Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-17
A Matter-of. Fact Experiment.

Our dispatches THIS morning tell US tnat
the Cuban insurrection is showing a more
formidable front; and a private letter
from the Island ofSt. Thomas, which we
have Just received, gives us notice of
some queer doings of Santa Anna. 1t
seems that he is not weary Of plotting,
and that this time he is organizing q
great American protectorate, to be COM
posed of Mexico and the Spanish An
titles. There is nothing in this, as we
know; for the brainless schemes of the
visionary old man serve only as food for
mirth. The insurrection in Cuba. how
ever, is of different complexion, aud
must, soon or late, introduce the subject
to very general discussion in this country.
There is but one use, it seems to us,
that Caba can be put to, and at risk Of
horrifying the sensibilities Of those
fervd philanthropists who have we'll
nigh ruined ten States in order to make
Sambo fool and a vagrant, we may as
we'll state the case. 1t can be stated in
single paragraph. There is conflict
of opinion concerning the efficacy Of
free labor and slave labor in the culture
of cotton, sugar and rice. By strangers
the decision is yet held in suspense. At
the North the whole question is looked
on as an experiment But, as slavery is
abolished in this country, we cannot test
it here. In Cuba, however, slavery still
exists; let it continue to exist, the one
system aud the other working alongside
of each ether, divided only by the Gulf
stream. If the trial of free labor in
Louisiana is success, and the trial Of
slave labor in Cuba is not o success,
abolish slavery in Cuba. If the trial in
Louisiana, however, is failure, and the
negro there goes on degenerating
into bsrbarism, as he is now
doing, while in Cuba, under q
more human system than that prac-
ticed by the Spaniards, he is more
and more useful, conteuted, and prosper
ous, restore to the entire cotton grow.
ing, reproducing country liberal
system of apprenticeship or slavery,
whichever it may be called, and, instead
of trying to elevate the negro into local
demi-god, let us try to do something for
him as a man. By process of this
kind Cuba could be made serviceable.
She would become either q garden spot
of practical agriculture or the seed
ground of practical and perpetual eman-
cipation; for, if the negro be not an i'm
provable being, we must make the next
best thing Of him, q useful being. As q
class the negroes must either 90 back
ward or they must 20 forward. II they
90 backward, Cuba will make conve-
nient colony for us and for them.
If they 70 forward, free labor will vindi-
! esse itself and work out its own re-
demptiop. Cuba Of itself is vile spot.
But Cuba, as field Of experiment, and,
in certain events, a sewer for the South,
could be made to pay. There may not
indeed be great deal Of humanity in
the suggestion, as terms 20, but 1t is
business-like, and that is more to the
purpose. 1.-THE New York Tribune aud
few Of the philosophers will aid US, We
can all put our shoulders TO the wheel
and settle this vexed question in ten or a
dozen years. Otherwise We shall die
with it on our hands as vexed as ever,
leaving those who come after us a mud
die which will never be cleared up or
purified until the African, like the poor
Indian, is pushed TO the wall, and that
advancing azd pacific civilization which
came 10 christiaHize the heather and
strike the shackels from the bondman's
wrist, gorges itself With spoil
So much for the plau. Bat We should
not be as candid, as we desire to be, II
We should omit our own opinion as to
the result Of the experiment which We
suggest The negro question Is only
problem With those Who observe il al a
distance. II is not regarded nearly 90
knoity By those who consider i IN
practical, every day aspect We have
not lost sny Of eur kindly disposition
toward the negroes; for il vas born IN
pc, and has grown in ~ as matter OF
tradition and association; bat We eou-
fees We hAvs loa oar faith in his career
a. free agent and Ne are inclined 70
think that, even 10 the North, excepting