The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-26
Cubn-Is it Annexation or a West India
Confederation?

Confederation:
The report Of our special correspondent at
Havana, published in another column, OF
conversation with one Of the secret agents OF
the revolution in Cuba gives clear and prac-
teal idea of the views and wishes of the revo-
lutionists. Whatever. may be the position of
the gentleman in the present movement 1t 10
evident that he has intellectual grasp and some
breadth of view; and as We read his express
sions we find much that is in accordance with
the ideas of many of his countrymen with
whom we have conversed. long repressed
hatred of the unwise and exclusive rule OF Spain
breathes in every expression and longing
for some foreign sympathy and aid is apparent
throughout the conversation. But there are
two points, not 50 pungently expressed as
those to which we have referred, latent IN the
document, and to which we would more par
ticularly direct attention.
The aim of the present revolutionary leaders
is evidently independence, and not annexation
TO the United States. This is apparent in the
conditional form in which the speaker places
this result in his statement of the objects and
interests Of the war. These are, he says, 'the
independence of the island, the establishment
of Cuban republic, the abolition of slavery,
and the ultimate annexation of the coun-
try to the United States, when its
people are satisfied that it can enter
the Union as sovereign State and re-
main So" This ''when' is diplomatic sop,
evidently thrown in for the purpose of concili-
ating popular sympathy in this country for
the revolution. AT later period of the con-
versation q more frank expression of the OBJ
ject of the revolutionists is given in these
words: -s'For that reason the annexation
scheme has been postponed, and 1t is probable
that if the revolution is successful the Cubans
will adopt a new plan-viz., West India
confederation, uniting Cuba, Hayt st. Do
mingo, Porto Rico and several other islands
under federal government" This is exactly
the aim and tendency Of the revolution, as the
HERALD pointed out some time since in review
ing the movements now going on in the Amer
lean Mediterranean. But it matters little what
the present aims of the leaders are; all Of
these islands will be more prosperous and
happy under the protection and control of the
United States, to which they are all tending,
than in any other connection.
There is another idea, not so directly given
expression, in the words Of the speaker. but
yet evident in his mind to those who read this
document Understandings. His words are
these :-'The present condition Of the revo-
luton will not permit me to say what will be
the solution of the slavery question This
means that the speaker, an emissary from
the Eastern department, is not entirely in ac-
cord with those Of the Western department.
The former want revolution at all hazards; the
latter want revolution, but they want also
to retain their slaves. IL is this fact which has
prevented the wealthy planis-s 81 the West
from following the lead OF the In the East
and thus making the movement general In the
whole island. BY this Yaycring course the
Havana capitalists have prepared the ground
| for the coming Of General Dulce, with concli-
also greater danger than what would have
accrued to them had they promptly cc-operated
with their Eastern compatriots and driven the
Spanards everywhere to the shelter of the
guns Of their ships. BY their inaction they
are enabling the colonial authorities to throw
all their forces upon the insurgents in the
Eastern department, and perhaps to drive
them to the Businesses of the country and an
imitation of the scenes of st. Domingo. The
war in Cuba may thus degenerate into servie
war, whatever views the Cuban leaders may
now entertain regarding independence or an
nexation.