, 1869-04-20
CUBAN AFFAIR."

true, that Brigadier General Steedman has
landed in Cuba with oue thousand Ameri-
cons, small as that force may seem, the
moral effect of the event viii be very great.
Less explicit reports from New Orleans
seem to cast doubts on the question whether
Stecdman's expedition is not still in en-
bryo. II any expedition has landed, tho
assumption that it is only the advance
guarl Of greater forces, which are secretly
being enlisted in our seaboard cities, will
cause the attention Of the civilized world to
be directed to the United States, as IN in
voluntary, hut almost the controlling, party
to this contest. Our people and our gov
crnment will he watched, as the movements
Of France are studied in Italian revolutions,
te find out whether they are to end in q
me,e fmtMe or in new kingdom. The
invasion Of our flag, in the seizure of the
two prisoners on the American brig Lizzie
Major, Seems to be fully ratified by the
Spanish officials in Cuba, both by the con-
desnnation Of the vessel hy their Admiralty
Judge and the continued confinement of
the prisoners seized on board of her.
Meanwhile, it is currently reported from
Washington that Secretary Fish Ans
sent forward to the Captain General
demand for the immediate re-
lease Of these two prisoners, that they be
put on board the vessel from which they
were taken, OF some other American vessel,
and that the Spanish men-of-war at the
same time salute the American flag, as the
very gentlest md least humiliating apology
that can be given for the insult to our ma
tiona1 honor committed in their seizure.
Our Courts Of Admiralty, upon the app1ica-
ton Of the British Government, apparently
on behalf Of British subjects interested in
the cargo, are already engaged in trying the
question Of the 1awfulness of the condemna-
ton by the Spanish Court Of the vessel and
cargo. If their decision shall conflict with
That Of the Spanish Court, the question Of
our rights in the case becomes an interna-
tiona1 one, to be adjusted by diplomacy or
decided by war. In any event, if the
Spanish Captain General refuses to su.zen-
der the prisoners after the example set by
our government in the case Of Mason and
Siden, there is no course but to send an
army and navy to Havana md take them;
in short, as the matter stands, the Spanish
officials must Immediately ret1ace their
steps and apologize, or, by their own clear
fault, they will have invoked the whole
power Of the United States practically to
the aid Of the revolutionists.
Nearly every day brings accounts of new
executions Of rebelprisoners, by the garrote,
in the streets Of Havanna, in the presence
Of an infurinted crowd Of citizens, who, in
spite Of the presence Of squadronso Of Spanish
troops, salute the victims with "Virn CuJn
Hbre," "Vr1 Indfptudenci'," and other
war cries Of the insurgents. Justo Aquilera,
President Of a Revolutionary Junta in a
small interior town, was executed on the
9Th, and Leon and Medina were gauoted
on the 9th instant, for par
ticipntion in revolutionary riot
which occurred last january. Leon,
before taking his seat in the garroting chair,
mndc speech over the heads Of the troops
to the citizens, full Of defiance and scorn
for Spanish rule, and closing with the war-
cry, !" Free Cuba, forever" Ths wns taken
up by the concourse and repeated SO gener-
orally that the Spanish troops rushed on the
crowd with their bayonets, and stabbed,
rode down and t1ampled upon scores Of
them, killing only SIX, but woundiug many
more, and receiving few Rhots in return.
Thus every execution hatehes new ones.
Correspondents say that about seventy per-
sons have already been garroted. Although
the hideous spectacle Of these victims,
clothed in white, sitting in the chair Of
, spine, and their dead ewes c1arine on WI
cancy, has thus been made familiar to the
Cubans, get at every new execution new
shouts Of "viva Independence" a1e raised,
though every person uttering the cry know:
that it exposes him to death.
As but few military prisoners have beer
taken but few haye been executed, but vi
do not learn thnt any are spared. VI
earnestly hope it is not t1ne that American
youth, however misguided or criminal, ar
being lured into these expeditions agains
Spanish rule in Cs.,,n. It is The duty OF ou
government to prevent any such c1pcdi
tons from forming or sailing, and the pee
pie will hold President Grants adninistra
tion responsible if it fails to perform it
duty. Open md straightforward way
when it comes by honorable moans
we must alvn5s stand prepare
for. But nearly our entire peopl
arc opposed, and all Of them ough
to bo opposed, TO drifting and stumbling
into war Of any kind, from our mere inefti
cheney and winking ut the violations Of on
own laws, whereby ignorant and reckles
boys are seduced into Cuba, surrendered t
Spanish vengeance, and garroted.
SICKLES AND SANFORD,