The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-05-10
cuba and the United States.

Cuba and the United states
The reader has learned no doubt il he
bothers himself at all with Cuba
or feels interest In anybody who med.
dies in the affairs Of that "played-
out' to quote an abominably "prac-
teal" phrase) country that General
JORDAN has left the army Of "Cuban Pa
triots" and come home. He has made a
publication Of the state Of affairs in the
island, In which he denies that he has aban-
doned the cause, and claims to be only here
TO help 1t. He declares that he hopes the
rebels will succeed through their present
guerrilla mode Of warfare. He declares
that there is no lack of patriots eager TO
fight on the side of the rebels, and that ne
groes and coolies willingly fight under inc
banner Of revolution, and make soldiers
Gas good as the best" I'VE don't know
whether the "best" may consider this as
q compliment, but we are sure the negroes
cannot. Such warriors as the chest" APP
pear from their achievements to be no great
things.1
Now, General JORDAN certainly fights the
war of the motley rebels far more safely IN
New York than he did in his year of fruit
less service in Cuba. We feel gratified At
the fact; for we do not see that the life OF
q virginian might be profitably sacrificed
to either side Of the struggle now waged IN
Cuba with so little credit to either. only
we cannot see how General JORDAN, unless
he is well paid, can do much at home very
sincerely for the rebels. AS far as prlncl-
ole Is concerned, we do not see much IN
volyed-certainly not enough to justify the
upturnng of the peace and industry OF the
island. Abolitionism may find enough in
Cuba to dance warlike fandapgo over, but
then the abolitionist philosophers only set
others on. General JORDAN, who, we sup
pose, entered the rebel cause merely us
professional fighter, went to Cuba with the
benedictions of the enthusiastic philoso-
piers, and now that he comes home with
out having liberated Cuba, they seem de-
lighted with the fact that he says the "ne-
"groes make soldiers not inferior to the
"best." But not one of them, as far as we
have heard, has emulated the "heroism"
of General JORDAN by entering the service
Of the "rebel" cause, fighting in the hot
sun, and living on rice and molasses. We
trust he has been we'll paid: for there is
not enough in the whole "platform OF
principles" and any Of the achievements of
the Cuban rebellion to excite spark of
zeal in true and generous breast. We
equally trust that General JORDAN is in re-
ceipt of a good salary as an agent, safe at
home, of the "rebellion"; for if there is
nothing in Cuba to warm up the spirits of
a man of true feeling and intrepidity, as
suredly there is less to stir him up when
out of the country.
Indeed the Cuban war is a humbug; and
this country should feel ashamed to be ever
berating the Cuban Government, clam
destinely plotting to upset it, and sending
out material aid for that purpose. The ILL
cit means employed are shameful enough
bit singular retribution seems to follow
their employment; for defeat has persis-
tently fallen upon all the lodges" Of
American sympathizers with Cuban rebel
lion for twenty years. 1t is mystery. Our
men are brave and skilled in war, but when
ever they land in Cuba they seem to be
under some strange infuence-some mental
and physical depression-for they acqult
themselves poorly. They display none OF
the sagacity which is almost peculiar to our
people, and the blows they strike seem to
be blows dealt in the dark. And yetthe
Government of Cuba is marked by no signal
features in the way Of vigilance and fore
cast, and not even promptness, save in
hanging or garroting "rebels.'
In short, the Cuban affair is contempt.
BILE muddle. The part this country has
acted in 1t brings no credit upon us, but
rather shame. We help to keep the coun'
try in turmoil by assisting insurgents who
evidently, from their want of mental and
physical power, are unfit to govern the
country. 1t is shame to keep country
in everlasting disturbance for such peo-
pie.
Far better would it Be if the Government
would take Cuba at once. It's West India
policy-its coquetting with blacks of Hayti
and St. Domingo-its siding with parties in
the miserable domestic wars of those coun-
tries-its speculative schemes--its affected
virtues Of honor and impartiality, etc.-are
a stain upon the foreign policy of this great
nation. 1t is time to put down fillibuster-
Ing from our shores by rigid performance
ofour obligations Of neutrality, or to take
Cuba at once, as a measure essential to the
peace and order of this he misphere. 1t is
time that this great nation should cease be-
Httling itself with Its timid, ayaricious, and
Aypoegitical West India policy.