The weekly North-Carolina standard., 1869-04-21
I-l IIIs
Cuba.


come revolution is in progress in Cuba.
On account of its climate and fertility and
productiveness this island is,ealled the ''gem
of the Antilles" certainly it is source of
great profit to Spain The island has an
area of Al, ,2s7 square miles nearly as large
as England. The population numbers
1,400, 900, of which 100000 are native Gu
bans and 125, 900 are Spaniards, soldiersgov-
ernment employees and adventures" The
remainder are probably. enslaved Africans,
for, in spite Of, efforts to the contrary, onite
aifourishing slave trade has been continued
between the coast of Africa and Cuba.
Doubtless the island is capable ofsupport-
ing 20,0o0, 600 ofipeople. Possessing amore-
genial climate and more fertile soil Cuba
should surely maintain as large popula
tion as England; that she does not is attri-
buted TO slavery. Slavery everywhere is
impoyerishlng and ruinous. Cuba is no ex-
ception. That Cuba has been declining in
productiveness and value, is evident from
the statement made by competent authority,
that plantations which cost 1914 919 are now
sold for $40 900 or $50, 600 cash, balance to
be paid in instalments, but which install
ments are rarely paid, so that the cash paid
down is about all that is realized. The pur-
chasers are ruined by the shiftless style Of
the labor to which the plantations are sub
jected.
The present insurrecticn is but repeated
attempt to cast off the Spanish yoke and
free the Island from the incubus that so long
and so fatally been fastened upon her The
movement commenced in October last. Its
leader is Carlos Manuel Cespedes. He is
the recognized chief of the provisional gov
ernment, and has under his command about
81, 900 men; portion of whom are only
toberably well armed. The patriot forces
are chiefly scattered about on the mountains
of the Eastern Department. This portion
of the Island is under the entire control of
the patriots. About onc-third of the West
ern Department is also held Ivy them. The
.seaports are held by the Spaniards. The
colored population is represented as hasten
ing to the support of the insurgents. As
the provisional government has decreed the
abolition of slavery, the colored people re.
gard the war as struggle for emancipation.
There have been several collisions with the
Spanish troops. Notwithstanding the rep
resentations of the Government officials
that the patriots have suffered defeat. one
fact is patent, that no battle has seriously
crippled or discouraged the patriots All
classes of the population are fiocking to their
standard arms and other munitions of war
are coming into their possession. Upon good
authority it is stated that 10, 600 Spaniards
have been placed hors du combat, since the
struggle begun. .,s.,,..,,..7 ss1D -
When it is considered that the government
troops are to be imported from Spain, it
must be question whether the government
forces can be kept up to a fighting standard.
The foreign soldiers must be acclimated
Sickness as well as battle will weaken and
thin their ranks The natives know the
country and fear not the climate. If toera-
bly, armed and provisioned, the advantage
must be on the side of the insurgents.
With their coast blockaded by the Span
iards, the obtaining of arms, especially nf
artillery, is serious problem for the patri-
OTIS. The struggle cannot always be confined
to the mountains and morasses. Heavy
artillery is an agent which Divine Providence
is wonderfully apt to employ in executing
the DEGREES ofjustice and Judgment. 3.
The destinies of the movement are in the
hands of these men and Cespedes; whether
they will succeed in establishing the RE
public of Cuba " as power among the ma
tions, remains to be seen. If Spain is backed
by France and encouraged by England, the
end not get, nor the result to be prophe-
sied .rs ~