The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-30
Slavery in Cubn-A Little Light
Visible.

Visible.
Our dispatches from Havana bring us the
pleasing intelligence that the slaveowners held
meeting there yesterday evening, at which
the general feeling was in favor of abolition.
This is most promising sign and will be
found at present to bear especial significance
when oil the circumstances are taken into con-
sideration. 1t is only few weeks since the
naughty announcement of Zorrilla came
reforms would be introduced into
Cuba while a single rebel was in
arms This was understood to be sop to
the slave-owning class and those who support
Spanish rule in the island vi ct ormis. The
rebel successes which followed this foolish
announcement seemed to have sealed the fate
of abolition for some time We wish here to
recall the expose of the barbarous institution
which our special Commissioner in the island
sent us with certain pregnant comments
thereon. It was shown that the instruction, by
its emancipation proclamation, had practically
shattered slavery, and that the patriots drew
most of their fighting strength from the ne
groes within their jurisdiction-that is, within
reach of their bands The continuance of the
war was the source Of immense profit to an
army of officials, and hence, so far as they were
concerned, it was probable that the country
might be drained yearly Of its wealth for any
length of time to come. proclamation of
emancipation would, therefore, take away from
the rebels much of their recruiting material,
and in thus assisting to end the rebellion would
cut off the profits of the office-holders To the
planters both these ends would be desirable.
1t would appear, then, that these farmers have,
through the crisp statement of the matter in
the HERALD, discovered which way their in
terests lay, and have commenced to take action
accordingly. Irritate bull with red rag on
q scarecrow and he will forget that he is
hungry for some tisNe in his anger but he
will at length return to his grass The insur-
rection, with its abolition of slavery, has been
they have butted blindly at it without consid-
ering that hey were neglecting their solid
interests ali the time and allowing any num-
Der Of hungry intruders to fatten on their
pastures. The HERALD in assisting them to
a correct view of their position, has done q
good work, of which the meeting at the
Casino Espafol yesterday evening is the first
fruit. It presents in serious guise the
fact that those most closely interested in the
island have come to view domestic difficulties
in o different light from those who rule it from
distance. The meeting is severe criticism
of the conduct Of the war and the general policy
towards the island by the Spanish authorities
for it is a direct rejection of the panacea held
out to the slave-holding interest by the
Spaniards. Since they have thus courageously
come forward with their proposition, they
would do well not to hamper their idea of
abolition with absurd conditions. The
speaker at the meeting who declared against
any indemnity for the slaves was in the right as
while not only forcing the poorer classes to pay
for the rich mans political necessity, it will
fall back in many ways upon themselves. An
attempt to exchange slavery for system of
peonage, as proposed by speaker at tho
meeting, would be worse than useless,
as it would deceive nobody and ut
terly fail of effect in combating
the emancipation of the rebels, which,
no matter how the planters may dislike ac-
knowledging the fact, is the real necessity for
their action. full abolition, unshackled by
riders and conditions, is the only plan worthy
of any consideration.
The meeting takes another interest from the
fact that the financial condition of the Bank
OF Spain is just now seriously discussed, and
home rule financially, in the shape of a local
bank, is proposed. The news from the seat of
the instruction tells us of another engage
ment, in which the Spanish admit severe loss.
and, of course, place that of the Cubans at
four times their own. Thus, in one evenings
news-all, too, from the Spanish side-the
problems of the distracted island
are laid before us in striking colors.
1t shows, particularly in the last item
we have referred to, that the sword cannot be
relied on much further to work cure for the
disorders. 1t has failed hitherto, and is fail
ing to-day. Has Spain statesman enlght-
ened and bold enough to lead the resort to
other and more humane means?
The CRY CREprT.-It is certainly gntify-
ing to those who have the interests and honor
of the city at heart to see its present high
standing in a financial point of view, notwith-
standing the gigantic raids that have from
time to time been made upon its treasury In
the recent call for proposals for 50 600 900 city
improvement seven-per-cent stock there were
bids amounting to over $3,355,0OO, at pre-
miums ranging from one to five per cent. This
is doing pretty well for a city that has been
earning so unenviablea reputation for lawless-
ness and official corruption as New York has
for the past year or two.