Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-11-29


dent OF the southern confederscy, and at presen,
X presentative-elect TO Congress from the sth
district of Georgia, arrived In the city on Mon
day evening last, and took rooms at the National
| Hotel, his old headquarters when in Congress
| b, fore the war. Heoccupies suite of rooms on
the second floor, fronting on Pennsylvania ave
| nue., aud is accompanied by Mr. VIM. ii. Hidell.
his private secretary, who occupied the sam
position during the rebellion, and "Harry,"
who has been with him for fifteen or twenty
y airs past in the capacity of body servant
This is Mr.. stephens first visit TO the
capital since 1868, when he passed through this
| city on his return TO his home at Crawtordville
Georgia, from the White Sulphur Springs, OF
Virginia. Since his arrival he has been called
upon by hundreds of his old friends and ac-
| qnaintances in Washington. He is not enjoying
| very good health at present, as he is suffering
from rheumatism. His general health however,
is perhaps as good as il has been for number OF
| years past. His journey to Washington from
| Augusta, which occupied two days and two
nights, fatigued him considerably, but he :
nevertheless in good spirits, his mind is wholly
unimpaired, ana he converses with his old-tine
ease and brilliancy. representative of THE
STAR had an hours pleasant conversation with
him few evenings since, and has his permits
SION to publish bis views on the Spanish compli-
MIR. Stephens after inquuing the latest news
by cable from Madrid, referred TO the difficulties
under which the republicans labor in Spain in
their efforts to establish a republic. Until the
| reign of Charles V Spain was one of the freest
| ratiOns in Europe, and genuine republican
| principles obtained in many respects For
instance, the cortes could make no law unless
by unanimous vote of the representatives OF
the departments or provinces. The right OF
| local self government was acknowledge in
every province and hence the form of govern
ment of Spain before the time of Charles V was
essentially republican in many particulars
| King Charles, however, changed all this and
centralized power by buying up the cortes to do
| away with the unaDimity vote. Since that time
matters have been going on from bad to worse
| People who have been so long subjected to Cd
| preston have exaggerated and distorted ideas
| of liberty and ublcanism, and when loosed
from the bonds of tyranny commit ali
| manner of excuses. Mr.. Stephens here in
| tanced the case of France and reviewed
| her struggles to establish a republic
| In this connection he said the term "commun-
| ist' was generally misunderstood. The popular
mind believes communist TO be an agrariAu.
| one IN favor OF a community of goods,
| person who holds IDEAS at variance with
| our conceptions of morality and right. \ com
huDe simply means a community, aud the lead
ing principle which controls is the right of local
se1-gOvernment The excuses committed BY
communists, such as the shooting of priests and
nuns, was of course inhuman and inexcusable
and might be said to be the acts of individuals
what the people need in such cases are leaders
with whom liberty is not wild impulse, but a
calm, cold, philosophical principle, and thus
far in Europe leaders of this kind have been
wanting. Theirs is not a republican but a
mOnarchist, and was unfit to lead the people.
He reminded one of the boys who precede
band OF music down the street. At first il looks
u
reality the band Is leading them, and they'll
the bull may be excused-'are leading by fol-
lowing in 'front.'"
Mr.. Stephens here digressed to glance at the
formation of the American republic which was
based upon the great central idea that every
state rs soveregn-is in fact republic of itself
and that the people OF the different states should
have the sole management of their local affairs
He explained the difference between the origi-
nal articles of confederation and the later con
stltution, and referred to the fact that under
the former every state regulated its own affairs
and even fixed the time required for the natu,
ralizatIon of foreigners, the rate of duties on
imports, &c. The great mind of Thomas JEFF
ferson saw that it would be better il the state
should delegate some powers of this character
to the general government. The result was the
constitution, one of the grandest documents
ever conceived by the mind of man. Mr.
Stephens diated at some length on our form OF
government as originally adopted and expressed
the opinion that 1t was BY far the best ever de-
yisCd.
Coming back to the subject of our Spanish
complications, MIR. Stephens said he had been
reported correctly when he was represented
being for the acquisition of Cuba Immediately
If not sooner" He has always been in favor Of
our acquiring Cuba. The rule of the Spaniard
in that island has been horrible to contemplate.
No one but native of Spain can hold office in
Cuba. The proudest Castilian may emigrate to
Cuba and may hold Office, but his sons born on
Cuban soil are prohibited from holding even
the Office Of Waterman or constable. Spain has
been pressing the lfe-blood out of the Cubans
for years. "Why, sir" exclaimed Mr.. Stephens,
"as have said on previous OCCASIONS we are
simply holding Cuba while Spain skins her :"
Before the late war in this country the
revenues derived from Cuba by Spain
amounted to about s25, 100000. The pres.
ent population of the island is about 1,5OO,-
600. Now, if the United States had Cuba the
population might soon be increased tentod.
and the revenues would swell to 500, 000, 900.
The incorporation into our Federal Union
of Cuba would be a good thing for all
sections of the country, since il would make
many things much cheaper. 1t is the rich
est island probably under the sun, and it is
a shame that IL should have been so long cursed
by Spanish rule. The slaves would, of course,
be free IN the event of acquisition, and no one,
north or south, would be found to favor the con-
tnuation of that institution. Some might OBJ
ject TO the admission of Cuba as a state because
of the composition of the population, but the
island would of course be accorded the right of
local self government, and could manage their
own affairs, under the Constitution Of the
United States.
1t was here suggested to Mr.. Stephens that
Cuba could not be acquired except through war
with Spain, upon which he replied 50 As 1
have said before, we are simply holding while
Spain skins. We have been doing this for
years. Under Buchanan's administration men
were arrested for violating our neutrality laws
by fitting out expeditions for Cuba, and were
indicted. The fact is, the United States has
her grinding process, and aiding in the perpet-
uation of her infamous rule on that island.
Why. sir, if we had not been extending this
protection TO these Spanish pirates Cuba would
be free to-day! Now, for one say, let us stop
holding. 1t we DO this, 100000 American vol
unteers would join Cespedes in few weeks and
in a month the pirates would be swept from the
island: Let us quit 'hoding'-that is all that
is needed"
On being asked If he was in favor of open
war with Spain, Mr.. Stephens said: ''I am not
for war per War is demoralizing and in
many instances destructive of human liberty.
But believe there are some things worse than
war. If we do have a war, however, let it be
a righteous one and one the civilized world will
approve, but If offences must needs come let
them come from Spain; let the responsibility
rest with her"
Mr.. stephens believes that there is remark
able unanimity on the subject, but when
questioned especially in reference to the feel
ing in the south, laughingly replied that he had
made no inquiries touching the subject that be
formed his own individual opinion; and that it Is
net customary with him to wait for the views of
others before expressing his own"
At the conclusion of his remarks relative to
our threatened difficulty with Spain, the repre-
sentative of TIE STAR on inquiry learned that
he takes hopeful view of affairs in the south
A better feeling Is prevailing between the
whites and the blacks, and il the southern states
left to the control of their own local affairs
the condition of matters will continue to i'm
prove. Every act of federal interference has
delayed the restoration of perfect good feeling;
hut q yNa o. ad IN Dc ne