The New York herald., 1870-01-31
'uooess or tho Csbsns-A New Phnso
tho Cuban Question Presented.

tho Cuban Question Presented.
The news published yesterday from Cuba
shows that fierce and bloody battle had been
| fought between the Spaniards under General
Pnello and tho patriots under General Jordan,
! and that the latter had defeated the former in
q very decisive manner. Pueblo lost thirty
six officers and four hundred men killed and
wounded, and narrowly escaped himself The
Spanish General returned with the remnant Of
his army to Puerto Principe. There had been
severe fighting, also, ten leagues from Santiago
de Cuba, in whicn, 1t appears, the Spaniards
had tho worst Of it again. This is evident
not only from the loss reported, but also from
the fact that mule train, carrying provisions
for estates near San Luis, was ordered to
return for fear Of the insurgents, who were re-
ported to be in considerable force between the
Spaniards and Santiago do Cuba. Ii mast be
borne in mind that this news comes from
Havana, and therefore is much more likely
to give the most favorable account for the
Spaniards and to put these disasters in the
best light than to exaggerate the success
of the Cubans. We have no doubt that when
we get ut all tho facts it will turn out that the
ported. Considering the nature Of the war
and the policy of the Cubans to keep up an
exhaustive guerilla warfare, which is the best
for them, this battle in the neighborhood of
Guaimaro was most important one, and
shows the ability of the patriots to sustain
themselves, even against considerable and
well equipped armies.
These successes Of the Cubans present .
new phase to the question of belligerency and
for the consid Grafton of our government.
According 70 Mr.. Secretary Fish apd Mr..
Plumb, the war in Cuba was virtually
at an end few weeks ago and the
Cubans were mere bands Of rowing out
casts, without resources or hope. True in
strange contradiction to this assertion, 1t
was admitted that the Cubans would carry on
defensive and guerilla warfare for some
years, which, by the way, would have been
quite sufficient for tho United States to have
acted upon in favor of Cuban independence, if
the government at Washington had not been
under Spanish influence and had really desired
to see Cuba free. 1t was a very curious and
significant circumstance that the war should
have been reported at an end by high authority
just at the time Congress vas about to reas-
semble, and when it seemed probable that the
representatives Of the people would take some
action In favor of Cuba. 1t was curious, too,
that the late Consul at Havana, Mr.. Plumb,
should have been brought to Washington to
make such a representation just then, particu-
larly as it is generally understood that he is
favorable to the Cubans. But facts are
stronger than words, and it Is quite evident
now that the war is not at an end, and not
likely to be till Cuba acquires her indepen-
dence. Of course we shall hear garbled and
soothing accounts from Havana about the
disasters to the Spaniards, and we shall hear
for the hundredth time of the wonderful things
which the Spaniards are going to do, and this
may satisfy our Secretary of State. But will
the people Of this republic and Congress be
deceived by such shallow misrepresentation
and subterfuges?
It whispered around that the Cuban ques-
lion is to find solution in another way than
by war, by the recognition Of the belligerency
or independence of the Cubans, or by aid to
the patriots from the United States. There is
an impression that our government is going to
buy Cuba, either in the name and with the
money of the Cubans, or ont and out from the
United States Treasury, and that the admins
ration is only waiting till Prim, Serrano and
other Spanish leaders can get public sentiment
in Spain favorable to the sale Of the island.
This must be long and doubtful way of reach
ing the object, at least, and from present ap-
pearances the Cubans may settle the question
before the job can be accomplished. How
long will it take these Spanish leaders to pre-
pare the public mind in Spain? What revolu-
tions may not occur in that volcanic country to
upset this scheme? No doubt the sum of q
hundred millions or hundred and fifty millions
of dollars is q tempting bait for these Spanish
chiefs, for the Spanish agents in this country
and for the lobby at Washington; but to grab
it depends upon doubtful and remote contin-
gencies. After all, it is question whether
the astute Spanish leaders at Madrid and their
cunning agents here are not leading our
simple Secretary Of State in a string, and that
if they could crush the rebellion in Cuba by
the aid or direct assistance Of our govern
ment they might not then politely inform
us that public sentiment in Spain could
not be brought to favor the sale Of the island.
Then, again, how much less will Cuba be
worth after years of desolating war; But
why pay hundred millions or more for that
which can be obtained for nothing2 And do
we owe nothing to humanity and nothing to
the principle of republican liberty on American
SOIL that we should stand with our arms folded,
looking on with Indifference, while bloody,
cruel and useless war is going on almost
within sight of our shores2 If Spain would