The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-09
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
NDMoHlAh eFrIoFs or THR LEADpqe JouRNALs
UpoE CuRRBNT ToPIos-coMPuKD EVERY
DAY PoR THH EVENING TRLEeRAPH.

%No,s pe N. Y. Herald
Every breath Of tidings that comes to us
from the Seem of the Antilles" brings intelli.
genoe Of multitudes fleeing from the island
Men Of wealth are conveying their families
and their fortunes TO other lands; men of note
In society and government are seeking safety
gnt Of the vortex of Cuban politics, and men
q action are hurrying TO and fro preparatory
10 the coming strife. The latest breathing
Of the telegraph is that Don Jose de Armas y
9espedes, the head Of the peace commission
appointed by General Duloe, the conhdant OF
his plans and powers, after long journeyings
And conferences with the revolutionary leaders
in the central and eastern districts of the
hland, has returned to Havana and departed
thence for the United States, saying that he is
aksghsted with the state of affairs. These are
not the Indications Of a return OF peace; they
are the mutterings' OF the coming tempest;
What this is to be and what course IL WIN
take are subjects worthy OF inquiry. iethaPS ,a
there may be found natural causes that VIII
indieata The nrobable course Of the storm.
When Cespedes pronounced in October Iast
M Yara IN favor OF absolute independence LOT
Cubs he struck q living chord In every Cuosn
bosom. The idea spread with the rapldlty OF
wild fire through the Eastern Department OF the
ialand, and In q very short time the petty
spapish garrisons were driven to the coast or
haddled together in few interior towns. The
Central Department quickly followed the lead
Of the Eastern, and from Cape Maysi to Moron
the island bla9ed with the fires Of revolution.
The hilltops around the Spanish cities OF
refuge were covered with insurgents, and
panic prevailed in every Spanish bosom. With
these achievements one-half OF the island was
In possession of the new order OF things;
hut here the revolution, without any visible
check, came to halt. The Western Depart
ment the great seat of population and
wealth, did not follow its sisters in the move
Ment. Disagreements on questions OF greater
or lesser vitality to the revolution sprapg up
between the leaders of the centre and the
east. Inaction ensued among the insurgents,
and as q natural consequence large numbers
of the people, uncontrolled by discipline and
wanting in the inspiration OF logically pro-
claimed and common cause, returned TO their
homes. The Spanish population of the island
took new heart and filed the ranks OF the
Government forces with volunteers. General
Dulce arrived, commissioned with extraordi
nary powers from the new Government Of
Spain. Throwing open the prison doors to
large numbers Of political d6tenuS, he pro-
slaimed a general amnesty, freedom of press
and speech, and representation in the Cortes
for the island as an integral portion of the
Spanish monarchy. Before these ostensible
causes the revolution is seen to dWlndle; large
numbers of men accept the amnesty, and yet
the living exodus points to the fact that fears
Of the future, not the assurances of peace,
prevail in the Cuban mind.
There is, then, an unavowed il not secret
cause for this state of things, and il lies in
the logic of events, which is ever stronger
than the promise of words. In the first rapid
march OF revolution its promoters took ad-
vantage OF all the elements which presented
themselves to their grasp, and not a few slaves
and contracted Chinese laborers engrossed
tbe files of the insurgents, to the utter de-
morali2ation Of productive labor. This was
the first great fact, and not any effort of the
Spanish troops, which prevented the extension
Of the revolution through the west. Follow
ing this came the proclamation OF General
Cespedes, giving conditional freedom to the
slaves. Though carefully worded and very
guarded in its clauses, this was the torch of
aiscOrd to the revolution. The Eastern De-
partment, with few slaves, and but limited
number Of these engaged IN agricultural
The central portion of the island, with
greater interests at stake, divided
npon 1t, and the western, where the slave in
vestments prepOnderate over all others, re-
1scted II altogether. Herein lies the secret of
the present condition of affairs in Cuba
Binder the pressure OF the slavery question the
revolution has changed it's character from q
war for independence to struggle for uni
yersAl emancipation. Nor is the danger CON-
pressure OF events and ideas in Spain is pre-
pairing new danger for General Dulce, and
the political and social system he seeks to
establish, in the probable abolition by the
Sortes OF slavery throughout the Spanish
sominions. The conflict which portenis is
purely American one, and among the great
questions upon which General Grant and
MIS- administration will be required to take
new point of departure, that of Cuba
and its relations to the Union is one
"a tne most important and most urgent. This
siend, with population of million and
nAu OF souls, lying in close proximity to our
shores and along the immediate line of our
mmense Atlantic cOastWise commerce, is to-
aay the scene Of revolution which will in
sVitaoly sever the island from the dominion of
cPSn. We say that it will produce an inevi-
ssoie separation, because Spain herself is on
We eve OF acivil war, which already preeludes
hel from sending to Cuba the forces necessary
H triumph over the present revolution. and
n,n consume all the resources she can DOS
come. ~ w
Herein lies the true point Of view for Gene
mi 0rant and his Cabinet TO take. The prin-
upie ei diplomatic Intervention is everywhere
scmitsed In the school OF European politics
when threatened confagratiou In anv STATE
&orends danger to the interests of its nsigh
nofs' IL is logical rule and holds good in
oanerioa as we'll as in Europe, The proxiunitv
@voDs 10 our shores; the great material inte-
SosIs Oh our trade, which are affected bv her
~ - o1 woe; the political combinations
sr;at anS ~ SS'sted In the past, do now
Gall imperatively for action on onr nart' r.
bnow tnat this is not an imaginarv cali NO
neeo cite only the faot-wbioh "a &c., 80 ""
m the family traditions of Admiral portar
shs. In ls2o-5o the United States was forced