The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-13


Events are pointing conclusively to an ap-
preaching termination Of Spanish dominion on
the western shores Of the Atlantic, and with
the new order Of things new questions of pub
lie interest are cropping out. Whether Presi-
dent Johnson has or has not sent Mr.. Gushing
to Madrid to talk about a purchase of Cuba,
and, if such be the case, whether he succeed or
fail in his mission, are both matters of little
Importance. Long before the talking Powers
shall have settled upon anything new compl-
cations will have changed the entire aspect of
the case. 1t is not the unexpected revolution
in Cuba nor the sudden overturn of the Bour-
bon dynasty in Spain which have alone pro-
duced the results we to-day witness, though
their concomitant appearance has, no doubt,
assisted in producing the present situation.
But we must 60 farther back to find the germ
of the events of to-day, and in 80 doing we
shall find that there are new complications
and new ideas attending the old and much
vexed Cuba question.
1t will be recollected that few years since,
under the auspices Of General Raez, actual
President Of the Dominican republic, Spanish
expedition from Cuba endeavored to bring st.
Domingo again under the yoke Of Spain. The
result was revolutionary movement there,
under the leadership of General Cabral, which
triumphed for time, and Baez and his Spanish
contingent were driven from the island. Gen.
eral Baez subsequently continued his machina-
tiNns and about year since overthrow the
administration of President Cabral. The latter,
before succumbing to the new revolution sent
his Minister Of Finance to Washington to
endeavor to raise money by lease or sale Of
the Bay of SANTANA to the United States. Fail
ing in this the envoy sounded the Cabinet as
to the reception the Dominican republic might
meet with if it made application for admission
as State Of the Union. It is this step which
is covertly referred to by President Johnson in
his Message.
Cabral and his friends, failing in their mission
at Washington, were obliged to give way before
Baez and fee the island. Not long after this
| event disturbances began to take place in Porto
Rico, and number Of Dominican officers
were found mixed up in them. With the help
of several thousand soldiers from Cuba the
| Spanish government was enabled to quell the
| troubles in Porto Rico, and its prisons are
still filed with political prisoners. Suddenly,
and with hardly note of warning, disturb
ances follow in that portion of Cuba nearest
to St. Domingo, and General Marcano, with
several other prominent Dominican officers,
is found leading the Cubans in the conflicts.
1t is not the least curious of the recent and
apparently unimportant events in these islands
that Santa Anna, banished from Havana,
ostensibly for intriguing against Mexico, de-
parts thence for st. Domingo, instead of going
to either of his luxurious homes at St. Thomas
and Turbaco. There Cabral is plotting and
Baez is ruling with precarious sway.
The spontaneous revolution which has so
suddenly acquired possession Of one-half Of
| the island of Cuba is but one of the echoes of
the question the Dominican envoy put to Mr..
| Seward a few months ago, and other echoes
| will come in due course. Spain is too deeply
| concerned with her own internal troubles and
| a domestic revolution which is only now
assuming its true character to be able to afford
| effective assistance to its colonial governors,
who are sending their signals Of distress to the
mother country to an extent which promises
soon to give large dividends to the Cuban
Cable Telegraph Company. The revolutionary
movements of Cuba, Porto Rico and St.
Domingo must burn out unimpeded by
foreign Intervention, to their natural results,
whether these be simply the purging of foul
chimney or the reduction Of the social and
political edifices to q mass of cinders. Among
these results will be the complete extinction
of slavery in the West India islands. The
parties 10 the conflict in Cuba are as yet only
coquetting with the question, which Is rapidly
forcing itself to the first place. A few of the
insurgent planters have liberated and armed
their slaves. Others>will take this course;
| for II they do not it is evident the Spanish
authorities will adopt it in their own behalf.
When this course is adopted in the large sugar
| producing district OF Cuba 1t will place one
hundred thousand men in the field and reduce
the Spanish authorities to the verge Of ruin.
| Instead, therefore, of sending ENJOYS to
Madrid to make an offer to the Spanish gov
ernment-which has been so often rejected as
| to make IL indecorous for us to refer to 1t
again--the best thing the President can do
will be simply to remind the Spanish Minis
ter at Washington Of the time-honored policy
of the United States in recognizing govern
ments de .facto, and which has 80 recently
given such eminent satisfaction to the present
rulers of SPAIN. As soon as Spain proves
incompetent to hold and govern its colonies on
our shores peacefully we must recognize what
ever actual government we find in possession.
The history of 1920 to 1880 cannot be repeated.
Then pirates and privateers swarmed in Ameri
can waters, and United States ships were
forced to pursue them into the undefended
harbors of Cuba TO rid the commerce Of the
L a L..