New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-26

| PROTEST AGAINST UNDERTAKING. THE
| ACHIEVEMENTS or THE PATRIoTs-PARAL-
| lei BETWEEN THE AMERICAN AND CUBAN
REVOLUTIONS.
| To the Editor Of The Trf6une.
| SR: Somewhat of the editorial notice, in your
issue OF the 10th ns of the Cuban Independence Day
induces respass upon your courtesy for space for
some observations on the same subject as that arti
Gle, although wrtton in spirit friendly and sympa-
theo with the Cuban movement yet depresses and be-
Titles that movement much below its actual level OF ef
fort and achievement. Americans howsoeyer intei
gent and thoughtful, strangely forgetful
of tho circumstances under which their
own ancestors achieved the independence
Of this country In proud contemplation Of the present
posture OF the United States before the world we are
oddly unmindful that there was day. less than
century ago, when this people wretchedy feeble.
and wanting In that indebted TO the
opportune foreign aid extended TO foreathers for
the opportunity to attain TO that national strength and
prosperity which Is the Of vanity which, at
times, makes us look with unbecomlng contempt upon
the struggles for liberty OF other peoples who doing
quite as much as our ancestors did TO win their
independence.
You in common with our cOuntrymeu, regard for ex-
ample. the Cubans having effected relatively little In
their contest with Spain; little, indeed, not TO
quire TO look upon in the light OF between
two parties equally entitled to belgerent rights at
hands And this is in face Of the facts OF which
not be Ignorant that Spain for four has yainy
employed IN CUBA in the effort TO repress the revolution
or " nsuIreotion," If Americans have come TO pre-
least three times the force we employed in the INVASION
and war with Mexico and further, that the Cu6ans on
their side have maintained as large bodies in the field
that force with which Gen. Taylor fought the battles
OF Pao Alto and Resaca dc la Palma and that in at least
conflict with the spanards they KILLED and wounded
more Of their enemys officers than We did Tor lost on
our side) IN any battle In the war with Mexico Hence,
ask in all candor, by what warrant authorized
TO speak OF the organization which has thus maintained
itself as " a mere phantom Republic that has made
liberal instiutionsp
Is it really short uncertain step toward liberal
institutions on the part OF the Cubans thus TO have
shown, after four of an incredibly sangunary
upon comparatively small theaor OF operations, that
10000 Spanish soldiers, you admit, cannot
conquer theml There must be a yrile. practical
civil as well as military organization behind move
ment which has made so stout and uncOnquerable
battle for the right of sefgoyernment You have
the CONSTITUTION declared az Gualmaro IN April 1862
80 full OF the spirit OF republican institutions and yet so
brief and compact without Imitation or parody OF our
government founded upon the cardinal principle that
every person IN cuba whe, Paek OF CnineSe Is emitted
to precisely the Same political rights privileges ana lm-
munitles Therefore, seeing how these Cubans have
money, why not reasonably attribute
the remarkable resul-for under all tue circumstances
it is most remarkabe-in some degree to the political
qualities of the organization founded at Guaimaroi
But that organization you say has no other capital"
impalpable as cloud" aud that its navy in charge
Of the United States Collector at Newport while others
declare it entitled 10 begerent rights because 1t
tbs c1on facp Thai The limited states after having
suffered Spain 10 build arm equip, and man some 80
gun-bOats in this country TO be used in keeping the
Cubans from importing arms aud ammunition not long
ago sent out, seized the Cuban navy 1.-THE schooner |
PiOneerl beyond American waters, sold tand It's arma
ment by virtue of a snap Judgment upon parte pro-
ceedngs and then divided the petty spOis between the
United States Treasury and certain Federal officials
TRIBUsE must agree with me that people maintaining
with so marvellous courage for four years war for
true elements that constitute state.
Measured by all just standards, and there Is free
State In Cuba-one under no merely ttuldr republican
government as you say, nut one precisely such as the
neutrality laws OF this country contemplated should
always be accorded belgerent rights by our government
In precisely the same manner as any emperor prince OF
have sad in our estimate Of what people like the
Cubans able do toward throwing OFF their yoke,
our fOreatlers TO leave aud Independent State;
and thus we grossly underrate the efforts ana acheYe
M6 w6e the American ReVonton was Carried on
provided not with American resources, but with |
money supplied by Beaumarchais and the KING OF |
France also the very clothing and shoes which
soldiers WOre large part. These supplies landed
shores by our foreign friends at their own ex
pense, and they also built equipped ana largely manned
a navy for US Nor was this all. When the struggle
began to look doubtful, tfenGh army was thrown 10
our side, and 1900 French soldiers formed leading
element in the close OF the war &C yorktown, where
French feet prevented the escape or relief OF CORVALLIS
by water In our struggle we had MOI Only tn9 Iilee.
aid OF France, but constant covert aid from Holland
and Spain. But how with the Cubans, our near neigh
bors, an American people lighting Tor liberty ana tho
right OF elfgOvernment With the exception OF Two or
found TO give tho Cuban fty dollars. Beaumar
ehais sent us at one time more than 10000 |
portion The Cubans have received neither rife nor
a cartridge that they did pay for with their
money. The Americans had ships OF war well as |
transports provided for them from foreign resources and
had large loans made them under purely political ntu
ences or from OF European statecraft. The
Cubans have only received small aid on one occasion
In money from South American source, and can
make Notwithstanding their transparent ability
10 pay any reasonable DEBT out OF their matchless
national resources. Our forefathers were promptly
aided by large number of thoroughly trained foreign
officers like Steuben, Pulaski, and Lafayette and also in
due time By a large regular French force. The Cubans,
I'm all these years OF their war, have had, az the
most 10 or ~ foreign officers among them, mostly OF
little military training and, In ALL less than 100 European
and American soldiers with about the same NUMBER OF
South Contrast the support given our fore
fathers aud the comparatively small force employed by
England against them with the unaided contest which
the Oubans have made against spanish force aDso-
uely larger than was employed IN this country ia our
revolution and submit that the CuDans have achieved
wonders, have maintained themselves under circun-
stances which would have reduced our IOreIaIhers 10
submission 70 the British crown.
A word more. You observe: We may not entirety
approye all of 1.-THE Cubans acts nor many of their
the acts that have characterized the Cuban revolution
and OF the sentiments which inspire it, really am at
loss what there has been in either calculated TO merit
the dsapproyal of TIE TRIBUNE always the friend OF
the oppressed always ready TO encourage the aspiration
for freedom and always sympathetic with every brave
resoute effort acquire the right OF selfSoyernment
Respectfully, III.
New- York, Oct. II, 1872