The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-16
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY l6, 1869.
Tho Cuban RevOIutiOn-SIaVery anu
Sugar.

anu CVN''
SIr Is an III wind that blows nobody good,
says the old proverb, and the revolution IN
Cuba promises to not only hasten the aooh-
tiOn OF slavery in that island, but to exercise
an important commercial influence, which, IN
the end, will prove useful to this country.
The censorship exercised over the press,
and TO some extent over the telegraph, at
Havana, necessarily prevents the prompt
transmission OF accurate intelligence; but
there is something very ominous in the pro-
clsnstion issued by the Captain-General on
the 18th inst, setting forth that the insurgents
have refused to accept the amnesty proffered
in former proclamation, and that "others
are continually joining the revolutionary
Forces"
Inasmuch as this frank confession is accom-
panied by the imposition of new restrictions
upon the press, and by the announcement
that call political prisoners in future will be
tried by oourt-msrtial, it is evident that
Spanish dominion over the sever faithful
isle" is seriously mensced, and that neither
the recent nor the prospective change OF
rulers at Madrid can appease the irate Creoles
or satisfy their longings for independence.
The Captain General, in acknowledging the
failure Of his policy of paciication, does much
to confirm the statements of the American
champions Of the revolt, who allege that the
insurgents have gained possession of nearly
two-thirds of the island, and that, inspired by
q strong hope of ultimate success, they are
determined to continue the struggle to the
bitter end.
2 II their information is reliable, the deepest
passions of the human heart have been
aroused, and all minor considerations are
rapidly being merged in the absorbing struggle
for the continuance of Spanish supremacy on
the one hand and its destruction on the other.
Antagonisms have been lashed into a higher
pitoh of fury than they reached during the
late strife in this country, for here Anglo
Saxon moderation and humanity strove to
mitigate the worst horrors of war and to re-
strain wanton cruelty; but in Cuba, Castilian
pride and hauteur are confronted with Creole
hatred intensified by centuries Of hopeless
oppression, and prompted to desperate exer-
ton by lively fear Of the ruthless thraldom
that would inevitably crown new Spanish
victory.
In such death-grapple men soon become
indifferent to their pecuniary interests
Estates, slaves, and dollars lose their wonted
value when men are fighting for liberty and
life. 1t is alleged that the leader of the revolt
is one of the most extensive sugar planters on
the island, and that he has attested the sim
oerity of his devotion to the cause not only by
issuing an emancipation proclamation which
grants freedom to his own slaves and those OF
ether planters, but that, when compelled to
abandon the region in which his estates are
located he issued orders for the destruction
of his cane plants and the mills and machinery
he had used in the manufacture OF sugar.
Other plantations have since been devastated
in a similar manner, and the commercial re-
suit of these occurrences is pithily summed up
in the despatch from Havana, "Sugsr
buoysnt."
AS the Southern Rebellion gave a new i'm
pulse in various countries, especially India,
Egypt, and portions Of South America, to the
culture OF cotton, the Cuban rebellion will
awaken increased attention to the sugar
plantations of Louisiana and Texas. Much
has already been done to facilitate their cultIva-
tion by free labor, but new impetus will be
given to these efforts If the struggle in Cuba is
prolonged.
Lnasmuch as the United States is the
greatest sugar consuming and sugar-importing
country in the world, 1t would be we'll il, in
addition to the recuperation of the sugar plau-
tations of the South, greater zeal should be
displayed in the growth and manufacture Of
beet-sugar. This can be done in the North az
we'll as in the South, and the success which
has attended such enterprises in Europe indi-
Gates that they would also succeed here. The
main barrier to these experiments-the cheap
ness Of the slave-labor product of Cuba-wil
speedily be removed if the revolt continues
and whether it triumphs or is suppressed,
blow has been given to slavery from which i
oan never recover.
John Mitchell the CeIt.
JoaE MlToHEL has appeared before the publi
in various capacities, and by hook or by croOl
he has oontrived that the world shall not forge