The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-03
CHI A r L E S T O N /.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 8. 1869.
The Insurrection in Cuba.

The Spanish troops who are striving to
stamp out the so.called rebellion in Cuba,
will find that it is no easy task to overcome
people who are fighting for deliverance
from oppression, and who are inspired and
fortified by the memory of decades of in
Jury and wrong. 1t has always been the
policy of the Spaniards to wiring the last
farthing out of the native Cubans, treating
them the while with brutal and savage
contempt. This hos nurtured the bitter
and uncompromisirg hatred which is now
finding vent.
While Spain was Bourbon there was no
salvation for Cuba; but when the revolu-
tion was successful and Isabella Segunda
driven from the throne, the Cubans de-
manded their independence and raised the
standard of revolt So far, the insurrec-
ton has been successful; for it has not
been suppressed. The Spaniards are re-
inforcing their twenty thosand soldiers
already in the field with many thousand
more, while General Cespedes, the leader
of the insurgents, has barely fifteen thou
sand men poorly armed and equipped. But
Cespedes is thoroughly. in earnest, as are
the raw soldiers whom he leads, and at his
back is the active eympathy of the whole
Cuban population.
The weapons of the insurgents are Of
the commonest kind. They have few
rifles and small number of hand grenades,
said to have been lately furnished them.
They, however, endeavor to make up by
their ingenuity for their lack OF means.
They have wooden cannon, which are good
for one shot, and have invented new
weapon which may be used successfully to
resist charges with the bayonet. So Ces-
pedes has managed to hold his own for
four months, and is resting now against the
mountains of the southeastern part of Cuba,
o country which admits of bafl' ing defence.
There ore strange stories Of three thousand
rebels having laid down their arms, and Of
the war being over; but they are no more
to be trusted than similar yarns from Crete
and Paraguay.
In the meanwhile, Havana, with secret
voice and pen, keeps up her connection with
her kindred in the field. Money is sent
freely to the liberal camp despite the uncx-
ampled vigilance of the Captain Generals
officers. The young men of the oldest and
wealthiest families hasten to the support
of the insurgents, and the public presses,
taking advantage of the freedom granted
them by Dulce, ere outspoken in their de-
mand of tic right to govern themselves.
A dozen new papers have been issued in
week; the latest of them, "The Republican
Convention" having at the head of its col
umns "Viu1 Ia RepuJlica No more despots.
Down with tyrants." This paper salutes
the United States with prayer for the
bencdiction of "thc powerful mother re-
"public," and begs all tho people of the isle
to form republican commitlees-active, en-
ergetic and pacific.
The Cubans feel now that what IS good
for Spain is good for Cuba; and the ques-
lion is whether self government alone will
content them. Spain herself has not deci-
ded between republican or monarchical
form of government: but the leaning is to-
wards the latter. Dulce has conceded
few fragments of liberty to the "cver faith
"ful Isle," which Spain may take away
whenever she pleases. With Bourbon or
an Orleans enthroned at Madrid, there
would be no safety for Cuba. The old tale
would be told again, with variations, and
Cuba would be handed over once more TO
the tender mercies of legions of mercenary
soldiers, and an army of worse office hold
ers and public plunderers The probability
is, therefore, that the Cubans will demand
self-government in the sense of indepen-
dence, and will be satisfied with nothing
less. Annexation to the United Suites has
its place in the programme; but it is kept
in the back ground, and will not be brought
prominently forward until independence is
accomplished and Cuba is free, when, if
, our advice weighs for aught in the scale,
she will remain her own master and steer
clear of the Capitalization government at
, Washington.
, The present insucrection may, of course,
be put down; but the enmi'y of race will
t not be put down, and in her distance from
, Spain and in the friendship Of the United
States, the Cubans will find strength of po-
sition which will enable them to agitate
agitate! agitate until victory is won, and
the "Gem Of the Aatilles" is free from the
, arrogant tyranny of Spain.