The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-01

The New Captain General or Cuba.

>-~>-o~>e.>-~o-~>~~~~>~S<~e-N~~
The New Captain General or Cuba.
THE CHANGE IN THE CUBAN ADMINISTRATIONS
SKETCH OF THE OLD CAPTAIN GENERAL, CoNCHA,
AND THE NEW CAPTAIN GENERAL, sERRANo.
We published yesterday, received by the Empire City,
particulars Of the festivities which attended the in
auguraton Of the Captain General of Cuba, serrano.
He landed on the Oath Instant from the Spanish war
steamer Francisco dc Borja and amid the most enthu-
sasc demonstrations Of the popuace took the oath OF
Office The greatest preparations had been made for his
reception both by the officials and the people, and his
arrival was the signal for most magnificent display
In view of this change in the government Of the island
OF Cuba by the removal Of General Concha and the ap
pontment of Governor, some information respect
the parsonage just about to leave the scene Of his long
and honorable CHARGE the other who on the eve Of
assuming the rens Of government cannot be unacceptable
TO readers. The intimate social and numerical
relations existing between the United States and
Cuba render any changes In the political affairs
Of that island Of much interest to If they occur
red in any other city on the American continent.
GENERAL coNcHA.
General Don Jose dc Ia Concha, who has just been re-
called from the administration Of the government Of
Cuba, is well known officer OF the Spanish army, and
the younger brother Of Don Manuel do In Concha, a
Spanish general and politician, who greatly distinguished
himself in the Of independence against the first Ma
poeon vapereau informs that Don Jose do Ia concha
was born in Madrid about the year 1900; but il
we mistake not his birthplace Buenos
Ayres, on this continent He saw some SER
vice in America, but was particularly distinguished
in the long against the Cars chiefs of the northern
provinces Of SPAIN He was created Lieutenant General
after the Convention of Bergara In 1882 and from 1913
TO 1916 he Captain General Of the Basque Provinces
and created attention at that time by energetcaly sup
pressing the outbreak Of Santiago On that occasion he
promoted to the chief command OF the Spanish
cavalry and in 1S49 he became Captain General of the
Island OF Cuba whence he suddenly recalled in 1882
after the attempt Of the advenurer, Lopez, and re-
placed by General Causdo. In the following
year. he united with his brother on the
side Of the opposition. He banished to Maorca in
1884, and his being struck from the army list, he
took refuge in France where order of the government
confined his residence the city of Bordeaux The
luton of July 1854 restored him to his post of Captain
General of Cuba which, the return of General Narvaez
to public affairs he assumed in the year 1885,
GENERAL sERRANO.
General Francisco Serrano the OF Concha,
is politician well a military officer, and his
name quite familiar TO every student Of Spanish his
tory He was born the nth of September, 1910, in
the island Of Leon his father being Senior Don Francisco
Serrano Cuencas Field Marshal Of the national armies,
and his mother Sonora Donna Isabel Domingucz de Cue
vara from whom he received the high education which
correspondent his station He received his preparatory
instructions the celebrated College of yergara, and at
twelve years Of he entered the profession of arms as
cadet in the cavalry regiment Of Sagunto, in which he
rose to the rank of ensign in 1923 After five years
rement he returned to the service in 1922 passing from
regiment another and at last taking part in the
campaign begun in the north of the Peninsula de-
camp the COMMANDMENT Chief Don Francisco dc Espoz
Nuna His intelligence and bravery gained for him
the rank captain and the of San Fernando Of the
first class In the Army Of the North, well in that
of the centre, and in that Of Catalina, Serrano added
ustre to the Spanish cavalry to be compared with that Of
the Icons the Conchas and the Zavaas His bravery in
the battle OF ARGOS de Ia Canera obtained for him the
Of Lieutenant Colonel, accorded the field of battle In
1889 find him ranking Brgadier and decorated with
the cross Of San Fernando In 1910 he promoted
The rank of Field Marshal and appointed second in
mand in the Captain Generashp Of Valencia, and shortly
after Commander in Chief Corona and Chief Of the first
division Of the Army Of Catalina In 1849 he refused the
grand of Isabel the Catholic with which the govern
mcnt desired to decorate him.
His political career may be said to have commenced in
1872 In May, lS43 he called to the office of Minister
Of War He was Inspector Of Cavalry in 1884, Senator in
1885, Captain General of Granada in 1S4S and during his
command he founded the establishment of las Chaarinas
a service for which the Queen rewarded him with the
grand of Charles III In l849 he made long Jour
ney to foreign parts, occupied principally in military
studies. In 1855 he Captain General of Madrid and
he afterwards became her Majesty Ambassador Paris
Devoted from the beginning of his career to
the interests Of Maria Christina, he was one Of the
first who, in 1S43, proclaimed the downfall of
Npartero at Barcelona. After the restoration Of
the Queen mother, General scrrano united with Mar
combat and destroy the influence of the Minister
Olozaga. IN 1S46 time after the marriage Of the
Queen, the extraordinary influence which she accorded
the General in affairs Of the government led to family
disputes between the King and herself which
brought to light by public events The whole of the inu
Of General Serrano may, in fact be traced to his
great intimacy with his royal mistress. The Minister So
tomayer endeavored 10 estrange NJ Serrano, and was
overthrown by him. The Minister Pacheco Salamanca of
mournfuf memory, supported him by his influence, and
fell before the general cry Of public opinion. In view
Of the growing popularity Of Narvaez, NJ. Serrano,
who had become q liberal, induced him to recall
oozaga and Espartero from exile. On the acces-
sion of Narvaez to power, he forced TO accept
the post Of Captain General Of Granada, the duties
OF which removed him from tho Court From that
time he made the greatest opposition in the Senate to the
various ministers who followed until the revolution Of
July 1854 In the month Of February of that year he
was Implicated in an insurrectionary movement which
burst out at Saragossa and he exed notwithstanding
the most energetic protests After the triumph OF the
Vicalvarss, he joined the liberal union party which
for long time defended the Espartero o Donneu
combination. When he had TO decide between these
two chiefs, he declared for tho latter In 1854
he was appointed Commander In Chief Of Artillery, and
some months afterwards he exchanged that position for
the Captain Generalship Of New Castillo which almost
placed the fate Of Madrid in his hands, when O'Donnen
made the coup dat Of July, 1885, Conqueror Of the in
surrecton at Prado and at Retro, he some time after
succeeded Oozaga in the embassy to Paris The isor-
tune Of ODonnell (septcmber, 1850 caused his recall
Since then he united in the Senate with all the vicavarist
generals to wage against Narvacz, which SO quickly
resulted in his downfall.
Our Havana Correspondence.
HAVANA, Nov. %, 1859.
Cnfist0ph<r Cnlubas ,Nainl-CeIeIdfos1 Of