The New York herald., 1873-12-10

soberly for years undisurbed by the conflict OF par
ties, caught the general Infection and said 1t was
impossible to make the sacrifice demanded-that IL
involved worse fate than war, for IL would ever
after expose them to unchecked and unlimited
invasion by Glands OF pirates'' from the United
States.
FEARING TROUBLE,
the Captain General quietly provided for the pro-
tecton OF the American Consulate by having
guard placed within the gates OF the building
where the Office IL situated, during the night But
the business OF the city weut along as usual, the
ladies went asnoppng the queer old Uotdntes, with
their barbarous pretenson to aristocratic style,
rolled through the streets, bearing their dark eyed
Creole beauties TO the opera; the languid store
keepers leaned their elbows and count ed
the paving stones on the street for
the hundred and first time the sailors
from the feet made themselves jolly over their
lemonade and Orchotd the everlasting volunteer
scuds along with his thoughts more concerned in
his dinner than his duty to his country, ana all
the paraphernalia OF city life remained unds-
turbed but through it all, like the shuttle in the
loom, went weaving in and out the thoughts OF
war.
DESPERATE FORTUNES
suggest desperate measures, and Tuesday night
the cry went FORTH "Wc VIII burn the Virginus
rather than let her fall into the hands OF the
Yankees rumor went abroad that an attempt
was made to fire her, and that guard OF marines
had been sent on board TO protect her from incen-
diary efforts.
THE HERALD CORRESPONDENT THREATENED.
Wednesday made another memorable diurnal
page OF the weeks excitement. In the morning
your resident correspondent was passing an
dtnsdce7, or store. walking quickly in the direction
OF the American Consulate, when fellow cried
out after him, "Yd te a,regleremOs la cuentar
1--WE will settle your accounr. Your cor
respondent, who is as cool he Is
brave, quickly replied, "Ae pnrece que nddd
de6e60n Il believe owe you nothing, and con-
tinued his course with his usual sang J,oid. The
truth is the lower class Spaniards have had the
idea given them that the HERALD is a kind OF in
dependent government within the United States,
more powerful than the States themselves; that
1t is responsible for all the woes OF Spain
at home and abroad and s just now engaged
fitting out fleet to come down and recapture the
vrginius. No wonder the gentleman who is its
recognized and well known representative In this
city finds himself an object of attentions more
perilous than pleasant. About noon rumors came
in from different quarters that
THE FINAL DETERMINATION
not to surrender the Vrginius was reached, that
even the staid and long-headed Captain General
himselfhad accepted the ruling OF the volunteers
and would do their bidding. Later In the day an
other version got afoat that the Virginius should
be handed over to the custody or a neutral
Power and that Power to appoint
board OF arbitration to decide to whom she right
fully belonged. Thus the week passed from Satur-
day the Goth, rumors following each other thick
and fast At one time Spanish honor was to be
vindicated by war; at another the honor was to be
conveniently shelved, and the easiest way taken
tha uhpIa frOnh hla Ac vatu do NJ fho
way clear to the end OF the business. Who is to
give up the vrginius il no man here can be found
who will have the courage to come forward and
handle rope to haul her out9 Now it ia reported
the American fleet Will be over from Key West
in "a hours. In the meantime the skies
are sereney blue overhead, the winds blow with
delicious freshness, the harbor is well nlled with
shipping, and when the moon sails up at night the
lively music OF the guitar and the piano may be
heard in many quiet street.
CURIOUS cLAss-rHE CUBAN LABoRANTEs.
The attitude OF the Cuban laborantes at this
moment is worthy of attention. They the
slyest set OF fellows that ever lived. The Spaniards
don't know what TO make OF them. though they
distrust them every day they rise. The laborantes
are, OF course, natives who live and love and do
business right in the heart or the Span
ish colony. They are conspirators in the
eyes Of the spaniards, who look upon them
pretty much rs the English did many years
ago upon the Irish. They distrusted them, but
they could not well get along without tllem They
had to live in their midst but always with strong
suspicion Of their loyalty. Some of the lab0rantes
hold positions in the army, and they have much
property in Havana and throughout the island.
To hold to what they possess they must put on an
extraordinary show of love for Spain, and this
drives them to their Wits ends on many occasions
The laborantes are called selfish, cowardy set OF
beggars by some people, ana it is afirmed that
many Of the tribe prefer walking around the city
OF New York with their hands in their pockets
asking everybody to go to Cuba and fight for
them. They have no stomach for fight themselves,
and sensible fellows prefer an easy life to rough
one.
EXCUSE FOR THE LABoRANTEs.
deem this criticism the laborantes unjust and
unreasonable. As well ask the Polish mobiles, who
friendly for interests sake to Russia that their
estates may not be confscated and they them.
selves sent to Siberia to talk treason just to show
they are true Poles AS well ask the Irish, VINO
traitors to England IN their hearts, but who hold
comfortable estates and live on the fat butter and
bacon or the land, to talk Fenianism just to show
they are true born lrishmen and not afraid OF be-
ing sent to jail. These laborantes are amusing
dogs anyhow. What did a party OF them have the
to print 5000 circulars calling on all true
spaniards to resist the American demand to save
the honor Of Spain and fight to the death. / saw
one Of them with a face as cool as lump OF ice
standing in front Of the Captain Generals palace
handing out bundle OF these circulars to the
passers-by. Could the force Of cunning impudence
any further gos OH yes; the laborantes would
like to see the poor spaniards fight to the death,
and beyond 1t. And now their little game is to
force the issue. II you are quick to tell the
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CUBAN AND A sPANIARD,
and the size OF the foot Is most reliable gauge,
you may notice one Of these laborantes Of even
ing like this, when the excitement is raging high
and General Burriel and his star are quar-
tered over at the Hotel TELEGRAPH.
ready to discharge martial law with
vengeance, should it be declared. You viii notice,
was saying, one OF the conspirators vehe-
mently urging the fight and die theory to group