New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-06-12
CUBI WELL LOST

In n debate in the COrtes on the 18th Of last
month, the present head of Spain was provoked
TO avOw that the hatred of Cubans to the
Spanish Government is too great to be APP
peased or converted, and, he might have added,
conquered. He further acknowledged that men
who, mt the time of his Captain-G eneralshp
under the Ministry of 0'Donnell, were his
devoted friends and cOunselors, are now lead
ing the insurgents or are among the exiles in
New-York straining every nerve for their
cause. Here is n dismal admission for Spain,
and this, too from the man who is to become
her Regent, and, perhaps, practically her Presi-
dent. 1t speaks reluctantly the unanimous
opinion of every friend of the Spanish admin
istration in Cuba. and virtually cOnfesses what
Captain General Duce and Major-General
Mena have of late more boldly said, that the
island this time is lost to the mother country.
1t is worth remembering that both Marshal
Serrano and Gen. Dulce were once
members of Commission of InfOrma-
ton appointed in 1857 to testify as to the re-
form necessary to the island and then declared
to Queen Isabella that without speedy redress
of its grievances it would be hopeessly alienated
Gen. Dulce has seen his misgivings verified to
the letter, and felt the fatality of opposing an
earnest revolution with bankruptcy and anar-
chy. Cuba is lost to Spain, and worse than
lost Every soldier sent out for her conquest
is traitor to authority, and represents so
much dearly bought money thrown into flood.
The Spanish Minister at Washington is re-
ported to be exceedingly anxious as to the sit
uation of his authorities in the island. Seeing
that his brother, the political Governor at Ha-
yana, COntemplates his bodily escape out of
the crisis this does not surprise us. The best
art of the ambassador will be required to show
us in what way Spain still keeps possession of
her territory, and how it is possible for us at
present to respect her authority. If we
recognize The rebels who have expelled Gen.
Dulce and installed regime of slaYe-traders,
we surely do oflense to those at whose
hands the late Captain General received his
commission. If we recognize the President and
Congress mt Guaimaro we are still liable to
displease the friends of those Castilian leaders
who insist that they did us good offices in our
own hour Of difficulty. But we see not how
Spain can help acknowledging what is now
plain to the world, that her Cuban possession
is gone utterly-in forfeit to her misuse of OPP
pOrtuntics, means, men, lands, and whatever
wealth God gives to country for the prosper
ing of peoples. Cuba will be free instead of
slave, and the Spanish race will be the gamer
for all that Spanish misgovcrnment has for
feited. Her possession will be well lost if
Spain but learn TO take honest care of her
people at home. She is well rid of an heirloom
of her barbarsm if she can turn retrospective
eyes upon her own condition and consolidate
freedom, rather than yainly cling to empire.
One other consideration seems to point to
the Spanish need of renouncing the province
in the tropics Minister Figuerola's count Of
costs for carrying on the Government of Spain
amounts TO the great sum of $t5000O,000, while
the budget contemplated by the Republicans of
the Cortes is no more than $0O0O0,0OO The
deficit in the Minister'S estimate reaches the
serious sum of $5j,OOO,OOO. and we now hear,
through the Cable, that he has announced the
im1ossibility of reducing his budget. The con-
viction of this news may alarm Spain, but it
is auspeious to Cuba, and We doubt not the
mother country will find it better to save
ffty-fve millions than to waste fifty-f mil
lions more for the conquest of a rnin.