The New York herald., 1872-12-28
Shall Cuban Patriotism he Ignored
by the American Peoples

Again we ask the people of this Republic
whether they are willing to ignore the struggle
for independence going on in q neighboring
island? The Monroe doctrine may constrain
the federal government to non-interference,
but can people who partially owe their own
liberty to the generous support of France;
who not many months ago sold arms to that
country-arms with which to fight nation
friendly to ourselves can such q people, we
repeat, be SO lost to all sympathy as to lend no
helping hand to Cuba? We put this question
earnestly, because we have done all in our power
to make known her necessities. Further investi-
cation by us is almost impossible, unless pur-
sued with lynx-eyed caution and unknown to
Spanish authorities. Our article holding Spain
responsible for the life and liberty OF our
envoy was telegraphed to Havana by Admiral
Polo together with peremptory orders that he
should hold no intercourse with the insur-
gents. This order was received by General
Fajardo in Puerto Principe during Mr.. Hen
derson's visit to General Agramonte, the last
patriot he was allowed to interview What
ever action is taken, then, must now be by
the people.
The United States government is at peace
with Spain; but is there any reason why we,
the people, should favor Spanish rule in
Cuba? 1t is true that we owe the discovery
of the New World to q so-called Spaniard,
who, however, was Genoese but apart from
blessing voluntarily rendered-which, we
are safe in saying, was never asked for by an
unborn posterity-what debt do we owe the
land of Isabela2 Are Spanish Cubans our
friendsp No. They dread us, because they
fear us. The success of our institutions means
the overthrow of theirs They speak soft
with the mouth, while they curse with the
heart Are they chivalrousp Are they
merciful? Need we ask these questions
of those who remember the atrocious murder
of medical students perpetIated in cold blood
not many months ago? Need we apply these
Christian qualities to men who compel Cuban
women of good character to listen to foul Ian
guage until they soil their own mouths with it,
knowing that their lives are at the mercy Of
the Spaniards that violation of chastity is
matter of course, and that when found in a
Cuban camp the least dreadful fate Detailing
them is death? Need we seek humanity in
men who recognize no flags of truce, who take
no prisoners, who cut the throats Of the
slain upon the battle field to be eaten by buz-
yards and to poison the atmosphere for miles
around, whose acts are allowed by one of
themselves to be ''too horrible to look upon?"
"Lately," says President Cespedes, "the Span
iards have been more barbarous than
before, while we have been making
an effort to inaugurate o more civil
lied and humane system. Upon several
occasions recently we have spared the wounded
that have fallen into our hands, and when we
were compelled to leave them on the field
have furnished them with food and water.
But this has had no effect upon the enemy.
Indeed, ten days after we had thus acted in
the past Summer, the Spaniardk found in the
same neighborhood one of our hospitals con-
tanning our sick and wounded, oil of whom
were killed Now the poor Cuban farmers
who live in the country particularly in the
region of the insprrection-are killed by the
Spaniards wherever found, simply because
they are supposed to sympathize with the
but ostensibly because they failed
to surrender themselves to the Spaniards. l
have come across many body with this notice
.Por no hooerse presentado.'
as warning to others to come forward and
declare their allegiance to Spain Let me add,
sir, that many of the villages, including Les |
Yegues, Divinico, Vista Hermosa and others,
are completely at our mercy. We could |
destroy them if we desired, but we know they |
are inhabited by Cubans who are our friends
and who will finally rise to help u.s." And |
these are the "high natured and polite soldiers
whose motto is God, Country and King"
Do the Spaniards tell us the truth regarding |
the insurrection? We know that they lie. |
For more than year we have been kept in
complete ignorance of the insurgents condi-
ton. The Cuban forces have been represented
rs handful Of naked, alarmed negroes and
Chinese. The Captain General himself as
sured our Commissioner that they did not
number twenty-five hundred, of whom not
more than six per cent were whites. Only
twenty-five hundred! And General Riguelme
declares them to be everywhere and nowhere"
Only twenty-five hundred! And the insurrec-
ton has already lasted four years Only
twenty-five hundred And this same General
confesses that the warfare may be prolonged
"four, five, six or even seven years." Span
iards claim that four of their army would not
hesitate to engage fifty insurgents, and yet
their thousands have not conquered twenty
five hundred vagabonds.
And now, having contemplated one picture'
let us look at the other. ''How many troops
have you2' asked Mr.. Henderson of President
Cespedes. II underestimate our forces
when say we have twelve thousand men,
cavalry and infantry, at our command;
but if we had arms enough the insur-
L. ,u.,s,ld Eft,.