Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-02

II it were the declared object of the colonial
authorities ia Cuba to invite for themselves the
contempt and adherence of the world, they
could hardly attain it more surely than by the
course they are pursuing. The murderof the
their confewas an inexcusably cruel retaliation
ed. Soyish frolic, but it was professedly the
punishment of an actual or alleged cIense, and
was preceded by something which was called
trial. however deficient in the forms and sab
stance Of justice It was done, too, by an en-
ragged mob, whose frantic damauds for ven
geance the governor had not the courage, if he
had the disposition, to dispute But later act
of tyranny in Cnba, has no pallation or preteXt.
Its naked act of cruel despotism, whose
enormity can hardly be matched from the
records of the darkest ages. We refer, ofcourse,
to the decree of Vamaseda, recently issued,
consigning to slavery thousands of Cinnamon,
now inhabiting Cuba, whose term Of contract
service had expired, and who were, under the
law, If such thing as law exists in that
wretched island as fully entitled to their free
dom as any of its inhabitants. The condition
of the Chinese coolies in Cuba is wretched and
shameful enough at the best. They are brought
there under indenture for eight years, and, if
verbally hard service and cruel treatment of
their Cuban masters, are permitted TO remain,
working for themselves under certain cond-
-tioifs- laseos1 of them do stay, if for no other
reason, because they cannot pay the expense
of the long voyage back to their native country.
Yalmaseda's infamous order provides that all
''colonists," as these Cinnamon are called who
have accomplished their term of service and
have not contracted anew, shall remain under
the tutelage of the person now employing them,
and those not now employed upon some planta-
ton or in workshops or families, but carrying
on some business of their own, sh all be sent 10
the common Jail for present safe keeping, and
there be permitted, as they may prefer, to
choose their masters or become servants of the
government. The decree proceeds, with aston
ishing shameessness, to parcel ont the profits
OF this servitude between the tutors" and the
government. The whole time and service OF
the victim is TO be at the disposal of the mas
ter, who accounts for it at the rate of
twelve dollars per month OF this only four
dollars is paid to the Chinaman and from this
miserable pittance are to be deducted all Eek
penses of sickness, lost time from absence, &c.
the de rec itself using this comprehensive "&c.,"
which the merciless planters VIII, no doubt cor
strue literally enough-for themselves
dollars month for each must
government, and whatev9. -ueir
labor has is the - The de-
cree applies 4hnamen who have
alrsSS .neir hard apprenticeship
nose original term of service is
-.pired. These, Valmaseda says, shall
ue discharged from service when their con-
tracts are at an end, but must make new con-
tracts in the terms above stated. Not less than
twenty thousand persons are thus condemned to
perpetual bondage.
As if TO make as conspicuous as possible the
villainy of this scheme, the execution of the
decree is fifty entrusted to a commission of thir-
,Erteen members, Of whom the chairman and five
oMs. gers aye notorious African slave traders. The
oppressed Cinnamon can hope for no mercy at
their hands Nothing more atrociousy unjust
than this order was ever known. 1t is a dis.
grace to the age in which we live, and would be
an ineffacable blot upon the Spanish name, if
the whole record of Spanish rule in the new
world were not already so black that deeper
stain is almost impossible If anything could
make it more hideous, it would be this deliber
ate and shameless enslayement of thousands
without even so much OF Difference to the opin-
lou of mankind as would be implied in franz
ing plausible preext Everywhere except in
Cuba, slavery is falling into disrepute. 1t ex-
lists nowhere in Christendom except in the Span
ish American colonies and in Brazil and in the
latter country it has received the condemnation
of the people AMI government, and is in
process Of extinction. But in Cuba this
military despot, this assassin of infants and
subseryient tool of au armed mob has the hardi-
hood to defy the opinion of the world, to set at
naught th2 plainest principles OF justice and the
express contract which guaranteed to these al
ready oppressed people their liberty, by fasten-
ing upon thousands of inofensiye people the
chains of lifelong and cruel servtude. If
any purely domestic events would Justify the
intervention of foreign powers, this act of bar
baris n would be sufficient reason for Joint
protest by Great Britain and the United States,
with the assurance that force would be used, if
necessary, to prevent the consummation of an
outrage SO revolving to humanity and justice