The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-12
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS oP TBR LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPTCs--ooMPnaED BVBRr
DAY FOR THE EVENING VELEeRAPH. ..'
The Insurrectlon in Cuba.

The dispatches which we PuvnstnoN
vesterday from Cuba show that the reVVlus'vn %,
ists are by no means suppressed uu' % suas .i .ho
revolutionary contagion is spreading into the
hitberto undisturbed western section OF tue
ialand. From day to day the conflicting re-
norts from the "seat OF war; would make IL
vsrv difficult to understand the situation OF
affairs on the island If we did not know the
source from which most OF the lnforInation
oomes and the motive for misrepresentation
Nearly all the news comes from and through
Havapa, and both the Spaniards and Spanish
authorities are very careful to make it appear
that the insurreotion is mere bagatelle ana iast
diving ont. They are particularly anxious 10
create this impression in the United states III
order to prevent sympathy and aid being ex-
tended to the Cubans. But 1t does not req qulre
much sagaoity to detect the falsehooos clI9u- %
Iated for this purpose. For example, IN the
iattar from Havana published in Wednesdays
Herald, il is represented that an early peace ls
oonfdently expected, that a compromise mad
been agreed upon by the insurgent chiefs, and
that the insurrectiOn was practcally over
The Vos de Cu5a, OF Havana, an intensely
Spanish paper, says tranquii1iy CfA eAlsts
fbroughout the island, except in Villa Clara,
where a small riot existed We have heard
lust the same things all through from the
Spaniards and Spanish press at Havana,
vet the insurreotion has continued TO
spread and grow stronger. But let us see
how these representations OF peace, tran
ouillity, and the end of the insurrection cor
respond with the facts and with the telegram
from Havana published at the same time with
this rose -oolOred letter in our issue of Wednes-
day. We learn from this telegram that the
Government is organizing several new bat
talions of volunteers, part for garrison duty
and part for active service in the field, ana
that La Cabana, the strongest fortress IN
Havana, is garrsoned by volunteers for the
purpose OF letting the regular troops proceed
to Cienfuegos. 1t is known, too, that General
Dulce has called upon the provisional govern
ment of Spain for four thousand more troops.
Does this look like tranquility or the end OF
the insurreotionY
Does the suppression OF freedom of the
press and other extreme repressive measures
show that there ia not vitality in the insur-
rectionY Any little success on the part OF the
Cuban patriots eleetrihes the whole island.
This was seen on the fail of Bayamo; for it
was followed Immediately by revolutionary
movements in Matanzas, Cardenas, even in
Havana itself, and in other cities and towns
throughout the island. This shows unmis-
tskably that the revolutionary fire is deep
seated widespread, and ready to burst forth
into action with the least prospect of success.
Judging from these facts and from the various
sources of private information at our COM
mand, there is no doubt the revolution is
stronger to-day than it ever has been.
The Spanish Government, too, is strength
ening itself undoubtedly, and the conflict may
be terrible one. But if the Cubsus should
be united and resolved to acquire their inde-
pendenoe, they can succeed. They have, in
Ghe mountain Businesses and abundant re-
sources of food in the Eastern Department,
the means of a prolonged existence. They
would acquire military experience in time,
and both men and the materials of war would
come to them. Spain is in revolutionary
condition, and will have enough to do at home,
probably, to prevent any powerful effort being
made to hold Cuba. The Cubans can have
no hope of freedom or exemption from
grinding taxation from the mother
country, whatever may be the form of
government ultimately established there.
Under Spanish rule there will always
be an enormous revenue squeezed from them
to support the Spanish Government and a
host of hungry colonial officials. They can
never have finer opportunity to acquire
their independence. The hour has struck, If
they know 1t and will take advantage of the
Gime. They ought not to let slavery or any
other question divide or hinder them from
attaining independence. Slavery Is doomed,
whatever may happen and whether they
remain colony or be Independent. They
had better acknowledge this fact therefore,
and unite upon the one idea OF independence
the example OF Lincoln's emancipation pro-
clamation. .. -. t-.
But what should be the policy OF the United
States with regard to Cuba and the Cubar
revoluti0nH There ia no question about tn,
sentiment of the American people. They ar
IN favor OF Cuban independence and of the in
dependence of the whole Of North Americ
from monarchical and European rule. Apart
however, from mere sentiment, 1t is the polio.
of tlia COnntrv IN aid a q IL ever
movement tending to disconnect this CONT
nent and surrounding islands from Europea
control. In this way will our commerce
and American ideas be extended. Cuba inde
pendent Of Spain, for example, would prov
far more valuable to us in a commercial poin
of view than IL is now. Besides, 1t is the inev
table destiny of that island, as well as the rel
of North America, to ultimately fall into OF
political system and to be united with us.
is the first duty of our statesmen, then,
watch the signs of the times and to seize ever
fair opportunity of carrying out the destin
of our country. We owe nothing to Spain
the other nations of Europe for our polite
existence. They insidiously endeavored
dismember the republic and TO plant an imp
rial monarchy on our border when we we
plunged in q terrible civil war, and Spain WI
one OF the enemies II has been our policy
sympathize with every people struggling f
liberty. Shall we refuse this TO the Cuban
a people terribly oppressed and our Me-
neighb0rs The Government should at on
ascertain from the Cubans themselves VIII
prospect they have of success, and then
justifable in doing 80, should recognize the
rs belligerents. We do not urge this in Il
way of retaliation, but in sympathy with
people struggling for freedom and upon tn
broad principle of American policy TO whi
we have adverted. II the Gubans have
chanca of acquiring their independenoe v