Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-11-17
BY NAIL.
OUR FLEET FOR CUBA.

FROM the 81. LOUIS OlObtsl
WASHINGTON, November l4.-The
cabinet was In session a much longer
time than usual to-day. The Cuban
imbroglio was the only subject of discus
sion. The dispatches between President
CASTELAR,, the State department., Minister
Sickles and Consul Hall were read and
considered. From Madrid temporizlng
reply has been received, in which Gas
teiar asks for time to consider. The cab
met were unanimously OF the opinion
that Spain must be brought tohe senses,
and it was determined to prepare for
war, in the event of congress, which Is
to meet soon, declaring it necessary for
some further action, arising by refusal
of the Spanish government TO
make immediate reparation, rem
deriDg it imperative for the eX-
ecutive to promptly vindicate the
honor of the country. The secretary OF
war was directed to prepare the gulf
coast defenses for any contingency, and
Secretary Robson was ordered to push
the preparation of all available vessels
with the utmost rapidity. The follow
ing are the war vessels, exclusive OF
irOnclads, which were, at the CABINET
meeting, ordered to be equipped with all
possible dispatch and sent to the gulf:
Colorado, forty-five gunsi Franklin,
thirty-nine, and Minnesota, forty'hve,
flrst-rates. OF the second-rates, Tennes-
see, twenty-three guns; Brooklyn, twen-
tv-two; Worcester, fifteen; POwhattan,
seventeen; Plymouth, twelve Canan-
dsiga, ten, and Monongahela, eleven.
OF the third-rate, Juniata, eight
guns; Ossippe, eight: ShaWmnt,
three. Kansas, three; in all,
two hundred and sixty-one guns. The
three ironclads mount six fifteen-inch
guns, and the Miantonomah carries four
guns of the same caliber. Of the vessels
named, all but two are screw vessels,
and the Monongahela and Kansas have
already sailed. The Worcester will sail
on Sunday, and the Juniata by the
same date, while the Canandaigua, Os-
sippe, Shammut and Plymouth will be
ready within two days. The Others will
take from fifteen to twenty days TO
make ready. The department is exceed
ingly reticent about their torpedo fleet,
but il is certain that everything is being
rushed forward for service. 1t is conf
IDENTIFY expected that if opportunity Of
fers they will effect as great a
revolution in naval warfare as
troduced. OF the first-rates, the Colo
RADIO. screw, forty-five guns, will be
ready in three weeks; the Franklin,
screw, thirty-nine guns, three weeks;
Minnesota, forty-five guns, three weeks.
of the second-rates, the Tennessee,
| twenty-three guns, will be ready in three
weeks; the Brooklyn, twenty-five guns,
three weeks; the Worcester, fifteen
guns. Sunday; the POwhattan, paddle,
seventeen guns, one day; the Plymouth,
naddIe. twelve guns, and Canandaigua
Ten guns, in a few days; MOnoDgahela
eleven guns, gone. OF the third-rates
the Juniata, eight guns, is ready; the
Ossipe. eight guns, in a few days; the
Shawmut, three guns, and the Kansas
three guns, gone. Total, two hundred
and siXty-one guns.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.l
THE CUBAN "vOLUNTEERs."
The story of the volunteers in Cub
repeats the political lesson taught by th'
history of the Mamelukes and the Jan
essaries. During the revolt Of Cespedes
the captain-general, justly alarmed a
the successes of the insurgents, consider
ed it necessary to call this body o
militia into existence, care being takel
to admit none but native-bOrn Spaniard
into its ranks. The new force wa
wholly composed Of men who had com
to seek their fortunes in Cuba-worth.
descendants of the butchers who fol
. lowed Cortez and Pizarro to the Nev
World-unprinciple adventures, refu
gees who had left their cOuntr.
Tor their cOuutry's good, and blackguar
soldiers of fortune ready to hire them
selves out, like Hessians, to whomsOeve
would purchase their services. The OF
ganization of this militia of blackleg
and scoundrels had proved frequen
source of regret to the Spanish authori
, ties. The volunteers have not only be
Z come the virtual masters of the island
! but the action of the Spanish govern
! ment in the colony is wholly regulate
and controlled by their whims. A cOl
de main, after tie famous fashion {
Sultan Mahmoud or Mehemet A
has freqently been meditated b
the Spanish authorities, an
: troops have even been brougt
5 together by the Captain General for th,
7 purpose; but fear that the soldier
D might fraternize with the volunteers, (
: that the force collected might prove il
D efficient to combat the formidable pow
er opposed TO it, invariably prevente
e an attempt to crush the volunteers ol
/ of existence. Ever since their organ
! zation, q perpetual reign of terror h;
D prevailed in Cuba. The island is onl
e Governed nominally by the captail
{ general; in reality, it is at the mercy
}, that brutal militia who surrounded Il
6 theater in Havana, and amused then
!. selves by fusillading the unoffendiI
I hnnr onh hol
n who found recreation in enteriI
y the public cafes and murderiI
IS Unfortunately those refreshing then
g selves there: and who massacred Il
d Havana students. This valiant arm
i of sixty thousand assassins supports 8
l. the most iniquitous features of SPANS
policy. and opposes all measures Of I
form. especially the abolition of SLAYER
The Spaniard is by nature indolent, al
r considers labor Of whatsoever descripti'
EXCEPT murder-as highly degradin
u The aristocratic pride which has do
l. no little toward making Spain the lal
II of beggars and thieves, naturally re
e. ders her 10th TO surrender ner rig
)f 10 force the negroes to work
Is her. The Spanish government in is
fe agreed, at the request of England,
cease the lIdhJ III yOf " NN'NS'N~~
n alton of four hundred thousand poun
e; sterling, which was paid! Spanish ay
u rice is only equaled by Spanish crueli
81 But the importation of negroes to Gu
Sc continued to a much later date, and
I, efforts upon the part of the Cuba
D. themselves to free their slaves ha
As been discountenanced by the Cover
el ment. and excited the murderous ra
r of the volunteers. The interest of CO..
e mon humanity demands that some C
'n ilized power shall execute justice up
ad this brood Of psrtldious misers and co
30 ardly assassins.
be The time in the last heat of the gr
e. four-mile race I'm San Francisco, Sat
nd day, was eight minutes, twenty 9
,m three-quarter seconds, instead OF seN
Ise minutes and forty-siS seconds, ss Kt
reported,