The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-25
Ritlrn,und Dispatth.
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER Is, 1868.
The West Indies.

di,;on of abominable misusage and degraaa-
ton. 1t is lamentable that such rich gii's
os God 70 man should be SO abused and
nerverted from the good they might do.
Cnba is in state of ferment. An in
surrectionary spirit extends ever it in all
directions, while the home government OF
Spain remains in an intermediate ana
unsettled condition. The Captain-Generai'
LrHsuSpI, endeavors to maintain the Span
;sh rule, and very vigilantly cxerts Els
means to thwsrt the insurrectionists. HIS
official reports, one after another, announce
that insurrect;on is crushed and one crush
;nr seems to be as steadily succeeded 81
the necessity for another.
These instructions Of course are under
stood to be instructions Of the citizens OF
Cuba, not negroes, who are still slaves, but
whom the Provisional Governmental Madrid
have indicated purpose to set free--under
a system, probably, of gradual emancipa-
ton. Whether the insurrectionists succeed
or not, there is probably to be period OF
turbulence and social disorder in Cuba that
will derange its industry and reduce Its
production, to the serious injury OF the
trade of the civilized races, the staples OF
the island being articles of the first neceS-
sity.
The next finest island of the group-that
OF St. Domingo, now divided into the negro
republics of Hayti and St. Domingo-is OF
no very great Importance for its present
value 70 commerce for although one OF the
richest spots Of earth, under negro rule lis
production has dwindled to insIgnlfcance.
Revolution prevails in both Republics and
SALNAvE, of Hayti, and BAEz, of st. Do
mingo, usurpers, are apparently as far of
to day from conquering the parties opposed
to them as ever. The war is q wretched
affair. The tatterdermalion and meagre
forces arrayed against each other, and the
savage manner in which their contemplate
conflicts are conducted, are fit samples of
negro capabilities and instincts. A fair
and,-once one Of the brightest, richest,
and happiest of the sea-has been thus
reduced to an object of contempt and
loathing.
The British islands are quiet and squa-
lid, and present insignificant results in
comparison with the number of inhabi-
tants and the fertility of their soil.
This magnificent group of islands pre-
sen.s as a whole sad, sad picture. With
capabilities of production almost fabulous,
their contributions to commerce are ridicu-
lously meagre. They present everywhere
tendencies to barbarism which are appall-
ing to the philanthropist, and prove the
existence of great evil. And what is 1t
Is it not consequence of the attempt to
hand over government to race incapable
themselves of maintaining state of civil
cation
What is to be the fate of these islands
We shall in time see that necessity will
taking them in hand. 1t will not be posi-
bic for a practical, energetic, ingenious,
and enterprising people, such as inhabit
this American republic, to remain listless
spectators of the abominable condition of
those rich islands. They could not if they
would. The rich gifts of the Creator to
man must sooner or later be appropriated
efficiently to his use and advantage; and
where they are wasted by those who have
custody of them, there will come others who
will turn out the custodians and make
available the natural wealth they abused.
1t may be pleasing to some people to con-
slider that such gifts are for the saints, and,
assuming themselves to be the saints, take
possession of them. And while everybody
else would regard this great delusion, it
would, nevertheless, be INDUCED in the line
of Providential dispensation, in which We
believe.
The United States, then must, be the
Power to regenerate the rich West India
islands. They must do it; they cannot
avoid it. And when ends the madness which
rules the day in this country-a madness
which leads to the idolizing of the unfor-
tunate race which has innocently been the
means Of the ruin of the Atlantic Indies
the Government will turn its attention. to
this great subject. When it does, there
must be work, production, and thrift in the
West Indies.