The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-09
SLAVERY in CUBA.
Me Great, Question Of the
Hour in the Antilles.
SPANISH PRIDE and FOLLY.
Shareholders the Real Masters
of the Island.
CUBAN DIVISIONS AND WEAKNESS.
Numerical Superiority OF the
Negroes.
THEIR N0NCHALANT NEUTRALITY.
A Gagged Press and Garru-
lOus Public Opinion.
DEAD LETTER REFORMS
A Word to Captain General
Ceballos.
THE THEORY OF C0MDEScENSI0M.
How the VOmitO Discour-
ages Volunteering.
THE SURPRISE AT HOLGUIN.
How the VOmitO DiscOur-
ages Volunteering.
THE SURPRISE AT HOLGUIN
Why SlaveOwners and Contractors
Wish to Continue the War.
PORTO R1Co's PLAN OF REFORM.
An Able, Thoughtful Letter from Our
Special Commissioner.

HAVANA, Dec. %, 1872
What for want OF a better phrase must be called
public opinion here is just now in Q state OF
siderable but suppressed excitement over the
slavery question. AS the American people already
know, the law passed by the Spanish Cortes for
the suppression Of slavery in this isle is dead let
ter, and there Ii neither power nor. perhaps, viii
on the part of the Spanish authorities to enforce
1t. Like the old Southern slave masters the estate
owners are unwilling to manumit their laborers
but endeavor. by
INTRIGUE AND UNDERHAND INFLUENCE,
to put or the settlement OF the question.
One Of the principal causes why the law has not
been enforced has been the lavish use of money at
Madrid. Some twenty of the richest men in Cuba
have been engaged buying OF the successive min
listers OF ultra views. Every new incumbent
threatened to take up the slave question, ana in
order to prevent this being done money was neces-
sary. The constant changes, however, In the
Cabinet have 50 drained the exchequer Of the
Blaveholders that they are unwilling to sacrifice
any m0resin the general interest, unless the gen.
eral body come down handsomely. An effort is
now being made to have this done. and it Is
looked on as the last resource. 1t is
easy to understand the Irritation OF this
class against the United States and their hatred
Of everything with the slightest tinge OF freedom
or independence about it, For the most part the
slaveocracy Is composed Of immigrant Spaniards
who possess little or no education beyond what is
necessary for the transaction OF their business.
These men are naturally blinded by their passions.
and, instead Of seeking to make some compromise
that would be safeguard to their interests the
mere mention Of abolition has the same effect on
them that red flag has on an enraged bull. And
yet the intelligent classes feel that
SLAVERY AS AN INSTITUTION IS DOOMED.
! II the estate owners would only take the initia-
tive and free their own slaves the change could be
effected without any serious shock to the social or
commercial life Of the island. But II they delay
until the government is forced to take action by
the pressure OF public opinion the world over and
the development OF progressive and liberal
ideas in Spain, then the whole labor
system will inevitably be seriously disturbed.
The late cnange In the Cabinet at Madrid il
attributed here to the interference OF General
Sickles, and the criticisms that are privately
passed On him are by no means OF the most favora-
BILE kind They do not find public expression,
however, but are whispered from one to another,
according to the custom OF the country. 1t Is
serious misfortune for Cuba and for Spain that
nothing apProximating to free press exists here.
The extent to which the censorship OF the papers
is carried would be unbearable among people
having the instinct OF o bold and unequivo.
cal expression OF their sentiments. Not line
OF any kind Of news, even the most
harmless local item can be printed without the
permission OF some great swell who Is called the
censor. Even the business advertisements must
receive the approval Of this ocia before they can
appear in the columns OF the newspapers, and as
this deity of the press closes his ONCE at i've
O'Clock in the evening it Is easy to guess what
rapid vehicle for the conveyance and dissemina-
ton Of news the Cuban papers must be. Nor ia the
foreign press altogether free from the interference
OF this censor. AMI,
EVERY TELEGRAM HAS TO BD SUBMITTED,
and fit Ii not approved It is simply sheved. with
the endorsement 'DenieA,n and no notice given Of
the fact. Az matter OF condescension, II news
paper correspondent makes an inquiry ~ to the
fate OF his telegram he win usually DO informed
whether or not 1t has passed the scrutiny but only
rs compliment never as right In fact here
the oficials, from the highest to the lowest are
constantly ''condescending" to take some notice
ofinferior people whose bread they eat.
1t may be- judged from the foregoing that enter
prise Is something unknown among the newspa
pers. and though for the most part the literary
departments are filled with men OF education.
whose views are broad such Ii the effect Of the
system OF censorship that they can only write what
fs agreeable to the powers that be- As this fact is
fully recognized BY the people ai 81 VS.
THE INFLUENCE OF THE PRESS "a AT ZERO.
and the papers are obliged to follow the prejudices
OF the crowd, instead Of guiding and directing the
popular sentiment into the right channel. This is
especially misfortune at this moment. when a
free press would be Of incalculabe advantage TO
Spain as well a. to Cuba In educating the people to
the absolute necessity that exists for the abolition
OF slavery, II complications are to be avoided that
must inevitably bring ruin to Ouba. Talking on
this subject to one OF the most intelligent press.
men that j have met with here, I poin ted
out the danger which threatened nom
the new abolition movement In America.
He ut once perceived the truth OF what told him,
1ut regretted thai - existing stats OF THINGS pre-