The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-06
G u 3 A..
The Spanish SlaveOwners'
Meeting in Havana.
The Havana Press Not Permitted to
Report the Gathering.
The Instruction and It's Source
of Supplies.
SPANISH FINANCIAL NEW ISSUE

HAVANA, Feb. /, 1879.
The question OF aboii.on of slavery and changes
In the form of governing the Antilles, agitated in
Spain. has been the most absorbing topic of interest
for some time past and cause Of great alarm TO
tue olgarchy Of this island. So great has been the
opposition as even to s>lrt the idea OF possible
secession OF the Spanish element In Cuba from the
mother country.
Ameeting, which had been looked forward to for
some time, took place last Sunday at the Casino
Espahol, composed largely of shareholders and
merchants. The avowed object OF the meeting WAS
to discuss the social question-slavery-and as
was generally supposed. to find means 10 antici-
pate the intentions of the home government, take
time by the foreOck, and, at whatever means or
terms put an end to an institution abhorred by
the entire civilized world, and which only exists in
all its horrors in Cuba.
AS matter OF course, the Spanish Havana jour-
mails have given
NO REPORT OF WHAT TRANSFERRED
In this assemblage, and it falls upon your corre-
spondent to chronicle its results The meet
ing quite numerous, and composed OF
members of all classes Of sOciety-the ma
tive democratic element not represented
although number Of ldbOrdnteS were present. The
meeting was called to order and opened by the
well known President OF the Casino, Don Julian de
Zulueta, who, in his peculiar, embarrassed, jerky
manner, stated the object OF the Junta explaining
that according to the decree OF HIS Majesty Of July
a., 1870, committee had been formed for the pur-
pose of studying the best possible way to solve the
difficult question of
THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY,
without producing political or economical disturb
ances. Since that period, Zulueta remarked, they
had been laboriously engaged in the study Of this
Rrduous undertaking, and then he called the atten-
ton of saveowners ana others to the events
which, in a vertiginous manner, are being precipi-
tated and that the royal decree, framed with re-
gard to the sister island of Porto Rico, gave fears
that 1t might yet be extended to tn island. Fur
thermore, that the Abolition Society, with more
malice than philanthropy, and the undoubted
pressure exercised by foreign Cabinets, weighed
with iron hand upon the intentions of this govern
ment to solve this dangerous question, without
taking into consideration the immediate losses
which would happen to this island by premature
solution of the dif1culty. Senior Zulueta then
presented the Secretary of the Junta, to read
report to show the result of their labors and the
PROJECT to establish an association to
REPLACE THE SLAVES WITH CONTRACTED COOLIES.
The Secretary then commenced to read an elabo-
rate and elegantly written preamble, stating the
necessity Of modifying, in manner slow but sure,
the present system of labor, proposing as the only
means of overcoming the situation and saving the
u
the shareholders on the island should become men,
bers, with an annual contribution Of $40 for each
slave owned, and with the of So DOC, 900, which,
1t is supposed, could be collected this account
estimating according to last statistics the number
of slaves at 800 0O0to Introduce coolies OF all races
Into the island including even the African. The
project, as usual in these cases. is set forth in
complicated document. written in the highest
phraseology OF the Spanish la nguage, the principal
DOlntS showing the
CRASHING CUPIDITY OF THE sLAvEocRAoY.
Anything at all showing desire to assist the
government in the plan OF emancipation was kept
In the dark, and nothing promised that would be a
benefit to the country. ON the contrary every
thing painted in glarins cOOrS en- vista OF gain
and speculation to the future directors OF this asso
ciation and in one sentence showed that to all in
the forelock" was project. of profit to the same
traders in human flesh who, hypocriticaly masking
their intentions, pretend to continue the "traplc
TIE ELASTIC NAME OF COLONIZATION.
Sehor Don Rufno Sanz, respectable hard
ware merchant OF this city, who is also an ollcer
OF volunteers and prominent Spaniard, but
whose sentiments ami heart appear not to have
been hardened by his stock IN trade, hereupon
rose to say a few words, and. alter reminding his
hearers Of his being good Spaniard, lover OF
the national integrity and the island where he had
accumulated his wealth. and the proofs OF his
patriotism displayed In personal and pecuniary
eauaS the IDEAS and bs
which his conscience dictated could not re-
1rain from expressing his surprise at the
resolving the social question the object seemed to
be to create speculating society "Gentiemen,"
Senior Saniz sald 81 wish to declare that am
partisan OF the immediate abolition OF slavery. We
who have had sufficient courage to withstand the
not be TERMED at the phantom which is called
slavery. Let MS be grand; let us furnish grand
spectacle to foreign nations let us anticipate the
mediate abolition Of slavery Have we not In this
country. since 1857, nearly thirty thousand Asiatic
coolies and do not Our commercial statistics show
n steady increase OF our / Delevo
there is no one in this room who does not at heart
agree with the idea just proposed. II any there be
who do not hold such sentiments they will find
printed on their Drows the stigma OF the contempt
and reproach OF every honest man."
The lovers of liberty were agkeeaby surprised to
hear from Spaniard in Cuba such sentiments of
Justice and morality: MIR. sainz showed that he
was an eloquent speaker and a man OF advanced
ideas, and consequently there was much agitation
among
at what they had heard from peninsular. Senior
Gallo rose to reply and address the meeting, and In
disconnected phrases, strong with the accent OF
his Cataonian province, tired to prove to his
hearers the inviolabity Of his property. He stated
that when he bought his plantation he bought it
with accompaniment OF the ''ubbers' (alcor-
nOques), "thlngs''or ''negroes''-he did not call
them men-upon 1t, and he firmly believed no one
had the right to touch his property; that he con-
sidered the Junta Illegal anu the radical gov
eminent had promised not to touch the social
WHILE SINGLE ARMED INsURGENr REMAINED
In Cuba with less reason should he be Influenced
by junta that had no character whatever He
not going to submerge his family In misery by
: measures OF abolition, which would more surely
aid the plans OF mis- separaist enemies; but finally.
that this was a matter In which each could act as
he saw fit; the government had no right to restrict
individual action, and in virtue thereof Senior
Sainz could give freedom to his slaves II he pleased
and each one should be permitted to solve the ques-
ton according to his own manner OF thought. Sainz
rose to rectiiy Mr.. Gallo's remarks, and In
tone both ironical and contemptuous declared
1t was impossible for him to effect the miracle
Senior Gallo PROPOSED, as he never owned any
slaves, and, moreover was much surprised te learn
that the gentleman was as liberal as any one; and
continued In the same strain for few moments,
much to the discontinue OF senior Gallo
Senor C0lome, native. OF this city, was the next
to speak. lie commenced 10y declaring himself
member OF the Junta and the principal author OF
THE PROJECT OF CoLONIzATIoN.