The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-11-16
sgorning Star and Catholic Messenger.

80SnnG Quar- aho Cath0llc messenger
1Tw oRLxAnS. SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 10. is7s
The Queen Of the Antilles.
Cuba, an island which for many years
has been, at intervals, an object Of much
interest to our own country, 10 at once the
pride and the plague of Spain. 1t In not
strange that that Government should hold
tensciously to territory of remarkable
fertility, and Of great value in many re-
sPects, occupying q commanding position,
and covering an area Of more than AZ, 600
square miles, being nearly az large as Ten
Dessee. II il not only the last remains Of
the magnificent American possessions which
Spain once ruled over, bat, intrinsically,
its forests and plantations are In great re-
quest the world over. The most valuable
fruit-crops and timber of the tropics,
oranges, lemons, cocoa-ruts, sugar, to-
bacco, mahogany, lignum vita, and other
and in great abundance. Although with.
in the torrid zone, its climate is tenn
pered in the summer months by the porth-
east trade winds, which blow almost
every day in the year from early in
the morning until shutdown, and also by
the rains which fall from May to Nov
ember, SO that the temperature Of the is
Band ranges from seventy to ninety degrees,
according to high meteorological author
ity. With all these advantages, and
being commercially the key to the Gulf of
Mexico, Cuba 10 not without reason jeal-
onsly guarded by her old possessor as one
of the crown-jewels of Spain. Still, the is
land is the plague of Spain, as we'll as her
pride. Cuba is far from being entitled to
rank among the fortunate isles, or to be
called the land of the lotus eaters Ever
and anon the flames of instruction break
out like the fires of volcano, and although
In mt mt o.
more than guerrilla contest, Spain finds
1t necessary to keep on hand q regular
force of &c, 600 Spanish soldiers and several
thousand organized Cuban militia to stamp
out fames OF discomfort among the people.
The consequence is that Cuba, with all her
tropical productions-whieh, to weIl-go.
verned people, would be source of con-
tinued wealth and increasing prosperity
10 not profitable province to Spain. The
ialand 10 ruled by q set Of Spanish carpet
baggers, who have little feeling in common
s Tiss the mass ann. OF the people over whom
at Madrid. Although Cuba has valuable
mines Of copper, iron and other metals, the
little mining that 10 done 10 the work Of
foreigners, and only one nineteenth of her
rich soil Is under cultivation. The Span
ish Republic 10 not only impoverishipg
tant province Of the old monarchy, but 1t
10 stultifyipg Its own professions Of attach.
mont TO popular government by continuing
the military rule of Captain General ever
the people Of a remote island, who, If left
70 their own choice, would throw OF the
their own making in twenty-four hours.
u mey cost Spanish pride, which 10 pro-
verbal, q sore struggle to consent to re-
linquish Cuba but justice, consistency
and the soundest consideration of econo-
my require the REIMBURSEMENT, which
No tn
act of wise statesmanship. The Republic
can party of Spain, by continuing Cap
tain General over Cuba, are, in 90 doing.
declaring to the world that government Ia
not matter of popular election, but Of
mere force, and that they will resort to the
1t 10 to their interest to do SO. 1t is rarely
70 the advantage Of government to at
tempt to retain O distant colony after it
has begun to show signs of dissatisfaction
and revolt. Great Britain tried it in the
case Of her American provinces, and the at
q reason for her policy which Spain has
not, for the former country sends abroad
colonists in large numbers Spain sends
very few. But even John Bull would
hardly make an effort to retain Canada if
the people of that territory should signify
their wish to cut loose from their political
connection with the mother country. There
10 no political consideration for trying to
maintain Spanish authority in the Gulf of
Mexico, and the sooner there is a sever
ance between Sprin and the Queen of the
Antilles the better it will be for the people
Of both countries.-Courier Journal.
The attention of our readers is requested to
the advertisement OF Mr.. j. Stafford. meat dealer cor
nor Of Sc. Peter and Old Leveo streets. Mr. Stafford
has very eztonRve establishment well god with
all oonvonenoos necessary to tho business and his
nbrnc Z he baat of baaf
which he will Sell 1t the lowest possible figures Plan
tAtionS will be supplied promptly and readers may