, 1873-11-19
From the European Mall
(Concluded.)

(COnCluded.)
Mr.. GaIlenga says it is in every material
respect better than that of the free cul.
tivator of the plains of Lombardy, or even
than that of many a Iabourer possessing q
freehold cottage and garden in some parts
OF England, with which he is thoroughly
acquainted. But this, be admits, does not
mitigate the moral evil of the system. The
Spanish planters see that sudden emanci-
patton, for which they were not thoroughly
prepared, would compel them to leave the
Island, which would be at the mercy Of the
entranchised negroes. For this reason,
whilst admitting that emancipation must
come sooner or later, they put forward
schemes of apprenticeship or free labour,
the discussion of which may defer the time
they not nnreasonabIy dread. But why is
it, Mr.. GaIlenga asks, that emancipation
should be so easy in Porto Rico and SO
difficult in Cuba2 His reply to this ques-
ton is conclusive. Porto Rico is wholly
settled and cultivated. Its size is about
one-tweIfth that ofCuba, and its population
nearly one-haIf. Only 10000 out Of
292, 542 negroes were slaves, and there
being no waste land on which to squat, the
freedom given to the comparatively small
number of slaves would not affect the Iabour
market at all. On the other hand, only
one-tenth of Cuba is cuItivated-the estates
are large, requiring great capital and expen-
sive machinery to keep in operation. The
slaves to be enfranchised number $50 1000,
and there is a vast quantity of land for
sQuatting purposes. Porto Rico is therefore
no precedent for Cuba in the matter of
emancipation. The slave owners in Cuba
would be glad Of emancipation, but it must,
if possible, be effected without injury to
themselves. For this purpose they issued
a manifesto deprecating immediate abOli-
ton, as ~ruinous both to planter and negro,
and recommending that the slave owners as
o body should tax themselves yearly to the
amount of ten dollars for each Of the slaves
now in their possession, SO as to constitute
u fund of three million dollars to bring free
Iabour from India, China, and other parts,
under the operation of which system slavery
would gradually disappear. But this
scheme is a chimerical one, as clearly shown
by Mr.. Gallenga. There would be no
guarantee against the free labourers sinking
down to the condition Of the slaves, and,
besides, the immigrants would be an actual
addition to the Iabour power Of the island,
and an enormous impetus would be given
to cultivation, whilst the slaves would be
no better off than before. Again, the
horrors of the Chinese cooIie trade and the
condition of the Cbinaman who is open
Iy bought and sold, show what free
labour means in Cuba, side by side with a
gigantic system of slavery. America, &C.
cording to Mr.. GaIlenga, is not likely to in
t%erfere with Cuba, still less likely to aunex
it. Out Of 800 sugar estates, 1900 do
not yield more than 4 per cent. on their
capital. The remaining 800 pay 6 to 81
per cent, but $50 of these are deeply mort
gagged. There are only $50 estates, there
fore, iu the hands of men who are large
capitalists, and who would be able to bear
the brunt of emancipation. But Mr.. Gal
lenga suggests as his remedy, that the com
pany which for years ago offered Is millions
for the island, by advancing money
to the slave owners, might make them in
dependent financially, and it may be pre-