National Republican., 1873-11-17
THR CUBAN SITUATION.

One sad aspect OF the difficulties which
now threaten Cuba may be found In the GER
talnty that upon very slight proyocntion |
the Spanish free blacks, numbering 2o,OOO |
and the native Cubans Of equal strength, will |
rise some day In bloody insurrection In the |
city Of Havana. Fifty thousand blood.thirsty
wretches, seeking vengeance for wrongs,
real and imaginary, will some time In the
not far distant future electrify and horrify
the civilized world with q record Of nights
butchery and cruel massacre. Naturally the
native Cubans are peaccable and patient
people, while the spanlsh-speaklng blacks
have for centuries submitted TO the odious
impositions Of prescription and the dlscrim.
nations of law against their interests, until
they have dcservedly won a reputation for
humility and quiet. But the latent devil lurk-
Ing In their veins, through which courses the
hot-blood Of the tropics, once aroused, they
will lay aside that humility to assume the
character of fiends. Havana, then, rests to-
day upon volcano aud the eruption may
come at any hour. In the meantime
let us hold the parties responsible
for the policy which provokcs these people
to seek vengeance to strict accountability.
They must know the danger which surrounds
them, and knowing 1t should make provision
to avert 1t. But their conduct Is such Is TO
hasten their impending doom. Promise after
promise has been made by them to reform
the abuses under which the people are be-
coming so restive; but not single promise
has been fulfilled. The island has no regular
or direct representation In the Government !;
=. sbrnuuhnttt Ia lauUth and
breadth, and It Is ruled by officials OF Span
lsh birth, who arc naturally the enemies and
oppressors of the natives. No wonder then,
that the people groan and complain. These
facts are often used nowadays as argu-
ments to prove that II Is the duty Of the Uni
ted States, not only as an act OF humanity,
but In preservation Of our own rights and
privileges, to assume the responsibility OF q
protectorate over the island. We know very
well that under existing circumstances the
American people suffer In the loss Of
profits from the Spanish Determinations
against our commerce with Cuba more than
the cost Of war with Spain; but we have
had no prctcxt heretofore 10 forcibly demand
revocation or moderation OF those discrim-
nations. Now that the pretext for such o
demand Is furnished by the outrage against
our flag committed by the Spanish author
tiles we would be craven, indeed, not to take
advantage of Il. But Il Is to be hoped tha
force will not be required. However blint
the Spanish authorities in Cuba may be tt
their own interests and dsregardful Of ours
or cruel and inhumAn In the conduct Of tht
administration Of affairs on the island, ther,
Is every reason to believe that Preslden
CASTELAR, Is in earnest when he promises |
satisfactory solution Of the pending difiicul
ties. 1t Is true that he may not be able Il
execute his designs or desires, and that hl
orders for that purpose may 10 dis
obeyed, and we may as well begin
now to calculate tho responsibility
which will rest upon Us as Government II
they are disobeyed but we must not forgei
that our duty as civilized nation, amenabl,
to the requirements Of positive as well Al
indefinite civilized international law, de
mands patience In this extremity. We car
afford to walt reasonable length OF time fo
developments, and TO trust the honesty o
Castellar's purpose until Congress. meets
The war power Of the Government, 1t mus
be remembered, rests with Congress, ant
while 1t must be admitted that we have caus'
for serious complaint, prudence requires tina
the utmost caution should characterize ht
deliberations Of that body. Let the pres
possess Its soul with patience, and, remem
bering the gravity Of the questions involved
forbear from exciting and inccndiary appeal
to the unthinking prejudices OF the people.