The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-18
IHE sparIsR AND CUBAN ouEsrIoNs-


Spain is obviously in precarious and I'M
satisfactory state, notwithstanding the accom-
plished revolution, almost bloodless, OF which
She has been the theater. Cuba is manifestly
in bad way, despite the reformatory pro.
gramme which the provisional government OF
the mother country has announced for the
modification of the disaffected and insurrec- |
tionary classes in that long misgoverned,
oppressed and plundered colony As far as
/ American interests as well as Cuban interests
are concerned, the chief importance OF the
Spanish question is the relation which that
question bears to the situation and destiny OF
Cuba. 1t is quite clear that, viewed In this
relation, the aspect of affairs in Spain is far
less suspicious and assuring than it was i'm
mediately after the successful coup detat
against the Bourbon dynasty. There was
something suspicious in the facility OF that
revolutionary stroke. 1t was not the compile
ton of drama, but only the first act; the
plot is yet to be unfolded; the catastrophe no
one can precisely divine; while, as each new
scene opens, the prospect is more and more
shrouded with doubts and gloomy appre-
tensions. 1t now appears that the
revolution was as superficial as 1t
was easy. It decided nothing but the
expulsion of the Bourbons from power.
Whether Spain shall be monarchical or re-
publican if the latter, whether she shall be
federal or consolidated republic, are ques-
tons which are scarcely nearer to definite So
| luton at this moment than they were the day
| when Queen Isabella fled from her kingdom,
| and left a vacant throne to perplex, and per-
haps distract, the revolutionary coalition that
dethroned her. If any progress has been made
| it would seem to be, from latest accounts from
Madrid, towards the installation of new
dynasty, and the perpetuation of monarchi-
cal government, without fundamental change
in any important particular. Now such re-
suit would be peculiarly unfavorable to the
hopes of the Cubans. Nothing short of COM
plete independence OF the mother country
can secure to them the franchises and the qua
rantees that they so greatly need, except such
political conversion as will make Spain,
whether nominally republic or monarchy,
so far in point of fact representative repub-
lie that Cubans may participate, on an
equal footing with the most favored
of the Spanish population, in shaping
its laws and deciding its policy. The en-.
thusiastic demonstration at Madrid in favor
of monarchy must sound to the Cubans like
the knell to any dream that they may have
cherished of political regeneration and com
mercial Liberation as q part of the Spanish
dominions. They can hardly now do less
than view with suspicion the reforms pro
missed under the administration of Captain
General Dulce, whose advent to the island ap
pears to be intentionally delayed in the hops
that the instruction may be repressed by
fair promises until the home government il
sufficiently settled and invigorated to dea
with the insurgents with the strong hand
But will it be possible to cajole the
Cubans into quiet acquiescence in the indie
finite prolongation of period of taxation ant
Misrepresentation This they may as
suredly depend upon,E that unless, in th'
first flush of its liberal impulses, the new
government shall give them substantial
pledges of the desiderated reforms, it will be
vain to look afterwards to that quarter TO
|
change in their situation that they would NJ
longer be exposed hereafter to the evils
colonial dependency evils which they hav
so bitterly and SO long experienced in tn
past.
Meanwhile, all is uncertain, or worse thar
uncertain, as regards the relations of Cub
and Spain. 1t becomes every day more evi
dent that the interests, as the ultimate destin
of Cuba are identified with this continent
and not with any part of the old world. Tn
sooner she is cut loose from her presen
anomalous connection, the speedier will b
her entrance into her proper pathway of com
mercial prosperity and political redemption
sagacious policy on the part of the Spanis
: government would anticipate this event, an
, smooth the way for its inevitable approach
If the new rulers of Spain will look fact
., squarely in the face, and obtain the larges
indemnity possible for the final relinquisf
ment of the island; and the only quarter
which they could look for such indemnit
would be the United States.