New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-05
CDB4 FOR THE CUBANS.

CUBA EUR HE CUDdNo'
eve are all nsurrectionists. The Provisional
Government is insurrectionary Gen. Dulce is
ian insurgcnt Cespedes is an insurgent." So
argues one of the brood of newspapers with
which the removal of restrictions on the press
has suddenly bewildered the easy going Ha-
yanese and in these few phrases 1t sums up
the Cuban declaration Of Independence. There
is no escape from the logical result of the sue
cessfu instruction against the depOsed Bourbon.
Spain expelled Queen Isabella because the
sovereign people of Spain so willed it, Very
well Cuba proposes TO eXpel the Captain-Gen-
eral and the whole brood of Spanish officials
that fatten on Cuban revenues, for the same
reason. The sovereign people of Cuba so will
it. Prim and SerTano are but insurgents,
appealing to the sovereignty of the peO-
pie for their support, and Dulce is but
the agent of tho insurgents, sent to
Cuba TO represent their cause in that part
of the Spanish dominion. Cespedes is only
another insurgent, who chooses to decline
making common cause with Prim and Serrano.
Captain General Dulce is far too astute n ruler
not to perceive the embarrassment in which he
is thus placed. Az n representative of the old
Spanish monarchy, he could at least appeal to
one sentiment to sanction the most strenuous
efforts for suppressing the Cuban revolt Cuba
might be governed by hard task masters; her sons
might be excluded from every post in the govern
ment of their own island; their wealth might
be assessed to support horde of foreign tax
gatherers and law gvers; bnt at least it was
the anointed head of the realm in whose name
these things were done. Loyalty and legiti-
macy still plead for obedience. But now all
that is ended. The Captain General can
appeal no longer to the sentiment of respect
for, or at least of unquestonng submission to,
the Queen. He comes, instead, the repre-
sentative of successful instruction. He may
assume to give commands, but all know that,
beneath the assumptions, he is really entreat-
ing Cubans to join in his instruction rather
than to make one for themselves.
When it comes to that every one knows
what is the Cuban answer. For years the
island has been awaiting some such oppor-
tunity. For years its inhabitants have been
goaded by unwise rulers, set over them by
Spain, to the verge of Rebellion. They have
honey -combed their country with secret socie-
ties plotting independence. They have made
it test of patriotism to hate the Spaniards.
They have looked longingy forward to the
day when they might raise the cry of Cuba
for the Cubans. At last it has come. Gen.
Duce wastes his time, therefore. in his soft
words and unused concessions. THE Creoles
are not to be so bought. 1t Is not Spanish
permission for a free press in Havana that
they ask-not the tardily conceded privilege of
sending deputies across the Atlantic to repre-
sent them in a legislative body in Madrid.
What they mean is to take neither Spanish
orders nor Spanish concessions, but to make
an end of Spanish interference and to govern
themselves in their own way. And we make
bold to say that it is not merely Ces-
pedes and the handful of insurgents
about Bayamo who mean this it is
the Cuban people. Our correspondent calls
attention to the fact that Don Miguel ALBANIA,
the richest and one of the most influential
planters in Cuba, was so commonly believed
to sympathize with the instruction that his
city residence was sacked by the marauding
Spanish volunteers, soon after their bloody ex-
PLOTS in the theater. The Captain General
might well learn an open secret, before he
suffers his irresponsible militia to go much
further in that direction. IL the houses of all
sympathzers with the instruction are to be
sacked, he must sack the house ofawell nigh
every Creole in Havana.
OF the immediate military operations in
Cuba little is to be said. Our correspondent
intimates that the Creoles believe the Captain
General to be almost at the mercy of his
Havana militia. He has been crowding his
regular troops out against Cespedes, till, as they
think, he has but trifling force to support him
in the capital No great reliance is to be
placed upon tho reports of actual fighting.
"They all lie" writes our correspondent,
In a private note, "but the Spaniards have
"the best organization and facilities FOR ly-
"ing." The details which we print of the
troubles in Havana go far toward showing
that the Captain General is soon to find plenty
to do at home. Meantime, the insurgents may
not bo making very active campaign; but
tho nsurrection smoldcrs in all parts of tho