New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-10
genuine census (which Oakley Hall threatened
and the Police undertook VIII The World
SPAIN And CURd

nIh'" avn CUBA.
Suppose the United States and Spanish Com
mission admit the claims of our citizens for
damages arising out Of the Cuban revolution.
what are we TO gain by their decison2 Ameri-
can citizens whose estates have been seized nv
the Spanish officials in Cuba have repeatedly
brought their wrongs to the notice of the State
Department, with all the necessary proofs
The Government ut Madrid has acknowledged
the justice of some of these claims, and has
ordered the restitution of the sequestrated
property. The semi-indcpendent but ire
"sponsible agents at Havana have refused
to obey the home authorities and the
sDolation still goes on. Will the de-
cision of the mixed Commission do us any
good' As preliminary to the substantiation
of our claims against the Spanish Government
the action Of this Court is Of course impOr-
tant. But in the meantime the individual
sufferers are exposed to constantly increasing
hardships, and what with the prOverbial Span
ish procrastination and the equally proyerbial
Spanish poverty, their prospect Of relief IS
distant indeed.
There is no doubt that Spain has lost con-
troll over her own party in the lever faithful
"island" almost as completely as over the
reyOlutionists who for three years have set
her at defiance. She has no power to make
herself obeyed in any part of the island The
lives and estates of all the residents, Doth
native and foreign, except in the remote dis
tricts where the revolution still lifts its head,
are at the mercy of The Volunteers, who hold
themselves accountable neither TO their own
Government nor to any other. We cannot
deal with them, because they are not an IN
dependent power Spain cannot deal with
them, because they will not mind her.
In this deplorable state Of affairs, the work
of devastation still going on, authority being
Il end. and foreign residents without protec-
ton, the question of friendly Intervention re-
ours with fresh urgency. Can civilization 40
nothing to stop this wretched cOntestP We
see but one hope either for Cuba or for Spain
The revolution has apparently exhausted Its
fighting strength, and can do nothing now but
deggedly hold out and wait for help. The
royal government has exhausted its available
military force, nearly drained its treasury, and
ceased to be respected by its own officers.
Between the two has sprung up third party
violent cruel, reactionary, rapacOus, plumber
ing both sides, and robbing neutrals. 1t has
no national character or purpose; 1t, Is merely
party of outlaws. There is no reason to
believe that Spain can ever recover the island.
She must give it up either to the Patriots or
to the Volunteers. The easiest solution seems
to be that proposed now by the Cuban agents
in London-a sale of the island by the home
government, not to any foreign nation, but to
the Cubans themselves. 1t is represented that
the revOlutOnstS are ready to buy their indie
pendence, and it is believed that bonds for
the purchase money can be negotiated in
Europe. proposal has been thrown out that
the United States in such case, should
guarantee the Cuban obligations, but
this we do not approve; while we are
taxing ourselves so heavily to pay of our
own debts, we are not likely to assume
those of other people. 1t may be that the
scheme can be carried through without help
from us in that form and whenever it is fairly
presented it will be the part of kindness 10
urge upon the Court of Madrid, with whatever
persstency diplomatic courtesy may allow,
that such an arrangement would be honorable
to both sides, and an advantage to al the civ
ilized world.