The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1859-02-05
WHO ARE THE PEOPLE OF CUBAf

Many of the northern papers adopt the
ridiculous 6ctions of the Madrid and Havana
press, which represents the people of Cuba
as, to man, iu favor of the continuance Of
Spanish dominion over that island, and hosy
tile to all movements for the independence
OF the island or its annexation to the United
States. 70 sustain this absurdity, the reso.
lutions and addresses of the ayuntamientos
Of towns and other officials and bodies cor
porate asseverating the most firm loyalty and
devotion, are published to the world, and the
conclusion deduced from them that Cuba
still deserves the proud title Of "ever.faith-
full isle"
This absurdity ID calculated to deceive
iIl-niOrmed people in this country, who are
in favor Of the emancipation of the island
from the oppressive and vexatious govern
ment of the Spanish Viceroyalty, but whose
conscieuces are nightly disturbed lest their
sympathies may be thrown away upon au
ungrateful and unappreciative people.
Now, for the benefit Of all such persons
as well as to vindicate the character of the
Cubans, we desire to proclaim-what ought
to be known to all Intelligent persons-that
the population Of Cuba consists of natives
and foreigners, chiefly Spnish-of Office
holders and people-and that none but
SpaniardS are allowed to hold public Offices
that nothing is doue, of a public nature,
without the sanction and suggestion of the
government; that the press is subjected to
a rigid censorship; that the only "legiti
mate people" of Cuba, whose will SHOULD,
according to our political maxim, control AM
shape the government of the island, are
neither permitted to take part in any public
affairs, nor express, in any form, their de-
sres, when they conflict with those of the
Spanish off ;ials. When, therefore, it is
declared that the people Of Cuba are faithful
to the Spanish Government, and desire no
change or transfer of the island, It must be
understood as the will and sentiment and
interest of the Spanish ofhce-holders and
monopolists OH the island, and for that very
reason, as we'll as for many other reasons, j.
the very reverse of the real feeling and d,-
sire of the Cubans, the rightful proprietor
of the island.
1t would require a most uu>Catalan lacb
of selfshness and recklessness, if the Span
ilrds on the island the fifty thousand Off
GERS and employees-were not in favor OF
the Continuance of the Government that
feeds and nourishes them or for the hun
dccd thousanl other CatalanS, who grow rich
upon the monopoly of the trade of thr
island, to advocate the abolition of that
monopoly. Equally unnatural and illogical
wouli it be, in the Cubans who are exclud, d
from office by the Spanish officials, and VIII
are subjected to an enormous tax to enrich
the manufacturers tradesmen and agricultu,
rsts of Spain, to desire the continuance OF
the Spanish rule.
We present the subject entirely in the
view of interest and policy, without taking
into account that natural hostility of all
people to the authority that degrades and
insults them. For the Cuban not to hate
the foreign tyrant who thus uses him, would
be a reversal of the laws of nature. There
can, therefore, be no doubt as to the senti-
ment which so many years ago, drove the
Spaniard from all his other colonies on this
continent. Their insular position alone has
prevented the Cubans from achieving the
same results by the same means.
~ 0. Della.