New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-12
THE REVOLUTION IN CUBA.

Tho Island of Cuba Is once more the theater OF a
revolutionary movement, which 1T is evident from
edyices received here through independent sources
vsry serious affair, although the CaptainGeeral
has persstently endeavOred to suppress the truth
regarding il so far as bis control OF the cuban Ter
aims of the Gulf Cable enables him to do So Inc
oovement. though not general seems to be pretty
extensive in its ramfcations but the priuelpal scene
of the actual revolt is the Eastern district OF INC
Island where the instruction has assumed an organ
lied form and where it finds leaders ana supporters
among the most wealthy and respectable class OF 'he
population The operations in the East are now
ever directed and controlled by Revolutionary
Junta at Havana which has issued an address 10 the
entire people of Cuba, calling upon them to unite
their energies for the purpose Of attaining denver
ance from the despotism which has hitherto ruled
the Island with an iron hand. To appreciate Alright
the character and aims Of this sudden revolt it will
lac necessary TO consider the nature of the relations
hitherto existing between Cuba and the mother
country.
TIE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA.
Although one of the greatest colOnizing Powers OF
modern times, Spain has never succeeded III binding
70 her. by the ties of loyal and alectOnae attach
ment any of the numerous dependencies she has
owned in the New World. Once the mistress OF
Louisiana and Florida, of Mexico, of the whole OF
Central America, and of nearly twO-thirds OF the
OF %
large part of the Antilles her rule in the Western
hemisphere is at present confined to the two islands
Of Cuba and Porto Rico, with their adjacent isetS
And with the exception Of Louisiana she lost all
these splendid possessions through revolution pro-
voked by OppressOn-by a system of government
which lameutably shOrt-sighted and intensely sell
fish, exactod everything from the colonies in the
shape of contributions to the wealth of the mother
country. and gave nothing back to them in return
for the riches which they poured into her lap. I'M
moved by the lessons of bitter experience, she has
continued TO pursue the same course toward Cuba
which led the people of the continent from Chill to
Mexico to strike for independence in the early
part of the present century. In her government of
Cuba, Spain has shown little regard for the
true interests of the Cubans except in tar the
promotion Of those interests might indirectly con-
tribute to the prosperity and wealth of the parent
land. The claims of the Cubans to be placed upon
footing Of equality in their own country with the
sons of old Spain, have been Systematically ignored
by the Spanish Government Every Office of honor
and emolument in the island worth having is, with
out exception, filled by native-b0rn Spaniard, and
vast sums of money are every year drawn from the
colony in the shape of taxation, not one dollar OF
which is spent on internal improvements in the col
ony. The Government of Cuba costs $S9,000000 per
annum, of which the sum of SS0OOOOO is set down
under the head of Court peTqulsites"-that is this
sum is appropriated by the Spanish Government, or
rather was appropriated under the old regime, for
Court perquisites. The whole of the $SS,0OO000 is
spent without the slightest accountability for its
disbursement TO the people from whom this immense
revenue is raised.
The Government of Cuba may be described as a
military despotism. For civil and military purposes
the island is divided into three provinces. each
of which has Governor who is appointed by the
Home Government. The supreme authority is lodged
in the Captain General who, besides his functions
SUCH is Governor of the Western Province. He is the
representative of the Crown to which he is exclusively
responsible and is President of the Royal Court of
judicatme Superior Commander of Marine, Supern
tendent of the Treasury and Vice Regal Patron and
Vice-Regal Protector of Public Instruction. The
Governors Of the other Provinces have independent
civil power and responsible only to the Court of
Spain. Cuba has no popular Representative Assem-
bly,; the press of the island is subject to rigid
sorshp: the liberty of public meeting is denied to
b. the people; and religious liberation is unknown.
~ The state of things being as we have described IL
can surprise TO be informed that there a
widespread spirit of dsafection 10 Spanish rule
among the Cubans and very strong desire TO shake
off the yoke of Spain and establish an independent
government in the island Nor are these feelings Of
recent birth They existed far back the period
when the continental possessions of Spain in Ameri
ca rose in rebellion against the Spanish crown and
succeeded in achieving their independence and for
the last forty fifty years the idea OF liberation
from Spanish domination has never been absent
from the Cuban mind. The Cubans have made sew
eral attempts to get rid of their OppreSSOr but the
military power of the Government has always
proved too great for them Instructions have been
repeatedly planned, but have been invariably npped
in the bud Movements for the overthrow Of the
Spanish power in the island organized
!. in 1873. 1880, 1850. 1853, and 1854 but each
time the designs of the patriots were thwarted by
the prompt action of the Government The Inflated
expeditions of Lopez Will be remembered among
the aboTtive attempts TO wrest Cuba from the hands
of Spain. Lopez himself was an enthusiast in the
cause of Cnban independence, and although the
plans by which he attempted TO achieve the end lie
sought, in making the United States base of opera
tons was open to the gTayest objections on grounds
of international law and public morality, yet there
can be no doubt that the unfortunate adventurer
only too faithfully represented the sentiments and
wishes OF very large proportion OF the people OF
Cuba. Fbusterism failed, as it deserved TO fail
but the idea in which il had its birth precisely
that which has moved the Cubans to raise the flag
of revolt under Gen. LersundrS administration.
THE PRESENT OUTBREAK.
IL appears strange, at the first blush that the
CubaIs should, az this juncture, attempt to change
their Government by means OF lnsuTrectOn. sue
cessful revolution in the mother country has just
overthrow the Bourbon dynasty in Spain, and
opened the way for the establishment of a Govern
Inent based upon advanced liberal IDEAS and is to be
borne in mind that among the measures of reform
fareshadOwed IN the programme OF the revolutionary
party in the mother country is included the adoption
of new policy conceding the utmost possible lati
tude of self-gOyeTnment 10 the Colonies canceing
those invidiOus distinctions which haYe hithetO Oh
tanned between Colonial subjects and native
under which the former now labor. One would be
inclined 10 think that the Cubans would have pa
tently awaited the further developments OF the anti
Bourbon movement in SPAIN IN the hope that the
triumph of the popular cause there would secure 10
them the enjoyment of the rights which they have
all along been denied. But three reasons may be
assigned for what would seem TO be, under the CIR,
cumstances, precpitate ana llladyised
course of action on tie pant OF