The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-12

| Time is calling the roll OF events which mark
the decay of Spanish power in America with a
rapidity that has no precedent in the history
of the Spanish American colonies. On the
4th day of January Of the present year
General puIce arrived ct Havana full Of high
hope to assume the command Of that impor-
/ tant colony. Four months before that day an
! apparently unimportant revolution had broken
out in Yara, which his predecessor had been
impotsnt to suppress, and Cespedes, as the
ruler of free Cuba, was then installed at Bay
| amO. General Dulce arrived when the Span
ish power rejoiced in the full flush OF its
strength. Its army had not yet been depleted;
the great sugar district of the island was just
beginning to harvest its product and pour its
wealth into the lap Of the colonial power, and
the Spanish population of the cities and the
large towns had been recently organized in
battalions, filed with enthusiasm and hope.
The promises of peace which the words Of
Dulce bore to the revolted Cubans were sus-
tanned by the possibilities Of strong and rich
administration, which seemed to have full
power to enforce its threats and satisfy its
vengeance.
But six short though eventful months have
elapsed since we looked upon this picture, and
again we behold the spectacle which attends
the advent of new Captain General. The
wealth of men and resources which existed at
the opening of the year has been lavished, but
the enthusiastic hopes of the battalions Of
Cuauioh yoI,,utooro hovo mot hoon roaIiZod
while the failure of Dulce has compelled his
involuntary return to Spain. General de Rodas
comes to take his place; but how different is
the situation! The revolution has enjoyed
six months longer lease of life, and life to an
unsurpassed revolution means organization
and an increase of power The army has
been depleted till IL has ceased to be the
hope and the reliance of the government.
The harvest has been gathered and all its
wealth expended without diminishing the
needs of the administration. The enthusiasm
of the volunteer battalions has been changed
to discord and distrust, and the first act Of
the new commander Is a significant order to
the few hundreds Of troops he has brought
with him to march into the great fortress that
commands the island capital and hold no inter-
course with the volunteers or troops in the
city.
After this General de Rodas lands and walks
in solemn procession the distance of few rods
which lie between the landing place and the
palace. Not female face beams upon his ar
rival, and the grim and belted volunteers
receive him with a few scanty cheers and an
abundance of criticisms upon his bearing and
his supposed intentions. They had violated
all law in deposing his predecessor, and in the
four weeks during which they had controlled
the government they had learned the urgency
of Its needs, and had come to appreciate the
great fact that their hopes could triumph only
through succor from Spain. He is the first
instalment Of this succor and the depositary Of
the power of the metropolis, and his words are
waited for in anxious silence. These are soon
heard, and they recognize that the hitherto de-
rided insurrection Is now the fearful calamity
Of civil war, and they express the hope Of
| being able to triumph in the contest, through
the ''brave and disciplined army, and the
armed volunteers, to whose determined spirit
and efforts the salvation of the island is partly
due" Then follow words of unqualified praise
Of the volunteers, who are declared to observe
well Of their country" and proclamation to
the army and navy, who are exhorted ''to be
faithful friends of the volunteers, now your
brothers." These words Of General de Rodas
may be the words of wisdom or they may
be those Of policy and craft. His posi-
ton is . precarious and dangerous one
His policy, he tells us, is embodied in three
words-''Spain, justice, honesty" and he ex-
plains these to mean that Spain will find in her
patriotism inexhaustible resources to preserve
the integrity OF her territory, will render an
equal administration of justice to the high Off
cial and the artisan, and require honesty and
strict economy in every branch of the govern
ment All of this appertains purely to the
Spanish population and officers, as the Cubans
have no part or position in the colonial ar
rangements. OF other matters he says little
Reforms are postponed till the end OF the civil
war, and this he will accomplish at any cost.
He recognizes the decline of commerce, the
ruin Of industry, the disappearance of property
and the increasing emigration, which is rapidly
diminishing the elements of wealth. IF he
fails to suppress the revolution through a
united and desperate effort Of the volunteers,
in campaign which must be made as soon as
| the rainy season is past, it will be the final
failure. Spain must then turn to other views,
for which she is already preparing. What
success General Rodas will meet with we shall
soon know for he must move soon in support
Of the many harassed garrisons now holding
precarious positions in the interior of the
island. These must be partially relieved be-
fore the campaign opens, and time will soon
show what events remain in store to mark the