The New York herald., 1873-12-24
HAv AN A.
INTERVIEW WITH MINISTER S0LER.
Important Points Of Spanish Policy for the
Abolition Of Slavery.
Sketch of the Minister'S
Appearance.
Eight to Ten Years for Total
Emancipation.


afrars OF the island, but with the real purpose OF
finding the quickest and easiest solution OF the
slavery question, intends to remain among Ms
while longer. Indeed, he said to-day that the
time Of his departure for Spain was rather In
definitely postponed. He has weghty scheme in
hand and cannot bestow upon 1t, as he thinks, too
much time and serious attention. The telegraph
has already informed you OF the Minister'S confer
with the Shareholders and OF the instructions
he gave to make ready such paper as he could
transmit to Spain embodying their propositions
for the abolition OF slavery. Feeling how important
the subject is at the present moment, your corre-
spondent arranged with Sehor Ramon Brn friend
OF the Minister'S for an interview at the palace
with the representative OF the CASTELAR, govern
ment. The arrangement was satisfactorily con-
cluded last evening and the hour Of two O'Clock in
the afternoon OF to-day appointed for the confer
ence.
SPANISH PROCRAsTINATTON.
Columbus would never have discovered America
had he been q Spaniard. He would have cried,
"Maaonag Aahnna" tomorrow, tomorrow,
and he would have reached Shakespeare's seventh
age OF man before his caravels got ready for sea.
At the last moment the Spaniard has always some
thing to 40 that should have been done BEFORE
and, without meaning TO cast the smallest renee
tiOn on the excellent qualities OF Senior Ramon
Brn 1t was quite in character with the traditions
and habits of the people to find the Minister'S
friend in the operation Of getting shaved within
few minutes Of the hour appointed for the inter-
view. To have the interview complete and effective
the HERALD had q dual representation on this
occasion. Your resident correspondent: was fortu-
nate In having an acquaintance with Senior Bird
and douhy fortunate in being able to manipulate
the Castiian dialect with exihle readiness, for the
Minister was q stranger to the English tongue
We whiled away the time
IN THE BARBERs SHOP
while our friend was having his comely face rem
dered faultessly beautiful by speculating upon the
antiquity OF the chairs in which the patients were
laid out, soaped and shaved. We solved the
problem in the brief period Of our stay as to what
becomes Of the old barbers chairs and billiard
tables Of New York, and the solution was that
when they become aged and Observation-Disclosures
they lose their freshness and beauty-they drift
down to the West Indies and settle in Havana and
other places. Oi course 1t was alter the exact
time when we finally reached
THE ANTECHAMBER OF THE MINISTER'S QUARTERS.
Here were assembled at table in one corner Of
the room q dozen or so Of men in one way or an
other connected with the establishment. Four or
five had uniforms marked on the collar with the
letters "M. o." minister OF Ultramar), or, as my
| companion suggested as the more correct
| reading, miserable Ushers;'' and ushers they
were, but not miserable in spirit, for they smoked
cigars and looked very contented doing nothing In
| an opposite corner or 10 negro women were
| waiting to lay their complaints before the Minis
ter While we stayed abiding our time to be called
slim mulatto woman, with a lorg-skirted dress
trailing over the pavement, leading child by the
hand and crying audibly, passed in and had an au-
| dence with some oficial She was poor slave.
| who had been beaten and had lifted up courage
| enough TO come here and complain OF her cruel
taskmasters. Later on we noticed a venerable
darky, past threescore and ten who had made
up his mind that he must be over sixty years Of
age, and, consequently, entitled to his freedom
His owner had insisted on telling him he was not
yet sixty; but there was enough shrewdness left
In this native OF Africa to know that even II he
lived forever his master would never assure him
he was over sixty. The district court being pre-
sided over by slave-holding magistrate, or sin
dico there is little nope OF justice for
THE COMPLAINING AFRICAN
or Chinaman who happens to be q slave. There
fore it s that these unfortunates make their way
to the palace. They have learned in some mex
plicable manner that Minister Soler has come here
to better their condition Ii he can and already ne
has become known to them as their Noses. Many
people passed in and out through the cool and
lofty antechamber while we waited.
GENERAL PORTILLA
Commander OF the Cinco Villas, was among the
number. He had the least possible appearance OF
military oficer, and one could readily understand
how much better he was fitted TO play the part Of
the bland and concliatory statesman than the
fierce role Of the soldier. AS the former he sue
ceeded in winning over from the insurgent side
the people OF the Cinco villas, where his sword
would have failed OF reaping other than bloody
and barren laurels Seior Cancio villaamil,
THE INrENDENTE
or chief oicer OF the Treasury was another OF the
distinguished persons who called to have an
audience with the Minister. He looked calculat-
ingly sweet and amiabe as Ex-Governor Fenton in
and eye. and though he cannot tolerate Americans
since the affair OF the Virginlus, IL Is said he Is
remarkably poute and well bred man. The In
tendente is great gun among the ofrcc-hoders OF
the island for he controls the money bags, and as
every Intendente from the time OF Columbus down
| has returned to spain wiser and by long odds q
| richer man than when he came, his position is
| envied above that even OF the Captain General.
| sENoRA AND sENoRITA,
| and our hearts sink at sight which at any other
| time would have gladdened them beyond measure.
for the senoritai is beauty as perfect and brilliant
| as rainbow; but then those great, liquid Jet
black eyes OF hers viii SO enchant the Minister
that he will get Obvious OF the existence oil two
| HERALD correspondents In the adjoining room
The result justifles our fears. 1t was past four
| O'Clock before Senor Bru announced that our turn
| for an audience had at last arrived. should say
| OF Senor Bru that he was sent TO Spain by the
| Spanish republicans OF Cuba 10 request tnat the
| CASTELAR, government would send one OF Its mem-
| bers to this colony. They sent Minister S0er
| Bru after the manner OF Othelo, had at one time
| In q duel In Mexico shot Peruvian who had ira
| duced the State OF Spain, anu, though Cuban,
| he at once became the idol OF the Spaniards; ;
| but since he has taken up republcanism he has
fallen 500 per cent in their estimation, for
they are monarchsts in the blood and nbre Of their
| bodies. Al the tour corners ofthe pale plastered
antechamber the eye sees and wonders at the
| sight or an imperial crown, which nobody has yet
| had the courage 10 wipe out with wnitewash
hruo Pam tteo m q n N m.
stance without life, strength or fulness.
THE MINISTER'S APPEARANCE
1t was a splendid audience chamber in which We
met the Minister. He was dressed In irreproach-
| able black and his presence Immediately arrested
our attention. Standing about the middle size,
with a finely formed head, surm0unted by an
abundant crop OF hair full black whiskers, soft and
| nowIng as spun silk; large, prominent eyes, teen-