New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-20

THE ABOLITION QUESTION IN SPAIN
The Anti-Slavery Society of London have
addressed an appeal in behalf of immediate
Abolition to Senior CASTELAR,, which will no
doubt be somewhat embarrassing to that dis
tinguished statesman. The address is much
more brief and concise than is usual with such
documents They restrict themselves to re-
minding Senior CASTELAR, of his own appeals
for immediate emancipation when he was in
the opposition, and pointing to the result in
Porto Rico as a justification for such policy.
The address will not he easy to answer. Don
Emilio CASTELAR,, in 1870, in one OF the most
brilliant and powerful orations of his life,
called for immediate abolition in language too
absolute to admit of any gloss of expediency
to-day. He then said that gradual emancipa-
ton is the maintenance of Slavery with all its
horrors, and that all the time required was
that which was necessary for the Government
to communicate with the Antilles. Again,
only year ago, Senior CASTELAR,, in company
with twenty-five other leading Republicans,
laid before the C0rtes declaration, generally
attributed to his pen, which contains these
unqualified expressions: The abolition of
Slavery at the present time will be II measure
highly polite to end the instruction in
Scuba, while its delay may help the resist
ance, as happened in 1893 and 1904 in the
Island of Santo Domingo If this assertion
was true last Autumn it is equally true to-day,
and the indefatigable Messrs. Cooper, Surge
and AlsOp calmly and firmly insist upon the
accomplishment of the professions made by the
President and his friends, while they were
advocating the Republic which they now assist
in governing.
1t would seem like not unreasonable prop
0Sition, but it is doubtful if any one except
the gentlemen who signed the address expect
any result from it. We are not left to con-
lecture in regard to the reception it met with
IN Madrid. IL is dated on the 18th of Septem-
Der, and consequently must have reached its
destination before the close of the month. On
the 1st of October, Senior Zulueta in Havana re-
ceived q telegram from Senior Villamil in
Madrid who was formerly the administrators
of the Exchequer inlCuba, saying that the Gov
eminent desired him to return to the Antilles,
but that he wished to know before he accept
ed, something of the spirit of the people in
Cnba. He was able to assure his correspondent
.specting Slavery orpolitcs." He wished to now
whetherunder these circumstances if the Govern
ment acknowledged the Cuban debt, he could
rely upon the support and cooperation of
Senior Zulueta and his friends. OF course the
question was answered in the affirmative,
with general enthusiasm We all know
what violent measures mean in the mouths of
the Volunteers and the Casino of Havana
ANY measures tending to the Cancellation of
the insurgents, to administrative reform, or to
immediate abolition, are called violent by
these gentlemen. 1t is therefore highly prob
able that Gen. JOvellar, the new Captain
General of the Island, comes out with instruc-
tons not essentially different from those which
Valmaseda, Pieltain, and Cabellero brought
and which in the hands of the two latter
were utterly Intellectual as against the savage
peninsular and proslavery prejudiees of the
rulng classes, and were interpreted to justify
Valmaseda in the most atrocious brutalties.
However it may seem to philanthropic and
honest men out of place, it appears to any
Spaniard in Office impossible to take any other
attitude in relation to This matter. Senior
Moret was the leading aholitionist of Spain,
but the instant he became Minister of the
Colonies he not only ceased to advocate i'm
mediate emancipation, but brought all the
powers of his adrot and facile eloquence
against the proposition in that sense which
came from the extreme Left 1t must be said
in justice to Senior CASTELAR, and his predeces-
sors in the Presidency of the Republic that
they have done more in the direction of re-
form in the Antilles than even the strong and
capable government of Prim dared to at
tempt. The abolition of Slavery IN Porto Rico,
and the decree for the release of the embar-
COED estates, are acts indicating not less politi
cal courage than sagacity. But it is excess
lively doubtful whether the Republican govern
ment will venture to take the one hazardous
step in advance, and end Slavery at once in
Cuba Rightly or wrongly, the idea has taken
firm root in the minds of all the Spanards
who have intimate relations with the Antilles