The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-07
in greater danger Of personal injury than they
we're in any of the bloody battles of the war;

were in any of the bloody battles of the war;
The Situation in Cuba-GraduaI Ernauci-
patton.
The law passed by the Spanish Cortes, and
promulgated by the Regent Serrano on the
4th Of July last, for the partial emancipation
of persons held to slavery in the islands Of
Cuba and Porto Rico, has been published in
the official gazette Of Havana, and trans
lation Of 1t is given in to-days HERALD. 1t
declares free all children of slave mothers
born after the publication Of the law; all
slaves who have attained or shall attain the
age of sixty years; all who have aided the
tion and all who are under the control Of the
State; and 1t provides that, when Cuba is
represented In the Spanish Cortes by its own
deputies, bill for the compensated emanci-
patton Of those then remaining in slavery
shall be reported by the government The
law Is said to be regarded with unfriendly
feelings by the shareholders Of the island, who
see in it the first practical step towards the
complete abolition Of slavery in the Antilles.
Our correspondent in Havana also furnishes
us with batch of very interesting letters on
the state of affairs in Cuba, which, owing to
the crowded state of our columns we are I'M
able to publish. From the information con-
tanned In these letters we may come to a fair
estimate Of the unsettled condition of things
throughout the island. Another storm Is
brewing The Spanish residents in Cuba are
incensed at the manner in which the
home government has acted towards them.
In an address just issued, emanating
from the Spaniards who have taken up per-
manent residence on the island, the Madrid
government is soundly berated, denounced as
treacherous, charged with being corrupt and
stigmatized as being even in league with the
insurgents. The tone Of the document In
question, which has been forwarded to
Madrid, and copies Of which are scattered
profusely throughout the prominent cities and
towns in the island, is infammatory in the
| highest degree. 1t denounces those at pre-
sent in power in Spain in the most unmea-
sured terms 1t tells Prim & Co. that ''the
Spaniards here will keep Cuba and Porto Rico
| Spanish whether you wish or not. What care
we whether you wish it or do not wish it?'
Indeed the spirit manifested in this document
reflects very fairly the unsettled state o.
opinion among the Spanish residents in Cuba.
They are Disguised with Spain, despise Prim,
hate the Cortes and long for the partial OF
complete autonomy of the island. They are
also believers in the valor and courage of the
volunteers, call Valmaseda the ''beloved Val
maseda." What may be the result of all the
disturbing elements which now exist in the
island it is not very difficult to conjecture. So
far as the influence Of the home government ID
concerned, If this feeling increases it will
shortly amount to nothing in the island. In
the meantime the Cubans are active. Within
the past few weeks two, if not more, success
full expeditions have been landed on the
Cuban coast, and arms and ammunition, long
before this, conveyed to the insurgents. Let
the Spaniards fight among themselves. Sc
much the better. The wider the breach be-
tween the Spaniards in Spain and the Spaniards
in Cuba the nearer approaches the end of the
Cuban difficulty. Let them fight If necessary,
and while they quarrel among themselves the
Cuban people, If they are true to themselves,
can step in and secure the prize Of Cuban in.
dependence.