New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-26
Iovellar and the Volunteers.

Tho good results of the VirgInius affair
have not vet died away in Cuba. The
power of the volunteers has never recov-
cred from the check it received in the ar
rangement concluded between the CASTELAR,
government and that of the United States.
No other Cabinet in Madrid had ever before
dared to defy the expressed will of the
peninsular population in Havana. No Cap
tain General before Joyellar had ever
chosen to obey orders from home rather
than from the Spanish Casino. 1t was no
light matter to take the step which CASTELAR,
took in Madrid, and which Jovellar carried
into effect in Cuba. 1t seemed, in fact, Tor
while, that the Captain General had, on
his arrival, been so impressed by the force
and unanimity of the peninsular opinion
as to be convinced that nothing but sub
mission to that opinion was practicable.
The remarkable letter of resignation, which
passed tho Havana censorship and has
never since been explained, was proof OF
that mOmentary weakness.
But this impression passed away. The
Captain General resolved to stand by his
government against the unruly colonists
The Vireinius, which had been brought into
mort with frantic public reioicings, was
onietly taken out and delivered up to the
United States. In spite of these resolute
and unpopular proceedings, perhaps even
because of them, the Captain General
gained stronger hold upon the govern
ment of the island than any of his predeces-
sors, who had cOntented themselves with
registering the DEGREES of the volunteers.
He has shown the wisdom of the proverb OF
his countrymen which sets forth the folly OF
touching nettle with tenderness.
In his latest official act he seems equally
determined to carry on the government
without regard to the prejudices of his
critical fellow citizens. He has resolved
upon what he calls, in the well known Off
cial style of captains general, supreme
effort to finish the insurrectiOn, and what
ever we may think Of the possibility of his
success, there is no doubt about the courage
and independence with which he is going to
work. In his decree establishing the state
of siege throughout the island, he does
something unprecedented in the history of
the struggle. He denOunces with even
handed severity the rebels in arms who are
contrasting the national sovereignty, and the
loyal Spaniards who. under the cloak of
demOnstrative patriotism, are disturbing
the peace of the country by crime and vio-
lence; those who foment disorder under
pretense of opposing the rebellion; those
who use their official positions to prey upon
ti1public treasury, and who steal them
selves rich in the name of Spain.
The state of things existing among the
partisans of Spain, which hiss been evident
to all for years past, has never been more
clearly set forth than in this straighttOr-
ward proclamation of the Superior Political
Governor. The measures he has resolved
upon to carry his resolutions into effect
have also been taken without reference to
the convenience or the caprices Of the vol
unteers. He is determined virtually to
force every Spaniard on the island to serve
in the militia, and to hold ten per cent of
those enrolled as subject to be drafted to
any military duty whatever. This the vol
unteers have always strenuously and here
tOfore successfully opposed. A deputatiOn
Of Colonies is said to have visited the Cap
tain General recently to beg him to call for
volunteers for the war, so that they might
go by battalions and thus escape the APP
pearance of involuntary service, but he held
stubbornly to his own plan.
1t would seem that he ia to carry his
point. The leading men of the island have
made him formal visit, to approve his
plans and 10 offer him all the means at
their disposition to carry his measures into
effect. But the situation is anything but
cheering. The insurgents are growing con-
tinually stronger and more enterprising in
the eastern department. The important
post of Puerto Principe is said to be seri-
Ously menaced by them. The western de-
partment is not sure of future immunity.
The question of the maintenance of the
"Trocha" between the two divisions of the
island has become vital one, and al
together the time may be possibly APP
preaching when the Cuban news will lose
its mOnotOny, and the question of recogni-
tion cease to be an absurdity.-Nesc York
Tribune