The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-05
Reign Of Terror i'm Havana.

Our full and complete advices by mail from
Havana give sad picture Of the state OF Affairs
In that city caused by the recent excuses Of
the Spanish volunteers and which have re-
suited in the murder Of many citizens and the
beginning of an exodus which, if continued,
will leave General Dulce but little prospect Of
q restoration Of feeling of loyalty to Spain
in the homes and hearts Of the Cuban people.
The uncalled-for slaughter Of one American
citizen, Mr.. Conner, and the shooting ct seve-
raj others by volunteer patrols, simply because
in reply to the military challenge they stated
they were Americans, is not calculated to help
the Spanish cause much in this country. The
acts of these volunteers on the 22d and Oath Of
January last remind US Of the occurrences on
the 10th Of August, 1851, on the occasion of
the shooting Of Crittenden and his fifty COM
panions by General Concha, after their surren-
der in good faith on promise Of being sent to
the United States.
These sanguinary feelings demonstrate that
the revolution, far from being put down, is
making rapid progress in Cuba, which will be-
fore long eliminate in further trouble and dis
aster to the colonial government. In the state
of incapaciy and weakness attending the pre-
sent provisional government of Spain, with the
prospect Of very serious letting of blood
there, it would have seemed the part Of
wisdom for the Spanish volunteers to have
RETAINED from making up so bloody record
against themselves. Now their doom is sealed.
Sooner or later the revolution will overwhelm
them with its tide of passion and blood. At
this moment there seems to be q tacit truce
between the combatants in the centre and east
Of Cuba, pending the interviews Of the Peace
Commission from Havana with the leaders in
Puerto Principe and General Cespedes in the
vicinity 9f Holguin.
According to the best accounts we can obtain
from the interior of the island the insurgent
forces are becoming better organized, better
armed and in every respect more formidable,
as they learn by practice the art Of war. They
still cling to the Fabian policy in their opera
lions, and the fall of Bayamo, instead Of hav-
ing depressing effect. seems to have offered
an example in the burning Of his own home
by Cespedes which every Cuban is disposed TO
initiate. These things augur success to the
revolution, and we advise Mr.. Seward to re-
member that now is the time to return in kind
the many favors which the Captain General Of
Cuba, under orders from Madrid, extended to
the rebel Commissioner Helm in Havana.
For three years he was enabled to obtain there
on favorable terms. and even from gov
eminent depots, it not to be procured
elsewhere, munitions Of war and supplies
of all kinds. The harbors of Cuba were con-
verted into refugees for blockade runners, and
belligerent rights were, from an early period of
the rebellion, conceded to the bars and stars,
much to the disgust Of Consul General Shu-
feldt.
We are told that an authorized commits
sioner from Seior Cespedes, the Commander
in-Chief of the Cuban patriots and the recog-
nized head of the new government, has reached
this city and will soon present his credentials
at Washington. Let him be received with the
honor and respect due to the representative of
people who for four months have maintained
a contest for liberty with bare swords against
breach-loading rides and rifled artillery and
II he needs any little utensils in the hardware
line let him pay his money and take his choice.
An early communication will also be not amiss
from the ready pen Of our Secretary of State
to our Vice Consul General in Havana ap-
proving the prompt and proper stand he has
recently taken in behalf Of our citizens resi-
dent in Cuba. We do not care to see them
shot down by Spanish volunteers because they
doubt the propriety of shouting "Kioa
Espana 7"