The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-23

and tho Other Standardization Re-
pubiics.
The Cuban question is live one, and as
sumes more importance every day. notwith-
standing the repressive influences that are at
work in Madrid and Washington to keep it
down and to cover up the facts and real issue.
The poetic buncombe of CASTELAR,, the Minister
of Foreign Affairs for the newly born Spanish
Republic, and of Figueras the President OF the
Council, as well as the diplomatic fustian of
Mr.. Secretary Fish and the representative of
the United States at Madrid about republican
Spain and its liberal tendencies, amounts to
nothing. Whatever change of government
takes place in Spain the Cubans can expect no
recognition of their independence, of local
self-government without independence or the
abolition of slavery. King Amadeus was
afraid to touch the Cuban question, and the
rulers that have succeeded him are in the
same dilemma. The Spaniards are as proud
and Quixotic to-day as they were
when Cervantes wrote The beautiful
fourishes of rhetoric of CASTELAR, and
Figueras about liberty, equality, democ-
racy and republicanism, about 'the robust
voice of the American people in blessing and
acclaiming the advent of the Spanish Repub-
lic," and all the rest of their oratorical fan
faronade, have no other meaning for Cuba
than war, repression and the same tyranny
that has ever been exercised over that island
Spain has never voluntarily given up any of
her possessions, and never will, nor will she
ever rule them but with view to plumber
them. We have seen by the speeches Of
CASTELAR, that he dreams of extending the
colonial empire of Spain Of bringing the
Spanish American republics even under the
influence of the mother country again, and is
absurd enough to call upon these republics to
withhold their sympathy from the patriotic
Cubans What can be expected from such
visionary men? They have not the least COM
prehension either of the stern facts of history
or of those which confront them with regard
to the sentiment and movement in Cuba. And,
if even they did comprehend them, they dare
not shock the prejudices of the ignorant
Spaniards so far as to propose the necessary
remedy for the evils that afflict Cuba.
The significant response to the fourishes of
the republican leaders of Spain is seen in the
renewed activity Of the insurgent Cubans and
the action of the Spanish American republics,
to say nothing of the generous speech Of Gen
eral Banks in Congress, the movement of the
colored people and others in the United States
in favor of Cuban freedom and independence.
We noticed q short time ago the action of the
Colombian government for a joint movement
of the South American republics to recognize
and sustain the Cubans. Favorable replies
were returned by some of these republics, and
now we learn from our Washington dispatches
that Ecuador has replied to the circular note
of Colombia, accepting the proposition and
expressing willingness to cooperate with Co.
lombia for that object Previous to this
the Republic of Honduras had responded
to Colombia in the following language
''The proposition lately made by the United
States of Colombia, that the respective gov
ernments of South America should interfere in
the existing instruction of Cuba against
Spain, has excited the liveliest interest in the
government of Honduras, which feels that the
only possible solution of the matter is the
emancipation of Cuba, and that Spain should
be Unidentified for her war expenses incurred
during the long and sanguinary struggle.
Should the Spanish government refuse to
leave the island it will then be the duty
of the South American republics to
throw aside their neutrality and come to the
rescue Of the Cuban patriots, and help to bring
about the liberty of Cuba and the abolition of
slavery" The Minister who communicated
this response represents the sympathy Of the
people of Honduras as very strong with the
oppressed Cubans, and that both they and
the government are in favor of republican
and Independent government for Cuba. The
Honduras Minister ct Washington had been
instructed to cooperate with other diplomatic
representatives for the attainment of that
object. 1t is known that Peru, Chile and other
republics have either recognized the Cubans
as belligerents or as independent. Thus,
while our own government has been hereto
fore too Indifferent to the struggling Cubans,
and, we might say, perhaps, too hostile, the
republics Of South America have been moving
to aid, morally, at least, the cause
of independence in Cuba. They have gone
! through like experience, and know both
the curse of Spanish rule and the value of
freedom Still, with all the hostility and
visionary theories of the rulers of Spain, cir
cumstances seem to combine just now in
a remarkable and an encouraging manner to
favor the cause of Cuban independence, and,
as consequence, the extinction of slavery in
Cuba. First there are the revolution and
proclamation of Republic in Spain. Not
that we think, as was said, the re-
publican government of Spain will be
disposed to recognize the independence
of Cuba The logical argument of their
own revolutions to establish freedom and