The New York herald., 1873-06-16

another, "shal we win p, They never doubt thatt
But the question frequently asked by onicerS
and men, "How long will the war ast-what TING
must elapse before we triumph ~
BUYING INDEPENDENCE.
CoRREsP0NDENT-Couldn not some diplomatic ar.
rangement be entered into by which the Cubans
would agree to pay an indemnity to the spaniards
provided the latter would evacuate the isandP
Observation-Disclosures OF that nature were made.
Heherai sicSles ntimated In Madrid that
$looooo,ooo, payable in twenty years, would prob
ably be given by the Cubans II the Spaniards with.
out mrther biood consented to recognize the inde-
pendence OF the island and leave the public build
ings, fortresses, arsenas &C.. in the condition in
which they might be found at the time OF the treaty.
1t was also intimated that If necessary the United
states would guarantee the payment of the
INDEMNITY.
But nothing had come OF this proposition. since
then good while has elapsed, che phase OF the
war has entirely changed, and while have no
doubt but the Cubans would still allow
HANDSOME INDEMNITY TO SPAIN
II she would consent to put an end to war that
in the end must prove disastrous to her. yet noe
SO large sum could now be given as that formerly
offered. The island is now in a far worse condition
than then; property continues to be destroyed
and the material wealth OF the country Is passing
away This lessons the resources OF the Cnbans,
makes it more difficult to pay large sum and les
the value OF the consideration for which they
would pay it. think sixty-fve or seventy mil
lions OF dollars would be the probable sum we
could now oner as indemnity for the close OF the
war.
DEsERTIoNs CUBA LIBRE
While at this part cf the interview the resident
received news that several families ana seven
armed volunteers had presented themselves in the
camp of General DiaZ.
CoRREsPoNDENT-A good deal has been said on
the subject OF annexation. would like, Mr.. Presi-
dent, to report your views on this important mat
ter to the HERALD for the information OF the
American people.
CEsPEDEs-At the outbreak OF the war there was
undoubtedly grand majority OF the people in
favor OF the annexation OF the island to the United
States. l was never great supporter OF the
measure and never opposed 1t J; but am only one
among so many hundreds OF thousands. The pee.
pie and the army at one time had grand demon.
stration in Camaguay for the purpose OF ventilat-
ing
THE ANNEXATION DOCTRINE.
Resolutions were passed endorsing it and sent td
the Chamber OF Deputies, then and there in ses.
sion. The Chamber unanimously adopted the
resolution in favor OF annexation. The paper,
which Immediately received thousand or more
signatures Of the people, sent to New York to
be forwarded to Washington, but its receipt by the
State Department there has never been acknowl-
edged This slight together with the fact Of the
| American government far from granting
| belligprent rights to Cuba had put themselves
the side Of the Spanards, had to great extent
COOLED THE ANNEXATION ARDoR
OF the Cubans, who now entertain no thought but
that OF beating the Spaniards. These once ex.
PEELED from the island then If the people choose to
become part OF the United States, their Will ia
| supreme and would not only not oppose 1t, but
give the measure my support as one OF conven-
tnnna fOrt f,,V,rr of <l,a anA phnnn
are OF
APAcIFIc DISPOSITION AND EASILY GOVERNED.
Their pas. history and every day OF the present
struggle proves this 1t is possible therefore, that
we could be able to sustain o government OF our
own, which Of course would be preferable to an.
ncxation even with the United States. The Cubans
justly feel aggneved at the policy which Mr. Fish is
observing towards us. At the commencement OF
the revolution the Spaniards were allowed to build
thirty gunboats in New York, and also to
supply themselves with arms and ammunition.
while the Cubans excluded from either OF these
| privileges. Even Remington was forced to break
his contract with the Cubans because 1t was an IN
| ferential infringement OF neutrality Also Pres-
| dent Grant, in or his annual messages TO Con-
! gress, animadverted rather bluntly on
| OUR INABILITY TO MEET THE srANIARDs IN THE
FIELD,
and characterized fugitive mob flying from
place to place, or something OF the kind The
policy adopted in Washington Is not neutrality; it
is absolutely taking part with the Spaniards. The
case of the Pioneer conspicuously one wherein
the authorities Of the United states did the greatest
injustice to u.s.
A STRONG STATEMENT.
The officers and crew OF that ship either served
some power or they were pirates. If the former,
and their national banner was not yet recognized
by the United states, all that that power could do
would be to warn the ship on the coasts and COM
pei her to keep clear OF American waters, as tho
English in Nassau did with the Lillian; but II
pirates, then all the hands found board should
have been executed as common criminals. In
neither case the United States entitled to
libel the ship and sell her prze 1t was clearly
the reason of superior force that enabled them to
do it. Still, Notwithstanding these grave reasons
for complaint we
LOOK WITH ANXIOUS EYES TO AMERICA,
to the great representative nation OF our Contl-
nent, for recognition and support. We know that
the warm sympathles Of the American people are
with US but this strange policy OF General Grants
government is ineXcusable, inexplicable unJusti-
fable and wrong to the Cuban people, who en-
tertan so much sympathy and good will toward
the great country OF Washington and OF Lincoln.
1t would be extremely injudicious at this moment
to revive the question OF annexation at a time
when nobody thought OF aught else but conquer
ing the independence Of the island. 1t would at
this particular juncture
PBOvE A FIREBRAND
to distract and weaken the Cuban efforts against
the common enemy.
BELLGERENT RrGVs.
CoRREsPoNDENT-The Cubans, I believe, ex.
pected recognition OF belligerency by the United
States.
CEsrEDEs-we fully expected to be recognized
as belgerents by the Americans. We are an
American people, fighting for freedom and eman-
cpation-those great principles for which the peo-
pie OF the United States have sacrificed so much.
number of lukewarm patriots joined us because
they were sure the United States would promptly