New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-25
THE CUBAN REVOLUTION.

The news which reaches us by cable from
Cuba is such only as her Spanish masters see
fit to send or feel unable to suppress; yet it
fully iustfes the conviction that the days of
her colonial vassalage are numbered. IF, in the
face of Dulce's bounteous proffers of amnesty
and liberty, and the fair promises made from
Madrid, including the concession to the colonies
of representation in the COrtes, and the loudly
trumpeted capture of Bayamo, the insur-
gent capital the people of Havana raise
the cry of viva Cespedesw Ghe in
surgent cOmmander-in- chief in the theater
and proceed to sing the revolutionary hymn,
provoking and returning a fire from the
guardians of "Order," we may be sure that
bloody work is imminent. The reports of a
"rot' at Regla, disturbance in the streets
of Havana, of shots fired" in various quarters,
&c, &C.. all indicate the approach of a de-
cisive struggle. The Cubans evidently COM
prehend that "a fire in the rear" will compel
Dulce to keep large force in and near
Havana, and thus reduce the pressure on
their compatriOts in the field They have
already demonstrated that Havana is lost
to Spain if left for week ungarrisoned
Yet how is the instruction to be put down.
unless the Spanish force can be concentrated
and enabled to act decidedly on the offensive
The Spanish Provisional Government acts as
though devoid of energy and forecast. While
the insurgents have decreed and proclaimed
the Abolition of Slavery, we are telegraphed
from Madrid that the subject of the abolition
of the Stare trade to the different colonies Of
"Spain is already engaging the serious attention
of the Government A proposition declaring
all vessels engaged in this traffic as pirates
sis under consideration. and will probably
prevail" That is to say Spain is
seriously considering the prOpriety of conform
ing to the recognized public law of Christen-
dom! But has she not for the last twenty
years, pretended to interdct and punish the
Slave-Trade7 Has she not prOfessed to liber-
ate all negroes imported into Cuba in viola
ton of her treaty stipulationsi And now
after the Cuban insurgents have proclaimed
Slavery dead-she is giving SERIOUS attention"
to the abolition of the Slave-TTade! How COM
pletely this parallels our Southern COnfed-
eracy's attempt, when in the agonies of death,
to raise Black regiments to fight against the
Union, must be obvious to every reader
In fact, the attempt of revolutionized Spain
to suppress the revolution in Cuba is solecism.
The new rule in Spain is avowedly based on
the Sovereignty of the People. But, if that
be good rule for Spain, why not for Cuba
alsOf If Bourbon despotism, corruption, and
imbecility, was intolerable to the Spaniards,
why may not colonial vassalage and negro
Slavery be detestable to the Cubansf How
can those who expelled Isabella impose sue
cessor on protesting Cuba7 ,fIFU
Cuba has been priced by Spain largely be-
cause Of the revenue derived therefrom and the
convenience of pensioning of needy or trouble
some servitors Of the powers that be by giving
them judgeships, places in the customs, &C.,
&C., in the Colonies. If Cuban representation
in the COrtes is to DO no sham, Cuba must cease
to be preserve for Spanish officials la short,