Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-05
[ BY ALI
THE KING OF CUBA.

From the Pall-Mau Gazette.l
According to Mr.. Gallenga, the captain-gen-
eral, who used % be so autocratic, has almost
ceased to govern at all. He continues 10
public, but the actual sovereign is a certain
Don Julian de Zulueta. Don Julian is a most
remarkable man in every way. He is the son
Of a labOrer in the Basque provinces. He land
ed in Cuba penniless, and now the aggregate
Of his wealth of all kinds is enormous. He is
the owner of four great sugar-estates, one Of
them valued at three hundred pounds ster-
ling, besides many smaller ones. He has a
great mercantile establishment in Havana, is
a chief shareholder in the principal joint
stock undertakings, and has placed money
out at interest everywhere. His
influence is almost omnipotent Mr..
Gallenga assures us that he con-
trolls the municipality, the chamber of COM
merce, the bank, the exchange, the hospitals,
while, as We said, the captaln-general dare
take no step OF importance without his ap-
proval or assent. How that comes about is
easily explained. Don Julian is not only at
once the richest and the most resolute man il
the island, but he is the chosen representative
of the system that has made the island so rich
and OF the ruling caste, who have strength,
courage and military force on their side. The
whites are divided into two great classes-the
peninsulares or native-bOrn Spanish imnni-
grants, and the creoleS, or native Cubans. The
peninsulares flourish by slavery, look upon
Cuba as mere place to make money in, and
without the profits of slave-grown produce il
would not be worth their while 10 remain in
the West Indies. They used TO act with
the government and take their orders from
the eaptain-general, SO long as there was nc
talk OF emancipation and the government
was content 10 share the profits of slavery
Now that the government has committed it.
self 10 abolition they act for themselves and
their own interests, and take their orders
from Don Julian de Zulueta. The machinery
at his disposal is very formidable. In Havana
and each of the other cities there is a ssSpan.
ish club" where the local heads of the party
hold their consultations and whence they is
sue their orders. The rank and file are ali en-
rolled IN volunteer battalions, where they are
fairly drilled and very well armed. These vol
unteers are Satd 10 number sixty thousand
men, and there is no other force able to make
head against them. They are prompt to act on
occasion, and as their ardor is quickened BY
the liveliest Self-interest IL needs rather to be
repressed than simulated. II they have been
comparatively passive of late, except when
actually in the field against the insurgents, II
is only because their enemies are thoroughly
cooled in the meantime. It was the volunteer
corps OF Havana who compelled that horri
bic judicial massacre of the creole students
charged with Outraging tombs in the ceme-
terry; and that and similar atrocities have es
tablished a lasting terror. But they make nc
secret of their intention Of waging a war to the
knife should circumstances render it desir
able, nor do they hesitate to avOw their con.
Yiction that they are strong enough to exter-
inmate the creoies and blacks."