The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-08
The Cuba Question.
.e ". Y. Tribune.

The Cuba Question.
From The ". Y Tribune
The insurrection in Cuba is now passing
into its second stage. Spain having success
fully asserted her independence of degraded
and oppressive monarchy, her children natu-
rally followed the example, and endeavored
10 rid themselves of system which was quite
as degrading and oppressive to them as ever
the Bourbon dynasty was to the mother
country. 1t has been for centuries the Spanish
policy to ignore all rights of her colonies, but
providing money in no scanty measure to the
necessities of Spain, to pour on to their shores
crowds Of hungry officials, not always OF re-
putable character, and often sdventurers who
as literally ''left their country for their
country's good" as If they had bsen trans
ported by the legal tribunals. All the places
OF trust were filed by these offcasts from
Spain, and no opportunity was ever given for
native talent, while native industry was
cramped and shattered. No wonder, there
fore, that one by one Spain's colonies have
slipped from her grasp, and the last and
the most cherished exoites all the energies
of the Home Government to prevent the
dire example to be followed by the
Queen Of the Antilles. Dulce, personally
popular in Cuba, and fully enjoying the con-
fdence of the Home Government, came out
charged with the impossible duties of rscog-
nzing the rights of the colony and reconcil-
ing them with the pretensions of Spain. 1t
was a significant fact that even he was ac-
companied by shiplosds of needy applicants
for Office, shelved by the Provisional Govern
ment and sent out to prey on the Goshen of
Cuba. AS was to be expected, his mission
has failed and he has been forced to assume
the offensive. In the meantime his successor
is on the sea to supersede him, and the
scabbard is thrown away. Let US look at the
forces in opposition, both physical and moral.
The native Cubans to man-even women
and children-are sworn to win their indepen-
dence. Those even who cannot take arms
cheerfully give up their property, and, il such
cases exist, those who are neutral or luke
warm have their possessions sequsstrated
by their friends and neighbors for the
cause that all lave at heart. 1t
may be taken for granted that the whole
native population are unanimous for emanci-
patton from Spain. On the other hand, the
whole power Of the mother country is pledged
to prevent it. Independently of national
honor, which ranks higher in the Castiiau
mind than in most nations, the material worth
of Cuba is so great, the practical value Of
such colony, especially in the present i'm
poverished state of Spain, is so thoroughly
present to the mind Of every Spaniard, that
they will strain every nerve to prevent her
breaking the chain. Such war will be one
of the most popular that could be presented
to the people, and most nearly touches their
pockets. In the sympathy which every free
born man must feel for the native Gu bans,
we must be careful not to underrate the
resources of Spain, or to ignore the serious
reasons she has for abhorring the indepsn-
dence of Cuba, as a direct robbery upon
her public and private purse. There is
also a third element in the contest, and
that not the least, though by no means
apparently prominent, viz: the recently
| and 0apaotiValv m moi nafaA oal0rad
lation. 1t is worthy of observation tina
the insurgents recognized the principle only
when the news arrived of its proclamation by
the Provisional Government at home; nor il
this to be wondered at, for men are seldom II
a hurry to divest themselves of valuabl,
"property" they hold as their own. We hav
not yet sufficient evidence OF what the aotiol
of the colored men has been up to this dat
to be certain Of what it will be. Then as Il
the moral phases. All history is apt to repro
duce itself; nor are the Castilian races in an,
portion of the globe much different from thei
Immediate, nor indeed their remote, progeni
tors. The Spaniards are very chary Q
foreign Intervention, accept 1t grudgingly, Sc
it in the front of the battle, give it all tn
labor, all the expense, and appropriate all tn
results possible, repayipg the aid with an IL
gratitude which has no parallel in the histor
of nations. Both sides are well aware ths
upon the amount of American help depend
the success or failure OF this struggle for indt
pendence. Commercially as we'll as POLITICAL
the welfare of Cuba must be vital questio
for American politicians.
With this view of the case, which it Is jus
to present as the fair deduction from tn
latest news, we cannot but add our fulles
sympathy with the cause of the revolution.
the revolution is good for Spain, it is good fC
her splendid colony. We commend prudenc
statesmanship, and persistency. Cuba has h'
fate in her haSds, II her true sons will /
Nations, like men, have periods when destin
, seems to stretch out its hand. They are IL
, wsest who do not fail to see it. May Cul
and her gallant sons be wise with the be
/ wisdom.