Administration
las not had the effect Of increasing that wild
and lawless but chivalrous spirit Of conquest
that animates those who are designated Fill
busteros. II came into power, as it was uni
versally understood, in favor Of the acquisition
Of Cuba. There we're but three modes OF ef
feeling that object. One was by purchase, one
by war, one by Filibustering. The first failed.
and it is not unlikely that it's failure was in
part attributable to the fact that distinguished
gentleman, who had the reputation at home
aud abroad Of being flaming Fillibuster, was
sent as Minister 10 Spain. The second mode,
by war, failed. The President, in his first
messages, as We lately took occasion to show,
took high ground. He declared, in effect, that
the injuries and insults that we had received
from Spain we're insufferable, and that, unless
speedily and satisfactorily atoned for, there was
no remedy but that Of war. Time has passed
Those injuries and insults are still unatoned
for As time has passed, instead Of becoming
more violent, the Administration has grown
vastly more pacific. Instead Of breathing, as
it did, "threatenings and slaughter" IT has
become as gentle as Sucking dove"
The third mode-by fllibustering was
promptly cut up by the roots. They we're met
by Executive fulminations that appalled, the
timid and deferred the brave. But the main
cause that operated to bring private ex petitions
against Cuba into dsrepute and reconciled the
people 10 the Executive proclamatons against
} them, was the impression, which was univer-
sal, that the Government itself intended either
BY diplomacy or war--justi6able war-to &C.
qaire Cuba. II has signaly and altogether
failed, rs far as we arc informed, to do so. This
failure has produced discomfort as all failures
do and should. Men find that we are farther
of from Cuba now than we were three years
ago, and as a consequence, fllibuster stock will