The New York herald., 1869-01-27

Tho Revolntisn n Cuba-Ncw Csnplica-
tio.s and Now Results.
The news from Cuba is OF grave charac-
ter. Fifteen days have elapsed since General
Dulce removed the repressive measures which
kept down the expression Of public opinion in
Havana, and we are now receiving Its first
distinct utterances. In another column we
give review of the free press Of Cuba and the
main points of the platform of one of its most
intelligent representatives. Its arguments are
logical and its statements bold. 1T is not
enough" says La Verdad, ito proclaim to
the country forgetfulness OF the past. 1t is not
the government which has offences to forgive;
it is the country. This does not ask for par
don; it asks for justice; and it asks not with
humility, but 1t demands" The popular voice,
on the other hand, does not wait to clothe
itself in well turned phrases. 1t will be con-
tent with nothing short of "Viva Cespedes"
This is the cry in the theatre and on the
streets, and at the gates Of the cemetery when
the bodies of the Cuban dead are brought to
interment. And Cespedes represents violent
and complete separation from Spain.
This development of public opinion has pro-
duced the natural result in community
where, as in Havana to-day, the reliance Of
the government is on bayonets in the hands of
a volunteer partisan organization of the purely
Spanish population. A conflict with the
people has occurred. A detachment assailed
from the housetop deliberately fred into the
JoJ oc N
Unfortunately citizens, officers Of the govern
ment and foreign merchants, and at later
hour shots were fired into an audience while
leaving theatre, killing two ladies and several
children. To make the partisan operation more
marked an American photographer is attacked
and killed in the streets by parties supposed to
belong to the same volunteer force, and his
body is delivered on the demand Of the Ameri-
can Consul In thus proclaiming war upon
the name and persons of American citizens
the Spanish element in Havana has revealed
itself in its true colors as markedly as the
Cuban element has shown its determined
aspiration for independence. The inquiry Of
the United States Consul yesterday to be
informed whether the government Of General
Dulce is able to protect American citizens was
a necessary one in the known tendency of the
native Spaniards in Cuba and in the present
state of affairs a plain and prompt communi-
cation from Washington will no doubt save
much blood.
These events mark turning point in the
revolution in Cuba. But one step can enable
General Dulce to remain master of the situa-
ton, and that we doubt his authority or his
readiness to take. An immediate proclama-
tion of Cuban nationality under the protec-
ton of the Spanish government, with the
convocation Of Cuban Congress at Havana,
might restrain the coming revolution in
the Western Department and preserve the
connection of the island with Spain. Every
other step will be futile. Cespedes has
drawn the sting of the Spanish wasp, which
proclaimed that Cuba must continue Spanish
or become African by proclaiming the emanci-
patton Of the slaves. The people of Cuba are
far in advance of the colonial government in
accepting the ruling ideas Of the age: and the
watchword of "Free Cuba for all freemen,
without distinction of nationality or race"
now openly proclaimed in Havana, binds
hundred thousand strong arms to the
revolution. The sudden recall Of Count Val
maseda's column from the Eastern Department
leaves one-half Of the island in possession of
Cespedcs, and coming events are already
casting large shadow, thanks to the volun-
teer organization in Havana, over the popuous
western portion Of Cuba.