National Republican., 1873-12-08

~"'" 10 '"e v"s'o VI oction lot our t0vcrn-
ment, but the people have learned gradually
that the CASTELAR, Government has been and Is
In earnest, and that, however much Il has
been embarrassed by unfortunate surround.
ings which have served to delay the fulfill
ment Of Its promises, 1t has been and Is en-.
titled to the sympathetic consideration ex.
tended to IL by the foremost Republic ofthc
world. There has been no subsdence of
the real war spirit Of the countryside de.
termination to uqhold the honor Of the flag.
which underlies the frothy declaations Of a
month ago. nor any abatement of the desire
of those in authority to secure the most
complete reparation for the wrongs which
we have suffered. At the same time the
people have become suspicious that sordid
influences have been Mt work moulding
the drit Of the publications to which
we allude, and the connection of
habitual contractors and plunderers Of
the public treasury with them has increased
TINT suspicion. The fact that the Havanese
authorities have had cflcctual censorship
over the press dispatches from Cuba is also
accepted as further proof of It's correctness,
as II Is plainly evident that under such
censorship only the most aggmvating. war
provoking and sensational statements could
be transmitted over the wires. Sud as the
conclusion Is, Il Is the just one that the rbid,
hot-blooded, vengcful Volunteers. the mob
OF the Casino Espdaoi, and the camp fol
lowers who hover around the supply depart
mcnts Of the Spanish army of occupation,
have received unworthy encouragement
from American citizens
At this writing il Is impossible to predict
with any certainty what the morrow may
bring forth. The future is, indeed, prcg.
nant with most serious and grave results,
but whatever may be the issue, Il will only
bc influenced by the sober and reflective in.
spimtions of men who forcscc the terrors of
war, and who acknowledge the responsi.
bility which rests upon them Of the prescr.
vation Of republican principles throughout
the world. The CASTELAR, Government may.
II Is true, be unable to sustain itself In yield
ing the full justice of reparation; but 1t does
not become strong Government like our
own TO hasten Its destruction by demanding
that repantion with undue and iRconsid.
crate haste. Time serves In national as
well as personal disputes to ameliorate and
alleviate animosities which may have been
rudely provoked or hastily assumed. And
IL Is even now apparent that during the
period Of vcxatious delay occasioncd
by the necessary diplomatic corre-
spondencc, ameliomtive influences have
asserted themselves. For instance, tho Vol
untcers have learned that the spirit of the
entire civilized world Is In sympathy with
the United States. The moml influence Of
this knowledge has worked miracles in
Strengthening the Madrid Cabinet. At the
same time the native Cubans havo been
able, under fortuitous though accidental
circumstances, 10 strengthen themselves and
the dandy slave holders. of the Casino Es.
pdnpI have learned to fear u rising Of the
people in the streets of their capital city.
In truth, every hour Of delay has struck
terror to the hearts Of the striped clothed.
waxed-moustached, cigarette smokers, who
loiter about the Tacon Theatre. or stroll
through the Plaza, and lounge in
the Casino, talking about war, and count
ing the shckels which, earned by the I'm.
willing toll of most brutal slavery, enable
them to lead lives Of enerva,ing and dissi.
pated luxury. They are the people who
maintain the war feeling in Cuba, who have
rp sympathy with the noble efforts Of the
Home Government to secure emancipation
and who hate the freedom of the United
States as earnestly as the natives. both bond
and free, admire and strive to emulate IT,
Cruel and oppressive as their domination
has been II Is now on the wanc.
No unprcjudiccd man, in view of these
explanations, can complain Of the course of
the Administration. 1t has simply placed
the Government In the attitude of sustain
ing the grand principles upon which 1t
il Is itself based, and so directing the
tide of affairs as to place the overthrow
of the last ycstigc Of slavery on the CONT.
ncnt among the probabilities of the near
future. Whether this latter great blessing
is to be accomplished by the recognition of
the independence of the Cuban republic, or
by some other method, the assurance is Ger.
tain that history will accord to us the credit
of having dealt lcniently while seeking jus
tice ut the hands Of n power which, but for
the overreaching cruelty ofan insigficant ihc-
llon, would now be ranked with our friends.
| The adaptability Of the Spanish people to
our form of government cannot enter into
the consideration of the question at this
time. When the United States recognized
the independence of the Republic of Spain,
that question was settled, and II must now
be accepted as n cause of consntulaticn
that no charge of inconsistency, or un-
rriendlincss toward it, can he laid at our
doors.