New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-13
THE CONDITION or CUBA

drama that is now enacting in the island OF
Cuba. Before the beginning Of the Franco
Prussian war the internecine strife which des-
olates that island attracted the most earnest
attention of all civilized nations The suffer
ings of the Cubans and the atrocities OF the
volunteers moved the press OF Europe ana
America to daily expressions of sympathy and
indignation. All agreed that the present con-
ditiOn Of affairs could not endure, and lively
discussion went on as to the way out OF the
difficulty. The wit Of Spanish statesmen was
taxed 10 the utmost to devise measures OF con-
ciliation, in which few professed to feel any
confidence, and the energetic Intervention OF
the United States was generally regarded as
the necessary and only practicable solution OF
the embarrassing situation.
But, since the war began in Europe, all IN
terest in lesser struggles has died ont OF the
public mind. The press chronicles nothing but
the movements of armies and the intrigues OF
dpOmatsts in the Old World. Even the
Gpapish tribune has ceased its eloquent expOsi-
tons Of Spanish wrongs IN the Antilles. Inc
importance OF the question OF the monarchy
in the Peninsula has deferred 10 the Greek
kalends the discussion of autonomy in Ul-
tramar. Such silence in regard to the whole
matter has fallen upon the world, That one
might easily imagine the instruction at an
end and the island il peace.
But our adviccs from Cuba, and from Madrid
as well, show that the contest still RACES, if
not with the same vigor, at least with no
signs of an immediate peace. The same sys-
TEN of violence and sDoliation which has been
followed since the first outbreak of the insur-
rection at BayamO is still carried ont by the
thrifty SDaniards in Office. CaballerC dc ROda8
has gone home in disgust, in the hope of
plentiful crumbs to fall from the table of the
Sayoyard, and Nalmaseda, who was appointed
to succeed him for the time being, still holds
his place, as if the Government feared to
attempt to dislOdge him. His thirst for blood,
we must do him the justice to say, appears to
be somewhat slaked by two years OF murders.
He is even growing careful of his reputation
and does not like to be called q butcher a
name in which he glOTied a year ago. His
fayorite vice is now falsehOOd. He sends
dispatches every day to Madrid announc-
ing, with a never-tirinS fatuity, the final
crushing out of the instruction and
the surrender Of the last remnants of the
disorganized bands. Even in Madrid the end
less iteration OF this silly refrain has begun to
be tiresome, and some OF the ministerial papers
received in our last mails speak with just Sc
verify of this unmeaning and useless misrep-
rescntati0n. They know, and say, that though
the instruction has perhaps lost ground,
the task of Spain has become no less difficult,
nor success more probable. In the Eastern
Department, as well as in the Central, and in
the district of Cinco Villas, the insurgents are
at the very gates of the fortified places daily
skirmishes take place there are every day
official reports of prisoners captured and rebels
shot.
The arbitrary abuses of power continue with
greater frequency, and circumstances of deeper
outrage than ever before. An aged and re-
spectacle lady of Trinidad has been thrown
into prison on the charge-clearly proved to
be unfounded-that she was sewing for the
insurGent army; the wife of Don German
Barros, eighty years of age, has been cast into
iail for mourning the death of her husband, re-
Gently shot by Valmasedas order; Don Thomas
Sanchez, wealthy planter, perfectly loyal to
the Spanish Government, and who had con-
tributed largely to its war fund, was denounced
by some personal enemy who had the ear OF
the despotc satrap, and, after being thrust into
prison. was treated with such horrible bar
barity that he went mad and took his own
life These stories are not the rOmanCes of
any Cuban Junta. They are taken from the
columns of q respectable ministerial journal of
Madrid. They are accompanied by vigorous
editorial comment, intimating that any hon
orable or profitable arrangement that could be
made to put stop to such useless barbara
ties would be to the advantage and credit of
Spain. There is another incident which shows
still more plainly that the idea of the embar-
easements of the Spanish cause in Cuba is gain
ing ground in Government circles. Mr.. GasSet
Airline, a leading partisan and friend of the
actual administration, was recently offered the
important and lucrative post of Intendant-
General of the island, and declined it on the
ground that the financial condition of the
province was so utterly disordered that nothing
could be done with it,
The last hope of any liberal and enlightened
policy toward the Antilles vanished with the
return of the Unonist leaders to power on
the death of Marshal Prim. The only pros
pect of relief and ultimate freedom to the
Cubans lies now in the financial dstresses of
the mother country, and in the acknowledge
ment by the Cabinet of King Amadeus of the
impossibility of extinguishing the insurrec-
ton by force alone. AS nations cannot be i'm
prisoned for debt, and Spaniard cannot be
convinced of anything gainst his will, it must
be admitted that the prospect is not fattering.
But the fact that discussion can now exist in
Madrid in regard to a matter so intimately
affecting the national vanity, is not without
its significance.
There is urgent necessity for better protection.
of life ON tbe rivers i'm these icy times We heard