The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-08

The New Phase Of the Revelation In Cuba-A
Question for the Incoming Administration.
Every breath of tidings that comes to us
from ''the Gem of the Antilles" brings intelli-
gence of multitudes fleeing from the island.
Men Of wealth are conveying their families and
their fortunes to other lands; men Of note in
society and government are seeking safety out
action are hurrying to and fro preparatory to
! the coming strife. The latest breathing of the
| telegraph is that Don Jose de Armas Ces-
| pedes, the head of the peace commission ap-
pointed by General Dulce, the confdant of his
plans and powers, after long journeyings and
conferences with the revolutionary leaders in
the central and eastern districts of the island,
has returned to Havana and departed thence
for the United States, saying that he is dis
| gusted with the state of affairs These are not
| the indications of return to peace they are
the mutterings Of the coming tempest. What
this is to be and what course it will take are
subjects worthy Of inquiry. Perhaps there
may be found natural causes that will indicate
the probable course Of the storm.
When Cespedes pronounced in October last
at Yara in favor of absolute independence for
Cuba he struck living chord in every Cuban
bosom. The idea spread with the rapidity of
wilddre through the Eastern Department Of the
island, and in very short time the petty
| Spanish garrisons were driven to the coast or
huddled together in few interior towns. The
Central Department quickly followed the lead
Of the Eastern, and from Cape Maysi
to Moron the island blazed with the fires Of
revolution. The hilltops around the Spanish
cities ofrefuge were covered with insurgents
and panic prevailed in every Spanish bosom.
With these achievements one half of the island
was in possession of the new order of things;
but here the revolution, without any visible
check, came to halt. The Western Depart
mept, the great seat Of population and
wealth, did not follow its sisters in the move
ment. Disagreements on questions Of greater
| or lesser vitality to the revolution sprang up
between the leaders of the centre and the
east. Inaction ensued among the insurgents,
and as natural consequence large numbers
Of the people, uncontrolled by discipline and
| wanting in the inspiration Of logically pro-
claimed and common cause, returned to their
homes. The Spanish population Of the island
took new heart and filled the ranks Of the
| government forces with volunteers. General
| Dulce arrived, commissioned with extraordi-
nary powers from the new government of
Spain. Throwing open the prison doors to
Il mi Of ho
claimed a general amnesty, freedom of press
and speech and representation in the Corte 8
for the island as an integral portion OF the
Spanish monarchy. Before these ostensible
causes the revolution is seen to dwindle
,, large numbers Of men accept the amnesty, and
vel the living exodus points to the fact that
fears " the future, not the assurances Of
peace. p.vevai in the Cuban mind.
There ia, then, an unavewed II not a secret
cause for Il js state Of things and it lies in the
logic Of even t., which Is ever stronger than the
nromise Of wo vds. In the first rapid march Of
revolution its D vomoters took advantage Of all
the elements wi. 'ich presented themselves to
their orasn and no, few slaves and contracted
Chinese Iaborers q, CROSSED the files Of the
insnrpents To tho mite Generalization Of pro.
ductive labor This = vas the first great fact,
and not any effort Of the Spanish troops which
prevented the extension OF the revolution
through the west. Follow ing this came the
proclamation Of General Ce 'pedes' giving
conditional freedom to the s. ayes. Inongn
carefully worded and very g. ardeu IN us
clauses, this was the torch of dis, 'ord 70 the
revolution. The Eastern Departm en., WIN
few slaves, and but limited number u these
engaged in agricultural labor, embra, Td al
once the new idea. The central portion OF lie
island, with greater interests at stake, divideo
upon i, and the western, where the slave in
vestments preponderate over all others, re-
jected 1t altogether Herein lies the secret of
the present condition Of affairs in Cuba
Under the pressure Of the slavery ques-
ton the revolution has changed It's charac-
ter from war for independence to
struggle for universal emancipation.
Nor Ia the danger confined TO the limits