The weekly standard., 1869-09-29
Spain and Cuba.

The Cuban question has suddenly acquired
new Importance from the reports of the ef
fects of Minister SIcKLEs' negotiation. 1t
appears that his efforts in behalf of Cuba
have only excited Spain to still greater eff.
forts for the subjugation of Cuba.
The Spanish Government had hitherto
suppressed all unfavorable news from Cubs
and the Spanish people had believed tie in
surrection nearly conquered. The words Of
Minister SIoKLEs have dispelled the illusion,
and the Spanish people see how nearly is
Cuba lost to them. The proverbial "Span-
ish pride" is fully aroused, and offers to aid
the Government in quelling the rebellion
come from every Spanish province. Gen.
PRIM, after comforting with the Emperor of
France, writes to the Spanish Ministry that he
would not hesitate at any hazard to subdue
the insurrection in Cuba. This piece of ad.
vice but reflects the tone of the Spanish
people. The popular tide is in favor of
using every effort to subdue the Cubans.
PRIM knows this, and floats with the
current.
But the advice of PRlM, coming as it does
after interviews with the ruling spirit of
Europe, has been deemed to indicate that
Spain has the sympathy of France, and that
PRIM's advice is in reality the advice Of
LOUIS NAPOLEON. Thus, many persons re.
gard the utteranccs of PRIM as signifying
that Spain will be assisted by France We
do not so believe. We do not think that
the advice of PR1M amounts to anything
but his individual opinion, and as such is
entitled to no more weight than that it in
measure indicates the probable policyd
Spain. .... ....I I.s
1t is not to be doubted that Spain willu;e
every endeavor to conquer the Cubans, and
that more troops will be sent to the faithless
sever faithful Isle," but we do not belicTs
that any great body of regular troops can@
spared from Spain, whose own conditi0n Is
far from quiet, and whose future TRANQUILITY
is very far from being assured. 1t is highly
probable that any troops Spain may send to
Cuba will be composed of volunteers. Init
case the contest in Cuba will be decided BE-
fore these new levies become sufficiently dis
ciplined to amount to much as fighting
men. If put into the field they would
weaken instead of strengthen the Spanish
force
The preparations of Spain to send iron
clads to Cuban waters may be real, and Inc
iron-elads may actually sail, although tOe
event is considered more than doubtful
As the Cuban armies cannot be reached py
the iron-clads, and as they have no navy, tne
iron-clads can do but little damage to tlle
Cu6ans. True, they may somewhat hlndc'
the blockade runners, hut, the iron-clads Oc,
ing slow-vesscls. the hindcrance will amount
| to but little. The blockade runners wouiu
outsail them, and would slip in, dlschafs0
their cargoes and be off before the heavy
sailing iron-clads could get within gunsno'
of them.
The barbarities committed upon the Ou'
bans by the Spaniards have aroused ln'
indignation of American people. luz
wanton murder of the Americans has adu,
ed fuel to the flames, and it is evident tha'
the government cannot much longer resi''
the almost universal demand for the recoS'
milton of Cuban independence. isafs Wv =
United States government will soon act
the matter is evident, and we believe Il q
the action will be favorable to the Cubar n
Meanwhile, the Cubans are doing all IN
their power to secure success, and arc oa;n
ing strength every day while, on the otbo,
hand, the spaniards are rapidly becominc
weaker. Therefore, unless some unforeseas
combination is made, We still consider IL.
chances of the Cubans good, and bs,;o.s
them able to successfully combat the rn.s'
sisted force of Spain.