New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-28
T1E REVOLUTION IN CUBA
- nwY coRREsPoNnENTl

Ill here. it, especially since the taxing VI ~
,..o called Bayamo, that question is not ullSunu,
ood The theory of it is simple enough as II S'luo'
p,,,orbodv knows that the Island has BEEN from a.,
;r,,nemoral date. subject to the complicated "4 ~
.,,rid despotism known as Spanish OOVernD' ~
what Spain has endured Cuba has endured "n.'
dos she has suffered in very spite OF her lIon ''9
os,ersbin over the blacks, all the outrage Oh olpioo
sion which takes the form Of actual human r..tfl
There is no need to rehearse what the 81
Isle has borne from the bad systems man g
made worse by TacOn, O'DOnneI' anu ioAS -
other INSCRIPTIONS and serylle captains -
The question in its more recent shape 49,
all its COMPLAINT into the bare Dut pi'''l NV, r"oY
that Cuba is ruled by spaniaIuS' An''
ia enough. when it is admlt1eu ''n"T ~
distant province Of Spain is IN any scilso SUI
ernod anlansiblocase is made out for lnsuIrection
whenever it can made good us chance' -
not willingly Weld TO anything and 1t is the nliIa0o
a.hor history with what ferOcity she mas taken
stI bId ~ her rebels and held on TO the faole Oh
- honor discraced score of times by terri
81 1ossos and mathematical a score OF times IN
.t'a'aoorel nv those who have inherited the bad
LII and had institutions of the old country AS
ar ,,orld l,novrs. the Cubans wanted IN the hrst
rlace something better than being ruled Dy a
satrans establishment from the mother country II
,,oro were Standards, there were also Cubans, and
~ Cntons ,ranted share at least of their own.
Ct Cen Iersundi perceived at last that the talth-
al ISLANDERS were not indisposed to take all that
tLev could get. When the revolution in Spain
enabled the Cubans to demand the same indulgence
of ideas and rights as the Spanards, and forced the
moor Geutenan of Isabella to say in practice what ne
belieyed-ifhe believed anything-that the thing
which was wrong in Spain was still worse
in Cuba-he foresaw perhaps that any con-
eession meant all concessions. Lersunu tght-
ened the reins in every part OF
his rule and when he left the palace IN the CITY, lett
the rebellion organized and developed, Havana tull
Of conspiracy and ilwill the Cubans reader to &C
cept the deluge than the BourbOns Therush OF con-
cessions which entered with Dulce to fill t4e vacuum
made by Lersundi have, indeed, had certain effect
Of Precipitation, but have evidently not satisfied. 1t
is not enough that Dulce comedies few liberties
as a sop to Cerberus which Spain, the moment she
partially reacts into BourbOnism, may practically
take back again. Spain viii not have the republic
Cuba wisely forewarns herself of the monarchy
shrewdly disrust Spanish promises. If the Bourbon
Quees Alphonse is elected to the throne, or the
Orleans Montpensier what is it but monarchy,
slavery. and BOurbonism come againi The non
fighting Liberals of Cuba are therefore resting upon
the little army and the still larger fact of Cespedes,
The Cubans at last have demanded autonomy. Au-
tOnOmy is next door TO independence. They
want self-govenment at last. No wonder
that some good people are making hurrahs
for independence. The Cuban question re-
solves ITSELF Them to few facts Cespedes has been
fighting but his very least battle has been
military His victory at present seeming is in
the facts that Duce has come with CONCESSIONS that
the concessions though politely received, are not
satisfactory TO the Cubans that the latter ask for
selfgOvernment and do not shut their eyes to pos
sbty of independence. In the fOrty-odd various
newspapers which have examined in the course OF
a few days, have found extremely feeble allusion
TO the subject of annexation. That is step appa-
reutly more remote than Spain, autonomy independ-
ence is easier and safer to talk the Republic than
to talk of selling Spanish honor to another Republic.
What Spain may do, Cuba may do. but no more
argue the half Spanards. If annexation be a cher
shed idea, why should it be bruited before the Gu
bans are yet assured of the pemanency of the reform
of the success of their revolution. Annexation,
therefore Is private idea. But it is plain that if
independence is won. the fruit is ripe and the lap is
ready. DO not believe that Cuba intends to
herself perfectly sovereign and entirely indie
pendent Republic. If she does she does not expect
a long lease of an absolute autonomy. In word
am bold TO say that the idea Of Cuban sef-gOvern-
ment rests upon the other and militant idea of In
dependence and, secondly, that this idea Of indie
pendence whatever be its power rests with all its
force upon annexation have heard the case stated
with remarkable candor. The trouble Sir" said a
Cuban to me, els in the bad blood of the race. We
cant trust Spaniards-well, we cannot trust our
selves wholly with such a responsibility and such
problem as We have. Look at our leprous Repub-
lies. Now, Sir, We want freedom. II we cannot get
4 from fha Gv,au de "a L
"else-Uncle Sam, prefer Itwould be good thing
for Spain to keep us and do right by u.s. but Heaven
Save us from the inveterate arrogance of these Eu
"ropeans They never learn any more than the
"Bourbons. Now let me tell you, Sir, that there is
lust as much annexation in this movement of ours
as the Spaniards choose to throw into it, mean 10
say they are responsible for whatever comes and
/ am bound TO say that have no faith that they
VIII be any less stupid and blind than ever. for
one believe in annexation and abolition: So too
10 many like meo
am aware that there is class Of opinion.
lists distrustful Of the Cubans. believing that
the fact will fall much short of their ideas
The Spaniards are reinforcing their On 600
men in the field with many thousands more
Cespedes, at utmost reckoning, does NOT cornt
more than 1900 men poorly armed, and Soma cav,
with as great likelihood 10000. The strength Of bis
present position is in its mountain supports Rut the
spanlards are making great efforts to crush him
speedily, and am crediby told are daily strengthen.
Ing 10 munitions and men. Can Cespedes hold ont
les say the Cubans-dont take for granted every
'ning you heaE CesDedes has a great weapon vet 70
use-the emancipation of the blacks-only LET him
get once fairly among them in the western district
botCespedes has made progress to the western die
met and his proclamation Of freedom is written
already. He comedies something l think. 70 the
Planter interest and has, hear not yet made pract.
.Si or sweeping his decree of abolition. Ihaye opIv
70 say tnat the sincerity Of the Cubans is 10 be