, 1873-11-11
THE CUBAN WAR.

| Ihefe will be no difference Of opinion among
c''ah2ed people concerning the indecent haste
pno mal1gnant spirit with which tho local al.
thorlttea at Santiago do Cuba executed the four
pFlsoners captured On tho Virginius. It should
po Dorne IN mind, however, that the Spanish
ooVefnment, upon hearing Of The capture Of tho
sne1nlus and her passengers, sent an order by
telegraph torbIddfng any execution Of priaonors
unttI further ordors. Bofore this command was
received, and very probably with m expectation
VI ~ Lilo local authorities, tried, condemned, md
1aos inc prisoners. Thoy wore not to bo cheated
out Of their Indignant and cruel revonge. Tho
oosetnno:it Of Spain, howovor, stands acquitted
VI 'no 4nhumanity, and other Governments can
Aa lily intorfore and demand explanations of an
act which Spain llad forbidden, although thoy
may it tho facts warrant It, demand that tho OK
ecutioners be brought to Justice,
This controversy in Cuba hns boon going
on some avo years, and the insurgents
been. The difficulty Of suppressing tho
rebellion ia apparently inBu1mountab1e. Tho
insurreotionist party arc in tho fastnosaes in tho
cast end Of tho island; tho Spanish party In
the citieB and towns. The insurroctionists ro-
quire no comuisHariea or quarto1maatere.
Nature furnishes them with an abundance Of
food, and the climate Is such TINT they need 10
shelter. Thoy occupy tho most inaccessible
districts OF tho island, and, whom pressed, can
retreat to positions impregnable to tho Spanish
troops. It Is war carried On on both sides with
ama!l arms. Tho huge sugar-knifo in tho hands
Of q atalwart slave Is q formidable weapon, espe-
cinily when Its ueolB restrained by no law and by
no consideration Of humanity. Like all Spanish
countries, Cuba haa no roads, and tho trans-
portation Of heavy artillery is IN imposaibi1ity.
The largest gun that can DO moved ia the
howitzor, which las to bo carried upon tho buck
Of mulo, while each wheel and other part Of
tho gun.carriago B carried by othor mules.
Ammunition is transported in tho Bame manner.
A war carried On In this way may DO intermina-
ble An actual engagement Of opposing forces
is Of rare occurrence; tho most that ia done III
in rnils by ono party on tue other, in which tho
victor ia aure to murder every man Of tho do
foatcd party. Tho insurgents aud those who
synpathize wilh them including tho slayos aud
coolies, are tho moro numerous, but thoy lack
arma and ammunition. If they had artillery,
they could fortify somo central point and hold
1t, aud tAonce mako IN aggressive var. Deing
deficient in these, they have to wait until the
regular Spanish troops march into tho interior,
and then fall upon, haraas and murder them.
Though thls war has boon going on for 80 many
years, Spain persists in douylng that It amounts
to any moro tlan moro local disturbance. It
las nevertheless cost Spain some $1,000 mon
and many millions Of dollars. It has 30 sadly
intorforod NTH business that Cuba, Instead Of
being great source OF royenuo to Spain, has
become as great a coat. Tho revenues Of tho
island, after subtracting the tlefts Of tho ta1-
gathorers, do not oQpul the cost Of tho war.
With respect to tue VirglniuB, 1t Ia to bo de-
termined how long a vosaol onco bearing an
American register can roam about tho high
Heaa, engaged In blookade-running, without
lohing her nationality. 6ho has Ind many mar
TOW escapes from capture. There is practically
no blockade maintained by Spain. Attempts
have boon made to capture her In neutral ports,
but this Ia not permitted by International law.