New-York tribune., 1870-10-12
CUBAN PROSPECTS.
VIEWS OF THE CUBAN GENERAL-IN-CUIEF.
Il. L.. l. Iri q = 4

VIEWS OF THE CUBAN GENERAL-IN-CHlEF.
TO the Edftor of The Tribune.
SIR: In your issue of this date, i'll the course
Of an article upon Cuba-The Struggle ana the Pros
pcct-it asserted that the party OF liberation III the
Island is growing smaller in numbers and weaker in
resources" and lately has been "conned to less terri
tory than formerly" Now with no other interest In tho
matter than to have your readers know the truth in re-
gard TO the Cuban struggle and the actual prospect
beg to assure you that there are to-day more armed pa
trots Cuba than at any previous time since the war
began OF the patriots may have less
than formerly but in the more material war resource
ammunition they are stronger OF territory they have
lost nothing substantial 10 the issue the occupation or
which upon false military SYSTEM does not serve 10
disperse the Spanish force and weaken them to some ex
tent.
AT the time left Cuba only 1900 rifles and guns Of all
sorts had been landed upon the island and with about
900 captured from the enemy and 1000 shot guns, ana
other firearms in the hands Of the people when tho war
began or at the most 1900 rifles, carbines, and shot
guns constituted the OF the patriot force and
limits or determines the number Of that forcel
But since that time several thousand arms have gone
10 the island and into the hands Of the Cubans, adding
that number TO the armed party OF liberation, and
this / can assure you. Moreover, cOnslderable
amounts of ammunition and sulphur have been received
so that the matter Of ammunition the condition of the
patriots is far better than It II months ago for
when Pueblo opened the campaign against me. on Christ
day. had only 10 rounds of ammunition available
And let ask IT, really, the Spanards have 20 effect
uay weakened the strength of the revolutionary party
how did it happen that the CaptainGeneral had to call
for heavy reinforcements which If sent, however will
scarcely make the Spanish army strong "a it was
year agoi No. Sir; the CELEBRATING party" is stronger
not weaker; and all my letters from the island assure
the determination of the people to be free also
| stronger than eycrl
the article allusiOn IL made TO reports that
Prm and SerranO have at last the absolute
sty for immediate solution Of the Cuban question
that will rid Spain Of the intestine trouble there in sOmo
other fashion than that hitherto relied Also the hope
is INDUCED that the Captain General has been APP
pointed with that uerior view In the first place, the
antecedents of CorOva show him to I've representative
| Spanish savage. Certainly not likely to be mder
than the mplacable and npraceable DE Rodas.
But be that as IT, eis may any one who os VII u,
doubt that were Irim and Serrano aided by Cor
d0va desire and seek 10 settle the Cuban question in
any other way than crushing utterly the native Cuban
people they could moi achieve No fact is made more
palpable in those dispatches than that there
rum in imperiO-the Spanish vOunteers-n Cuba, which
does in all things absolutely as 1t choses, utterly diSre
gardng the orders and wishes and views OF the Homo
its fanced interests The fundamental principle upon
which this organization Is established is 10 keep
Mr. exCOnsul Plumb says distinctly in his dispatches
the State Department. They have no idea of submitting
OCas es deq M y s ST Of oG a @ P Is
say: These Volunteers have idea Of any state OF
1
the Island will rule it, which of course must be the basis
OF any proper settlement of the question: assuredy
would result from any cessOn OF the Island to the United
| States.
This Volunteer party, 1t will be remembered, depOsed
Gen. Dulce and II De Rodas has been impractcabl ble
toward the Home Government 1t simply because he
recognized their power paramount to that Of Prm and
| serrano. To attempt to disarm this party, Consul
| Plumb tells us, "might naugurate another
| civil war" and he evidently seeks to show
| it would But yet, you will see, IL IL not,
at least, the side of the Cubans to which he leans
Any reliance, therefore, upon the part of
Spain which shall end the bloody struggle in Cuba short
of the reduction Of the people back to bond
age than before. surely must be vain and negOta
looking that object will all end In nothing except
harm to the poor Cuban people they to dream of
trusting TO 80 lusory hope Happily, they not and
happy, will it be for them If they do not find another
hope equally usOry, that they may yet see state OF
impartial neutrality in the war between them
and Spain; that they will yet the
American people recognize the plain fact
that there is such war; In which, according to tho
records OF the American State Department. the Spanards
have been forced 10 put IN the Held OO men, and
10 blockade the island with 10 ships of and finally
that they Will yet themselves permitted to get and
transport from the ports of the United states all that
their cruel Spanish enemies are suffered to do
Respectfully, THOMAS JORDAN.
heic- YORK., Oct. IL, 1870.