New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-20
THE SJTUAYJON IN cub.


Private adyicos from Cuba, though discOur-
aging enough to those who hope for an early
restoration OF peace IN that unfortunate
island, show that the Instruction, If it makes
no Roadway, at least retains its vitality. The
actual force Of armed insurgents in the CincO
Villas and Puerto Principe has certainly been
diminished; but the more resolute of the pat
riots still occupy The country around Las Tunas,
and have gained some successes which even
the Spanish authorities are forced to acknowl-
edge. Meanwhile, the fortified line drawn across
the island TO the east Of Espiritu SantO is held
by the SpaEiards, for the purpose of protecting
the great sugar estates, and combining the
Cuban guerrilla parties to the comparatively
poor districts of the Eastern Department.
Every effort is made to eXttmnate suspected
insurgents found to the westward of this line.
But the rustic population is hostile to the
Havana despotism. The Government inspires
no confidence; tie insurgents dare not sur
render, because they cannot trust promises of
amnesty and the brutal executions in Havana
have exasporated every sympathizer with the
party Of independence. Thus Instruction even
in the Western Department can only be kept
down by actual military occupation. But in
have exhausted their available resources alike
of men and of money. Its continuance is only
o matter of a little time. If there were no
extraneOus influences to be considered, the
Cuban problem would resolve itself into the
question whether .hc patriots or tie Volunteers
could hold out the longer without fighting,
and the chances would all he in favor OF
the patriots.
But the outside influences are very import
ant. The conviction is strengthening among
the leading men of Spain that the mother
country can afford no further waste of blood
and treasure in attempting to subdue the re-
belious island. Yet they feel at the same time
that settlement in some form is matter
of most urgent importance. In view Of the
"Monroe doctrine" said Senior Moret recently,
during debate in the Cortes, "and of the
Z" fact that Cuba and Porto Rico, the only
European possessions in America [sicl lying
cas- they do in the Gulf of Mexico, feel the
"attracton of the United States and their
republican institutions, the Cuban question
"must be considered one of the most serious
of modern times in Christendom.' He might
have added that the claims of American citi-
zens who have been outraged III person or
despoiled of their property by the Volunteers
and the Havana authorities, are not the least
of the complications that give this problem so
deep a significance. He might have acknowl-
edged that the claims cannot be settled nor
wrongs redressed by a mixed commission
whose awards there are no means of enforcing,
and that Spanish authority in the island has
yielded entirely to the ignorant and brutal
And Dx
this self-cOnstituted Government propose to
deal with the most serious question of mod
Germ times in Cuba u 1t chmors for fresh
prescriptions and representations. 1t sets up
the garote in every square. 1t calls for the
blood of every rcvolutionist, and shouts def
ance at every foreigner. 1t will spare no pris-
Oner and pay no debt; outrage all law and
deride all remonstrance, from Spain quite as
much as from the United States.
VIII the time ever come when humanity
will bid us take this monster by the throat !
Our diplomatic remOnstrances on the massacres
of Jiguani and Santiago were wasted. The
desDOtism of Havana cannot be checked 10y
soft words at Madrid We have citizens to
protect, a commerce to guard, treaties to
enforce, perhaps also duty to fulfill toward
the weak and the oppressed. 1t is not for
US to play the Quixote by righting all the
wrongs of the world, but there must, surely, be
point beyond which it viii not become us to
keep silent Spain should understand that she
Will be held strictly accountable for the wrongs
done under her flag to our citizens, II not by
her own act; and if she cannot guarantee 10
preserve order in Cuba, she will find it for her
advantage to sell the island to the insurgents
or otherwise get rid of it with no unnecessary
delay. |