The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-13


matter, His Majesty is the disease.
THE CUBAN CAMPAIGN OF LIBERIA
TION.
From the NJ y. Herald.
Time is calling the roll of events which
mark the decay of Spanish power in America
with rapidity that has no precedent in the
history of the Spanish American colonies
On the 4th day of January of the present year
General Dulce arrived atsHavana full of high
hope to assume the command of that import
ant colony. Four months before that day an
apparently unimportant revolution had broken
out in Yara, which his predecessor had been
impOtent to Suppress and Cespedes, the
ruler of free Cuba, was then installed at
BayamO. General Dulce arrived when the
Spanish power reoiced in the full flush of its
strength. It's army had notyet been depleted
the great sugar district of the island was just
beginning to harvest its product and pour its
wealth into the lap of the colonial power, and
the Spanish population Of the cities and the
large towns had been recently organized in
battalions, filled with enthusiasm and hope.
The promises of peace which the words of
Dulce bore to the revolted Cubans were sus-
tanned by the possibilities OF strong and
rich administration, which seemed to have
full power to enforce its threats and satisfy
its vengeance.
But six short though eventful months have
elapsed since we looked upon this picture,
and again we behold the spectacle which at
tends the advent of a new Captain-General.
The wealth of men and resources which eX-
listed at the opening of the year has been
lavished, but the enthusiastic hopes of the
battalions of Spanish volunteers have not been
realized, while the failure of Dulce has COM
PEELED his involuntary return to Spain. Gene
raj de Rodas comes to take his place; but how
iC Sitn 20 has
enjoyed six months longer lease of life, and
life to an unsurpassed revolution means
organization and an increase of power. The
army has been depleted till it has ceased to be
the hope and the reliance of the Government.
The harvest has been gathered and all its
wealth expended without diminishing the
needs of the administration. The enthusi-
asm of the volunteer battalions has been
changed to discord and distrust, and the first
act of the new commander is a significant
order to the few hundreds of troops he has
brought with him to march into the great
fortress that commands the island capital and
hold no intercourse with the volunteers or
troops in the city.
After this General de Rodas lands and
walks III solemn procession the distance of a
few rods which lie between the landing place
and the palace. Not female face beams
upon his arrival, and the grim and belted vol
unteers receive him with few scanty cheers
and an abundance of criticisms upon his bear
ing and his supposed intentions. They had
violated all law in deposing his predecessor,
and in the four weeks during which they had
controlled the government they had learned
the urgency of its needs, and had come to
appreciate the great fact that their hopes
could triumph only through succor from
Spain. He is the first instalment OF this
succor and the depOsitary of the power OF the
metropolis, and his words are waited for IN
anxious silence. These are soon heard, and
they recognize that the hitherto derided in
surrection is now the fearful calamity Of civil
war; and they express the hope of being
able to triumph in the contest, through the
''brave and disciplined army, and the armed
volunteers, to whose determined spirit
and efforts the salvation of the island is partly
due" Then follow words of unqualified praise
of the volunteers, who are declared to deserve
well of their country" and proclamation to
the army and navy, who are eXhOrted ITO be
faithful friends of the volunteers, now your
brothers" These words of General de Rodas
! may be the words of wisdom, or they may
be those of policy and craft His position
is precarious and dangerous one. His
| policy, he tells us, is embodied in three
-"Spain, justice, honesty; and he ex-
plains these to mean that Spain will find In hel
patriotism inexhaustible resources to preserve
integrity
equal administration of justice to the high Off
cial and the artisan, and require honesty ant
strict economy in every branch of the Govern
| ment. All of this appertains purely to the
! Spanish population and officers, as the Cuban'
have no part or position in the colonial ar
rangements. OF other matters he says little
Reforms are postponed till the end of the civi
war, and this he will accomplish at any cost.
He recognizes the decline OF commerce, the
ruin of industry, the disappearance of pro
perty, and the increasing emigration, whicl
is rapidly diminishing the elements of wealth
If he fails to suppress the revolution through
a united and desperate effort of the volun
teers, in campaign which must be made a.
soon as the rainy season is past, it will be the
final failure. Spain must then turn to othe
views, for which she is already preparing
What success General Rodas will meet will
we shall soon know; for he must move soo1
in support of the many harassed garrisont
now holding precarious positions in the inte
rior of the island. These must be PARTIAL,
relieved before the campaign opens, and tim,