The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-22

Spanish Reply 10 the Bi,hop Of oxsord-Hew
60 sssp the Cuban Slave Tr~ds
We publish elsewhere an article from the
Havana Diario de la Marina, in reply to the &C
cusations made by the Bishop Of Oxford, on the
floor of Parliament against Spain, for her per-
sistert liberation OF the slave trade In view
of the srict censorship exercised ovor the press
in Cuba, add that no article of any kind can BE-
published there without the signature of an Off
Ger OF the government to each sheet Of the
manuscript, tn Is published article may be looked
upon as the accepted reply of the govern
ment there to the accusations so often made
against it, of conniving at the slave trade.
For this reason its statements are worthy OF
more notice than they would be considered
merely az the emanations of an iron bound and
slavish press.
The writer claims that Spain has Loyalty full
filled her treaties and her international obliga-
tons relative to the slave trade; that she has
done 70 with even greater efforts than the con.
tracing Powers had q right to claim; that by
treaty she is only obliged to watch her coasts
and prevent landings; that the great extent of
these present an insurmountable obstacle to the
prevention of the Importation of negroes that
she has dismissed the government officers
wherever a landing has been effected ;
that though the act is specially prohibited by
the law of 1916, troops have been specially de-
tailed to search the plantations and count their
gangs; and that neither Spain nor any other
nation has ever had the power to cut up con-
traband trade by the roots. After developing
these points in style of involution that is pc
culiar to many modern Spanish writers, espe-
cially when they are trying to make good
case out of bad one, the writer filings back
some pretty severe hits at England aud her phi
lanthropy. He accuses her Of having fret
given the great impulse to the slave trade in
Cuba, and that for a long time the English en-
deavored to obtain the exclusive right to supply
Cuba with negroes and that now, while she
persecutes the trade, che is endeavoring to pre-
vent that island from procuring in Asia a sub
stitute for slave labor.
Such is the gist Of the argument made by the
Spanish authorities in Cuba in defence of their
coDnivance at the slave trade. 1t would be q
very good one if it were founded upon facts,
which, however, does not happen to be the case.
1t is notorious that Spain has not fulfilled her
treaties on this subject, except in appearance;
for when the treaties have been forwarded to
the officers In Cuba for their observance, pri-
vate instructions have been sent with them
to contrary purport. This custom of
Spain has not been confined to the slave trade,
but is usual with that Power in all circum.
stances. Her obligation goes much further
than merely watching her shores and prevent
ing the landing Of negroes-she agreed to abo-
fish the traffic in her dominions. The extent of
her coasts does not present an insurmountable
obstacle to the suppression Of the trade. The
slave landings take place in the most populous
parts OF the island. Negroes cannot be landed
elsewhere without making such preparations for
feeding them and conveying them to market
as must attract the attention of the authorities
who watch every unusual movement with great
JEALOUSY, fearing ii is some preparation for re
bellion. The dismissal Of officers who have
covered the landings Of negroes has been eel
dom practised and then only as blind and to
afford ground for professions of sincerity. The
detail Of troops for the purpose of searching
plantations has been mere ostentatious exhi-
billions of zeal; and the assertion that no other
government has been able to cut up this Illicit
trade by the roots is utterly devoid of founda-
ton. Every nation has done II except Spain.
We believe that II is possible, and even easy,
for the government of Spain to stop the slave
trade In Cuba, II il were so inclined. The great
majority Of the people Of Cuba are opposed
to the continued importation of negroes from
evils for the future. The constant supply of
black barbarians tends TO give numerical pre-
ponderance to the negro race, which the Cubans
wish to avoid, but Spain wishes to stimulate.
More than thirty years ago, when representa-
tives from Cuba were sent 10 the Cortes In
in Spain, with the unfulflled hope that they
would be admitted to seats, one Of the chief
points of their instructions was to endeavor to
induce the government to stop the African
slave trade. If the government would enact
the proper laws, and show disposition to full
them in good faith, the people Of Cuba would
voluntarily see that they were obeyed. Not
slave could I've landed but the government
would be furnished at once with all the informa-
ton, ard every illicity imported negro would
he arrested, without any need Of odious and
tyrannicsl searches by armed troops So strong
Is the popular will in this direction, that the
law would be executed without any effort on
the part Of the authorities to enforce Its obe-
diepce. But Spain has political reasons for
permitting the slave trade. She looks to war
Of races to perpetuate her hold upon the island,
and che wishes to augment the number of her
savage allies
We must therefore accept her plea of ina
bilisy TO enforce her own laws and international
obligations; and she must stand up 10 the conse-
quences Of this inability. When government
cannot comply with Its obligations to the