The New York herald., 1869-05-10

Cuba and the Filibusters.
Several weeks have elapsed since our spe-
cial correspondents in Cuba announced that it
was slack tide with the revolutionists, and this
fact has recently been communicated to the
government by Admiral Hoff, who states, in
his official report from Havana, that neither
party seems to be doing much just now. Coinci-
dent with this state of affairs the Cuban Junta
in this city made public a few days since an
urgent appeal to that body from the insur-
gent Generals Marmol and Figueredo to
send them arms and ammunition; and the
tenor of all our advces from Cuba is unifo rm
in the statement that the revolutionists are
sadly deficient in these essentials. At the
present moment the partisans of Cuba are
making great exertions in this country to send
to their friends in Cuba these necessary sup
plies, and the agents of the Spanish govern
ment in this city are equally active in its be-
half in forwarding similar material. The only
difference between the two consists in the fact
that one side does its work silently, but
efficiently, while the other endeavors to do its
rade of movement, after the style of the old
filibuster days of Lopez and Quitman.
But there is no similarity whatever be-
tween the two movements or between
the aims and results of the respective
agitators and leaders. The position of
means available for its triumph are widely
distinct from those that attended the same
question in 1850. Even the attitude and prin-
ciples Of the cOmbatants are changed, as will
be seen by very cursory but exact review of
the history of the Cuban question. The aspi-
ration for free government among the people
of Cuba is coincident in its inception with
the revolutionary struggles of the Spanish
colonies of the Continent. 1t first took form
soon after the restoration of absolute govern
ment in Spain by the Duke d d'Angouleme, with
French army of one hundred thousand men,
in 1928. At that period a conspiracy, which
ramifed from Mexico under the name of the
''Black Eagle" gave the Spanish authorities
much uneasiness. This was followed by an
other, called the "Sons of Bolivar" connected
with the projected invasion of Cuba by Cen
eral Bolivar. The invasion scheme was de-
feated by the attitude President Adams took
against it, and the secret societies were effect
lively suppressed by the judicious policy, COM
bining frmness with moderation, pursued by
Captain General Wives.
From this time the Cuban question slept
until lS4s, when it was resuscitated by Lopez
At this period an abolition party had been de-
relopea IL :a, Sra::a which gave life to the desire
for separation among the great slaveholding
and agricultural interests. Lopez was exc
cuted in 1851, and the Cuban agitators sought
Quitman as leader. The advent of Pezuela
as Captain General Of the island, with direc-
tions to prepare the country for the abolition
Of slavery, SO alarmed the wealthy and plant
ing interests that they embraced the cause of
independence with great fervor, and the Golfers
of the Cuban Junta of 1923 received abun-
dant supplies Of, money. The Spanish govern
ment, alarmed at the portentous growth of
the Quitman movement, changed its policy, and
the filibuster attempt subsidized. All through
these agitations peace reigned in the island,
excepting two short periods of few days
each, when Lopez made his descents, and the
plan Of revolution rested entirely upon pro-
posed invasion by an organized body of armed
men, the leaders of which looked for assist
that protection could be afforded to those who
joined the movement
The revolution which now RACES in Cuba is
of an entirely different character. It has
been the people who have moved first, and the
wealthy class, particularly In the western or
sugar-producing district, has not sided with
them. In the eastern and central portion of
the island, where the slaveholding interest Is
comparatively small, all classes have embraced
the revolution. Freedom has been proclaimed
for the slave, and hatred to the Spaniard is
the burning motive in every Cuban breast.
But the people are poor, and as the wealthy
classes of the west took no part in prepara-
ton and have not since made remittances as
they did in 1923 to the junta in this country;
the resources Of the revolutionary agents here
are small. Nor are their needs the same as
were those of 1853. Then a strong force was
needed as nucleus for the revolutionary
movement, and the army of Quitman pre-
sented many of the brightest names of our
army Of that day, with thousands of organized
followers. To-day the revolution has its
thousands of men in the field, but is sadly
wanting in arms, munitions and leaders skilled
in the art of war.
These causes have made the change which
is seen in the Cuban movements of the
present day. There is no opening for the
thousands of armed flibusters of the past
To send men TO Cuba would be waste; for
it consumes the available means which should
be expended in arms, and thus diminishes
the supply of these. Such numbers only as
are sufficient for easy and successful landing
of munitions are all fhaf Tho cnan rnnnirca