The Portland daily press., 1869-04-10
DAILY PRESS.
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, April 6, 1869.

WASHINGTON, April 6, 1869.
THE CUBAN EXCITEMENT
At the present moment this is the chief
topic OF interest here. The Envoy of the
Patriots, Senior Manuel Lemos, with his
Secretaries, Senors Ruez and Gonzales, are
staying at the Ebbitt House here. Senior
Lemos, is man of about sixty years cf age,
| small in stature, with court,y manner, cul-
tured air, face bearing the marks of shrewd
intelligence, with at the same time an ex-
| preston of earnest candOr which at once
wins your esteem. AS necessity OF his po-
| sition, reticence with callers, is rule. He
| speaks English slowly and with considerable
want of readiness, but makes himself dis
tinctly understood Senior Ruez, his Secre-
tary, is younger man of about 35 years, has
gentle and cultivated manner. He speaks
English. The active man, with the sympa-
thizing many who call, is Mr.. Gonzales,
very intelligent gentleman who was implicat-
ed some years in the Lopez affair, escaped,
and has since resided in this country. The
policy of the Envoy and suite is to keep as
quiet as possible, and of course dscounte-
nance all public demonstrations. 1t is un-
| derstood that the Cubans now ask at
the hands of the United States, only
the executive recognition of the in
dependence they are struggling to mair-
tain. They claim that having in six months
past not met with any serious defeat, but on
the contrary having increased the iriorces from
127 men to at least $4,000, actively employed,
and controlling all the interior lines over
three-ffths of the entire island, that their
right to an independent existence ought to be
at once recognized. They also declare that
the native population Is wholly in their favor,
that they, the patriots, are at once recogniz-
ed as the right government, that the Spaniards
are confined to the cities, and that an order
government is being substituted for the
| imposed administration. The recognition of
their independence would at once lessen the
rigors of the war, enable the Patriot govern
ment to dispose of their bonds and so procure
arms and munitions, which are all they need
| to make success an absolute certainty. When
they obtain some heavy guns, they can readi-
| ly seize and hold seaport. With that in
their possession, they will be ready to make
good their claim to belligerent rights. which
our government is not likely to be slow in
according-especially if it shall not compro-
mise the Alabama question, anu the points we
are making against the British government.
The Cubans seem desirous of avoiding all
complications with fillibustering movements.
They do not need men: they do need arms.
1t would therefore be bad policy for their
friends to violate the neutrality laws useless
| ly. If there is any money to spend, it ought
to be given to the last named purpose-that
of equipping some of the 10000 poorly arm
ed and unarmed emancipadoes, as General
Cespedes has in the Eastern part of the Is
land.
OF course the adveE turers who for twen-
| ty years past have been intent on organized
piracy, are trying to make capital out OF the
gallant Cubans. Hemingden, for instance,
queer looking old soldier of fortune that he
is-whose only virtues, if such they can be
called. are courage and hostility to govern
ments-the established order, whether good
or bad, can be seen daily about some member
of the Cuban embassy. He would like
high command, but has no prospect of get
ting it, trust. General Steadman is report
ed as organizing a movement in New Or
leans. The Tribune says he means work, but
those who have known him of late, say that
the best and worst work he can do is on the
whskey bottle-that in fact he is broken
down and drunken adventurer. There is not
an Anglo-American of distinction in the Gu
ban army, and only few persons serving as
staff officers. So far the chief leadership and
fighting has been done by the Cubans them
selves, Their best type of the soldier, Ques-
ada, is Lopez man, who has since been
trained in Mexico, rising to the rank of Ma
jor-General there. Another regular or train
ed soldier is a Dominican mulatto, who ac-
Spain there. There is also a Polish
officer of some repute, but the best mill
itary man So far, is Donate del Marmol, sec
ond-in-command to Cespedes, who though a
planter has shown such ability as to fit him
for the Generally in the field when Cespedes
takes control OF the government as he iscxpec
ted to do after the meeting OF their provision
al congress.
Our public men do not hesitate to express
their sympathy, though hesitating at imme-
date recognition. Gen. Rawlings is known to
be outspoken, Gov. Boutwell, wishes good
speed, Sumner says that Cuba will be indie
pendent before the summer closes, Banks is
trying to obtain recognition now, while But
Ter has always been counselng in their ia
| vor.
RUMoRs.
1t is well understood here that Senator
Sprague is snegociating for the purchase of the
Inteligencer. The purchase is to be made
in the name of a friend. Other papers here
are querying whether it would be the Sena-
tors way to carry out the policy he so frank
ly avowed had made him successful capital
ists,-that of crushing out smaller manufac-
lures.
Rumors of Cabinet changes are again in
circulation. Mr.. Borie is to retirs,-after
his friends are taken care of and Admiral
Porter has set the navy by the ears. I sup
pose Hoar is to 60 on the supreme Bench
The story that Gov. Fish is to 60 TO England
is denied. He has purchased Senator Nor
gan's late residence here. SPECTATOR.