The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-26

Conversation wslh nm Insargcnt LeaIer--
Views ana Wishes az she Cnbuns.

men, Mao had reason 10 besleve entirely sympar
thized with the instruction gong on in the island
stated that il would be very agreeable TO me to
meet some representative Cuban with knowledge
OF the objects and views OF the present revolution,
and who would feel at liberty to converse freely with
me upon the subject and permit the publication OF
his statements and facts. With the customary eau
ton of this people no definite response was made.
few nights after was called upon by one OF the
gentlemen present with q request to take short
ride in his voante. assented and after riding for
an hour we halted before residence which, judg
ing from its 'front.' might have been wall, stable
or very plain dwelling house. My companion
alighted. requested me to do the same and as we
touched the ground vehicle moved rapidly away.
We entered the building before US and were imme-
diately ushered into side room, where were seated
several persons, smoking and drinking light wine,
had met most OF them before; but one-a slim gen.
tleman, with dark eyes and hair, apparently some
forty-nve years OF age-wasa stranger to me. was
presented to him as an American, and was informed
that he would be pleased to converse with me upon
the subject Of Cuban independence. He intimatcd
to me that he had been identified with the present
nsurrection since Its inception and had full KNOW
ledge OF It, He DESTROYS that the people OF the
United States should be made acquainted with it, its
objects and purposes; and for this reason, at the
suggestion OF some Of his friends had consented to
talk with me upon the subject though in the present
condition Of affairs his so doing might result disas
trously to himself He only stipulated for entire Sc
crecy IN reference to his name and character. / Of
course assented to this and opened the conversation
by remarking:-
II now understand the present movement in the
island TO have been long projected and that IL was
entirely Independent Of the revolution in spain.
What are lis objects and ntents ?"
lie answered me in English with but slight accent,
as follows
'Cubans have projected the revolution against
Spain since many years, and the present movement
would have been irresistible from its inception. mad
not the patriots made the mistake Of putting them
selves under the orders of COMMITTEES composed or
some rich and prominent persons OF Havana. These
persons hoped that the American people, after the
war against the South, would come to Cuba to take
q JUST retaliation upon Spain for her reacherous be-
havior towards The United States during the war-lt
being well known that the city OF Havana ana other
places OF this island formed the market OF the con-
federates, where they supplied themselves with
arms, powder ana ammunition Of every knd-and
on account Of the fact that Spain was the nation
which proposed to France and England the Mexican
expedition, taking advantage OF the civil war to
cripple the United States forever. The government
at Washington did not see t to call the attention Of
the people OF the two sections from their quar-
res to exterior questions Cuba had O slave popula.
ton and the Union had the right to question the
Spanish government concerning the matter and OF
presenting the old claims she had against spain.
Mr.. Seward came to Havana and pronounced
friendly speech In the Captain Generals
palace, eulogizing Spain, notwithstanding the
hatred Of that Captain General and Of
the Spanish government towards the United States.
From that moment this committee lost all hope OF
obtaining anything from the Union, and they re-
solved to make the greatest efforts to obtain liberal
reforms from Spain. They very soon learned that
the government at Madrid was always ready to
promise, but never to fulfil, and they became i'm
pressed with the conviction that revolution in
Cuba would involve the total ruin OF the country.
They that in order to be free II would be
sary to change their position Of rich planters to that
n believed that
revolution would reduce Cuba to the condition OF
Hayti, and so their assistance to the revoluonists
was lukewarm and tardy. True tiley did not entirely
separate themselves from them, but they did all
they could TO avoid any revolutionary m0veme mt.
Meanwhile Carlos M. Cespedes Pedro Flgueredo and
other prominent persons Of Bayamo and Puerto
Principe continued the work OF preparing the revo
luton, using every means III their power, and max
ing all things subservient thereto, and relying upon
the cooperation Of the Havana committee. This
committee failed 10 purchase arms, as was expected
Of it-failed to assist in any eectual way the pa
triots-nor have they done so though they have now
thrown themselves into war against spain. The
objects and intents Of this war are the independence
Of the island, the establishment OF cuban republic,
the abolition Of slavery and the ultimate annexation
OF the country to the United States when It's people
are satisfied that 1t can enter the Union Us sovc-
reign State and remain 40.
then asked OF the policy OF Spain In It's relations
to Cuba for years past and the reasons why CuDans
believe that any liberal reform established IN the
peninsula would not be extended TO them.
"Cuba has never enjoyed liberal laws from Spain, y
he responded. Gin 1885 General Lorenzo proclaimed
the Spanish constitution Ill the
ana he was prosecuted by all the Spanish residents
and the spanish troops. In 1885 Spain after reyo-
luton similar to the present, announced new con
sitution which was 10 be made by the Con sttuent
Cortes, ana Cuban Deputies were called to assist
IN the great work Of Spanish regeneration. Cuba
sent her Deputies and when they arrived In spain
they were not admitted to the Cortes on the ground
that the provinces beyond the sea would be gov
erped by especial laws. The Cubans have ever since
been conslde, ed conquered people. In tue constl-
tuition made by the Constituent Cores mentioned IN
1887, there is this article The colonial provinces
Will be governed by special laws These laws have
never arrived; they nave never been made. CUBA
greatest tyranny. Many liberal changes have been
made In the spanish government during these
thirtytwo years. but they have not Affected the SAD
condition OF Cuba spain IL very poor. cuba,
"a colony gives her much money. cuba
u the special prize Of an spanish ome,ais
OF slave traders, and all these combined are sum
cent TO perpetuate the existing yoke OF SPAIN since
the 10Th OF September Spain has had ample time to
change the colonial system, 10 prepare liberal laws
to enacted by the Constituent C0rte5 but tne pro-
visional government ut Madrid has preserved mere
precisely the same rule a. before the revolution
THAT government says that Cuba and Porto Rico snail
be governed literally and under laws emanating rom
the Cortes. May be those laws VIII De enacted. May
be Cuban Deputies Will be admitted 10 that Cortes
Nav be not. All we know Is that CUBA 10 now gov
erned without laws, a. she has BEEN ana at the des
potic viii Of q military commander The people or
telling her TO wait until the Cortes sna decde what
form Of government shall be given the people, Why
ali these monthsS A liberal provisional government
has been established there, and habit Deen Just
similar thing would nave been done Tor cuba
In reference To secret societies my Informant
said:--"Tnele have been many secret organizations
since the establishment OF the South American re-
pubics Ia this island, having in view the ndepend-
ence Of cuba. Two, under the title OF 'Boliyar's
suns (lsos Solcs de Bolivar ana 'Ihe BACK Eagle
tIl Aguila Negra) were the nrst. After these, from
1929 TO 1885, Cuba has ever been the theatre OF secret
revolutionary organizations. Peoli, Rojo, Betan-
court, Aguero, Lopez and Pinto have been the vic
tins Masonry has been powerful instrument In
advancing revolutionary Ideas: but only an instru-
ment There are mauy Spaniards throughout the
lodges In the island and their sympathies are Win
their countrymen and against cuban independence
In answer to an inquiry II The supporters OF tle re-
vouti0n were generally In accord with each other.
he continued:-"All those VINO are connected with
the movement are looking for independence. In
Havana many OF the very rich Cubahs desire the I'M
mediate anne xaton to tho United states IN order 70
avoid the ruin OF The country but tue great mass OF
the people realize mat the policy OF the United states
contrary TO the true interest OF that great repub
lic Every one sees that the American statesmen are
entirely taken up In domestic affairs and pay no
attention to the surcrings Of people who wish To
han A m A.