New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-28
SLAVERY IN CUBA.

continuance of slavery in Cuba and the
substitution of coolieism for the African
slave trade. Indeed, we doubt whether
the enslavement of Africans was not the
more humane custom of the two. The
African was born to bondage his consti-
tuition is adapted to the labor of the
tropics. He had at least the care, in age
or sickness, of an owner. The Asiatic Is
comparatively feeble, he is kidnapped
from his country, cast into the corn-feld,
and worn out without kindly thought
for his temporal or eternal welfare.
} History informs us that the SpanlarGs
introduced the African slave trade in
America, because the natives allotted in
the yeparttan,e,ios were altogether too
feeble tor the tolls imposed upon them.
They were worn out and persisted in the
ruins, and no remnant of these natives
remains in Cuba. With both the slave and
coolie systems in force, it is difficult to
imagine why the sympathies for uncom.
pensated labor have ceased with the act OF
emancipation in the United States. It
may have been the policy Of England to
agitate the overthrow Of slavery in Amer
lea, that she might thereby embarrass the
progress of this nation. She might have
once Hoped that if the culture Of cotton
could be destroyed in America. it might
betransferred to India. Both these theories
have been refuted. The republic has been
confirmed in its duration. England is
even more dependent than formerly upon
teduced crop of cotton. We confess
to- some surprise at the entire alb.
sence Of emotion shown by our known
abolitionists at the double bondage of
despotism and labor prevailing in Cuba.
1t would almost lead us to imagine that
the zeal for emancipation which peryaded
our country was inspired somewhat by
sectional animosities. There can, Of course,
be no act of military Intervention expect
ed at the hands Of our government, but
nothing forbids the extension of sympathy
to those who seek to be as free as our.
selves. The mere historical fact that
Greece had been the cradle OF freedom,
inspired the protection Of that country
from the pagan power of Turkey. while
the United States has always shown wish
to secure representative government for
all the States of Spanish America. The
advocates and apologists for Spain claimed
that the United States should not bear hard
on feeble sister striving to qualify herself
for freedom. A republican government,
however, which seeks to repress freedom OF
religion, to hold in bondage q people
weaker than themselves. and which disre.
CARDS the laws of civilized warfare. is no
longer entitled to the consideration Of re-
publicans. 1t is a hypocritical fraud, and
the world should be warned that the deeds
perpetrated by the Spanish anarchy are
not to be charged against the cause of re-
publican government.
While, however, no movement is mani
fest on this side of the Atlantic in behalf
of the emancipation of Cuba, it is credit
to civilization to hear at least one voice
lifted in remonstrance against the deeds
of blood and wrong perpetrated by Spain
toward her helpless colonists. We learn
that the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery
Society has addressed another mem orial
to the British government upon the con-
tinued existence of cruel war and slavery
in Cuba. This is the third application of
the abolitionists, and they certainly base
their application upon strong reasons.
1. They urge that the United States
and Great Britain will act in accord to
put an end to 'this barbarous civil war;"
'this ferocious internecine strife now
raging in Cuba.
Nearly two years have elapsed since their
first remonstrance, and Cuba is still deluged
in blood; on the lowest computation 10000
men. women and children have persisted,
and now the indiscriminating ferOcity of
the volunteers, by the immolatiOn of Eng.
lishmen and American citizens. has rem.
dered necessary prompt and DECISIVE ac'
ton on the part of her maJestys govern
ment. and also that of the United States.
2. s'Nearly all the people enslaved
''have a claim to liberty in virtue Of Brit
ish treaties for suppressing the slave
trade."' ''They have been made free. and
are now about to be re-enslavsd in viola.
tibn of Spanish treaty law"
The memorial concludes:
The committee have now. therefore.
earnestly to entreat her maesty's govern.
ment to rest satisfied with no settlement of
the existing complications which does not
insure the complete extinction OF slavery.
inasmuch as it owes Its existence at this
time in Cuba to tho violation OF the most
solemn treaties.
There are certainly strong grounds for
at least an amicable intervention. !. is
remarkable that while all controversies
sounding in money damages are adjusted
by elaborate arbitrations. no such tribunal
has ever been constituted for expressions
of international opinion on the violation
of those laws of humanity which all ma
tons profess to respect. Let there be an
international court Of inquiry convened
to consider che violations of national law
in holding human beings in bondage in
ISOLATION Of treaties, and for waging civil
war In violation Of the rules Of civilized
warfare.
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10 ION MD nTanST0NT