The New York herald., 1869-06-14

Prominent Departures.
NJ. II. Ballou and Colonel Moffett for Boston,
George W. Cochrane for Ireland, Colonel Caldwell
for Philadelphia, and ID. Cameron Tor Cincinnati.
spanish Affairs ind American Rights-The
True Issue In the Cuban Question.
The aspect of Spanish affairs in America is
singularly complicated and indicative Of a
weak cause; but it is not one whit more 80
than the course of Secretary Fish and his
friends in defending the want Of statecraft
and skill which characterizes the action, or
rather the absence Of action, that marks the
honorable Secretarys course In this important
crisis in American questions. Cuba and Porto
Rico alone remain to Spain Of all her once
vast American possessions. Learning nothing
from the experience Of Britain with her thirteen
colonies, or from that of Napoleon with St.
Domingo, she has, by practice of the most
detestable forms Of government, long since
driven all her continental possessions to assert
their independence. For many years past she
has retained the two islands we have named
only by our friendly connvance and barrier
of ruthless bayonets. For long period all
the world except Spain has known that there
was limit TO this piling on of steel, and that
it was only question Of time when the con-
stantly rising stream of public Indignation
should overtop the iron barrier, and then
sweep 1t away in one resistless burst of
revolution.
This time has arrived and the events Of the
last eight months have demonstrated that the
end of Spanish dominion in America has come
These events have developed alike in Spain
and in Cuba, and in each with nearly identical
result, triumphant overthrow of corrupt
! and detestable government. But in each the
subsequent process of reconstruction has en-
countered obstacles which have imposed delay,
although the candid observer cannot but recog-
nize the great fact that the two communities must
obey the law of the political and geographical
scheme Of which they respectively form part
Unless the revulsion In Spain can successfully
light the blaze Of democratic revolution
throughout Western Europe the Spaniards
must admit a monarchical reconstruction;
while in Cuba, unless some European Power
comes To the rescue Of Spanish despotism, the
Cubans must become republican In their forms
and their aspirations. The march of events
sustains these deductions. In Spain the es-
tablishment Of republic has become very
doubtful, while in Cuba all who are not will
fully blind can see that II Is an accomplished
fact.
There is an additional event in the history
of the past few days in Cuba which confirms
the view we have taken. While Spain was
throwing of the shackles of her rejected gov
ernment she denied 10 Cuba the rights which
she proclaimed for herself. No sooner we're
the new administrators Of power Installed In
their places than hordes Of new officials were
hurried to Cuba to harass the people and eat
out their substance. They came by ship loads
and like a swarm OF locusts fell upon all that
was left TO Spain In the island. The customs
ceased to yield their revenue TO the govern
ment; new taxes and official exceptions and
sabre c0nductas we're placed on sale, bringing
| in large sums, but not one dollar for the royal
treasury; and the avenues Of private pc cula-
ton, which are so widely opened in time Of
war, we're tbronged with the crowd Of hungry
] officials. First came protest from the Span