The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-16

exceptional Bt6tc OF 6HalrS 0ecllne0 Jno lnVibd-
ton for the present with thanks. AS an indication
of the state OF afiairs in this island, will only
mention that before leaving me this gentleman
impressed on my mind the danger that would come
to him in case / should speak Of him by name.
Already said he. 81 am
REGARDED WITH HOSTILITY
| by the other slave-0wners because do not treat
| my slaves as they do, and II it were known that
| was prepared to go the length OF abolition no
means would be neglected to drive me from Cuba
and deprive me of my property" Like the majority
OF intelligent Cuhans this gentleman looks ior-
| ward to the time when Cuba shall form part OF
the United States, and the present system OF MILL
tary despotism and terrorism be brought TO an
end The impossibiity OF putting an end
to the insurrection, combined with the
threatening aspect of affairs In Spain, tend
| to increase the desire felt by the intelligent
| classes among the native population for annexa-
ton with the great Republic Nor are their aspi-
rations in this direction altogether free from the
promptings OF self-interest. 1t Is not alone that
Spanish pride and intolerance have offended their
amour propre, but they see large part OF their
produce going to I'LL
THE RIVAL ExCHEQUERs OF SPAIN AND AMERICA
in the shape of protective tariff. which would be
avoided by entering che Union. The United States
imposes a heavy tariff on Cuban sugar, and in re-
taliati0n the Spanish government lays heavy tax
on American iour. Both taxes in the end are paid
out OF the pockets Of the Cuban producer while he
derives no possible benefit except the presence of
Spanish olcials, and with these he is only too will
ing to dispense. AS the present season Is remark
ably wet it is not likely that military operations
can be carried on with any success against the in
surgents, and during the Summer an attempt to
| undertake an active campaign
| WOULD COST SPAIN HALF HER ARMY;
| so that NAV COnfdently lOOk To the COntin-
uance OF the war in its present state for another
| year. unless circumstances arise in the meantime
such as would give new aspect to the struggle.
Unfortunately my companion left me at an early
stage Of the journey, but during our short &C
| quantance he did much to enghten me on the
true state of Cuban feeling well on the hopes
and aspirations OF his people.
AS we moved slowly out Of the plain but neat lit
Tie station the morning sun was smiling through
the dark drifting Clouds On either side Of the
country groves of pain trees rose gracefully
| from the green cane fields, and here and there
groups Of oohios with their thatch of palm leaf lent
picturesqueness and interest to the country. Their
situations we're generally happily chosen in glades
and valleys, in small patches OF cultivation, where
the banana and little corn seemed to be the al
most exclusive articles grown. These were the
homes of the natives, who being of phllosophic
turn Of mind, think that it Is
BETTER TO ENJOY LIFE THAN TO DIE RICH
! Hence they prefer cockdghting to the labor of the
! fields, and so long as their immediate wants
supplied care little about how the world wags.
Such life may not be all that political economist
or a moralist would desire, but it Is not without
it's compensations, at least for such are fond OF
the cock pit. At all the railway stations we met
groups Of wretched looking negroes and China
| men. At first could not make out what they were
| about, as for the most part they seemed to have
! no definite business. The puzzle was, however,
solved for me by fellow passenger, who informed
me that it being Sunday, the negroes and coolies,
at least some OF them, were permitted to come
down to the station in the
HOPE OF EARNING FEW CENTS
by carrying passengers luggage, If chance should
offer. A more important feature, however, was
furnished by the appearance Of two soldiers, OF the
glarda ctca, who passed through the train in
search OF suspicious persons. did not appear to
them as dangerous, SO was not interfered with;
| but one Cuban-looking youth, with a dark mus
tache, who had the misfortune to be reading, was
at once challenged man who reads in Cuba is
! EVIDENTLY DANGEROUS PERSON,
| and authority keeps its eye upon him. In the
present case, however, there was nothing in
book His credula was all right and he was al
lowed to proceed; but remarked no one went
near that young man up to the time he quit the
train, and not the slightest remark was openly
made about the incident, though every one looked
in an indescribable but perfectly passioness way
at each other.
|. ARRIVED AT MATANzAs,
after good run OF four hours we stopped for
thalf hour for breakfast Under the direction of
fellow passenger, VINO knew the road well,
abandoned my luggage to a muchacho, upon
whom kept my eye, these gentry are said to be
somewhat like the tabled leprechauns once you
lose sight of them they are gone for ever. In the
| neighborhood OF the station we found large
fonda, or native hotel where, passing through the
court yard or patio. we found ourselves comfort
ably seated in a neat little rooms 1t would have
been impossible to get as good breakfast at q
| European or an American station In the same
space OF time, and felt thing like gratitude to
the enterprising proprietor as rose with the con-
seriousness that the meal was to be my only sup
port until late in the evening. On quitting
Matanzas the line OF railway sweeps
into the interior and for some time we
passed through valleys Of circular formation,
| bounded by low hills. As we advanced the hills
| were lost In elevation and finally seemed to have
| been swallowed up in the ground. The fertility OF
| the land had increased at every league, and the
patches OF forest were longer met with in prox-
| unity to the railway On either hand extended
vast expanses of waving verdure, broken only by
the graceful form OF some lonely palm tree that
seemed to nod its tufted head IN response to the
obsequious bowling of its graceful but weak CON-
panions Of the cane ned. II would be futile to at
tempt to pant with words TO the eye ofthe magma
ton the beauty of color and form of the scenery
which passed as in a panorama before me. In the
midst of this beautiful country Bomba the point OF
junction for the lines OF Cardenas, Matanzas and
Naragas, is situated. Here there was delay OF an
hour and had time to observe the motley gather
ing that formed fair representation of the popu-
| lation of the island.
NEGROES, COOLIES, SOLDIERS AND GUARDIA CIVIL
make up the majority. 1t really appears to me
! very wonderful how spain can AFFORD to keep so