The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-22
rho Last Act of Spanish CrueIty-The
RECOGNITION of Cuba,


TIE latest intelligence from Havana affords
a new illustration Of the brutality Of the
snapish officials who misgovern Cuba. A
fact of transports, with many state prisoners
on board, was despatched on the 10th, under
the convoy Of Spanish frigate, to the insa-
lubrious and inhospitable shores OF Fernando
Po. This island is near the coast Of Africa,
and the doomed Cuban patriots are consigned
70 a fate more dreadful than instant
death. When the Spaniards attempted to
colonize it, near the close of the last century,
they were repeled by the natives, who num-
her about 10, 900 or IL, 900, and whose hostility
to the unhappy beings consigned to their
shores may be not unnaturally anticipated.
But even If the Cuban patriots escape mas
sacre. aud survive the maltreatment of their
captors, they can scarcely hope to avoid fatal
disesse. At one time the British attempted to
oolopize the island, but they were compelled
to withdraw their garrison on account of the
fearful inroads of fever among the soldiers,
and a majority Of the British colonists fell
victims TO the same fell destroyer, so that it
ia a well attested fact that the climate is fatal
to the white race.
This barbarous policy cannot fail to exer-
else great influence in strengthening the SYM
pathy already felt in this country for the
Cuban revolutionists. It gives new proof
that the Spanish cause is not only bad and
brutal, but desperate, for such oold-blooded
cruelty is the act rather of frightened towards
trembling with the fear that they are on the
eve Of downfall, than the deed of men con-
scious Of their strength and confident Of the
perpetuaton of their power.
As the proposition to authorize the Presi-
dent to recognize Cuba whenever she esta'
blishes de facto government is under serious
consideration at Washington, there should not
be moments further delay on the part of
Congress in passing the resolution offered by
General Banks. 1t has become vitally neces
sary as an act of humanity and justice, as
we'll as q wise measure of governmental polity.
The Cuban cause, in the present crisis, has
irresistible claims upon the friendly aid of the
American people. The revolution was begun
six months ago. Struggling at first without
arms or ammunition of approved pattern,
rude weapons were made of the peculiar
woods of the island; but the movement COM
menced under so many difficulties SO warmly
enlisted the popular sympathy, that at this
moment, we are informed on reliable autho-
rity, the revolutionists have in the field at
least twenty five thousand men well armed
and equipped, and their General-in-chief in
his recent appeal claims that they have 10000
men doing duty. They have not only
gained and held possession of large
portion of the territory of Cuba,
but have successfully encountered
the Spanish troops in many engagements;
and 1t must be remembered that, notwith-
standing the reports forwarded from time to
time, under the surveillance of jealous autho-
rites, of partial Spanish triumphs, the
patriots steadily maintain their ground, and
practically govern nearly all the regions not
in the immediate vicinity Of well-garrisoned
cities. At first the revolution was spontaneous,
and different leaders maintained sway in
different departments, but unity of action is
now established, and the national energies
are consolidated under the direction of a
Supreme Junta and a single commander-in-
chief.
This outbreak would never have gained
such formidable proportions il it had not been
aided and encouraged by an immense majority
OF the population, approaching unanimity
only broken by the dissent of a horde OF
Spanish officials, and few citizens of Spanish
birth, who espouse the cause of the homa
country from pride of race and origin. I,
deserves our sympathies on every ground. Il
is based, at the outset, on aspirations identica
with those which inspired our Revolutionary
ancestors to throw off the tyrannical yoke o
Great Britain and there is great force as vel
as truthfulness in the declaration of Genera
Cespedes that the patriots are resisting
foreign power which seeks to crush them I
the earth, and which, with no appeal but tina
of arms, persists in appointing tyrannici
citizens of its own country to rule and eat IL
the substance of the Cubans. They hav
groaped under the pressure of onerOus "tax,
ton without representation" for centuries
and their remonstrances have only served I
intensity their suffsrings.
Aside from this aspect of the struggle, th
revolutionists have boldly unfurlOd the flag
emancipation, and while they stand forth
the foes OF every form of slavery, th
Spaniards persist in the maintenance of bono
age alike over the black and white men Of II
island. 1t is square fight for freedom for a
on the one hand, against tyranny over al
except the few favorites of the oppressors, o
the other.