The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-02

Antecedents Of the Old War
Horse in Cuba.
THE cRITTENpEN-LoPE1 MASSACRE.
"reminiscences Of Queen Isabella
r and Serrano.

de0erul jose ue III COnCHdy M6Iquts VI ubtbuh,
first became Captain General In Cuba In 1850
HIS object In accepting office in America was such
as usually influences the politicians OF Spain in so
.doing-namely the requirement Of fortune-and 1t
ID stated that In the space oil two years he OBJ
tanned $500, 900 in gold by receiving royalty Of
$102 on every slave brought from Africa to the
island.
In the year 1851 from July to September, the
rebellIons of Joaquin Aguero in Puerto Principe
and OF Isidoro Armenteros In Trinidad, took place.
These were followed by the unfortunate expedition
OF Narciso Lopez. The small number OF partisans
who had gone out with Aguero and Armenteros
were closely pursued BY large l0rees, dispersed
nd their principal chiefs Sh5t or seht SC the Renl
Tertiary OF Ceuta; so that, without stirling from
the Captain Generals palace In Havana, Concha
was able to reap rich harvest Of laurels.
General Narciso Lopez landed near Las Pozas on
tho .14th Of. August. 1852, with $50 men, he was
abandoped by hty-three OF them, under Co1onS!
Crittend6E, on the same day. This detachment
was captured without resistance, q few miles from
the coast by the merchant steamer Habanero, on
board OF which the Spanish Admiral happened to
be passenger. The prisoners were conveyed to
Havana taken to the castle OF Atares, ana every
one OF them shot on Its glacis The rest of Lopezs
small force sustained three bloody combats within
a few days. and caused good deal OF loss to the
days, wet the small portion Of ammunition which
Lopez still possessed; his men became democrat
lied, disbanded, and presently they fell into the
hands OF the Spanish troops. Lopez and nine
men who still adhered to him were surprised
road, captured, taken to Havana and executed on
the LIST OF September. 1852, thus by their death
putting an end to the memorable events which the
patriot leader had brought about, and anording
fine opportunity for Concha to figure as the hero
of q great victory,
WHICH HE HAD EARNED so CHEAPLY.
In q few months afterwards ne was relieved from
the command OF The island and returned to Spain
when he least wished to do 30.
Three years afterwards Concha was again sent
to Cuba as Captain General from which he prom
tsed to send the government something more
than the three millions" CLEAR gains) "that Spain
received annually from the island"
This second term OF his administration, which
commenced about the end Of September. 1854 was
marked by the executions OF Finto and Estrampes
and the persecution Of q large number Of people,
among whom were many belonging to the most
elevated social position In the country. 1t was
also distinguished by many onerous exactions rom
the Cubans, and by all kinds Of abuses committed
upon the revenues OF the country, by the retinue
OF satellites who followed In the train OF the Cap
tain General He established the most fearful sys-
tenn OF espionage; the utmost confusion reigned
In all branches OF the public administration while
he allowed himself to fall into the most scandalous
and depraved practices.
In 1869, Concha was again relieved and returned
to Spain, leaving In Havana many families ruined
by his decentralization and wild financial enter
prises, while at the same time he had amassed
magnificent fortune for himself This he dissi-
pated In Madrid endeavoring to make friends
among politicians OF all stripes.
In that critical time which preceded the fall OF
Isabella, when no honorable man among the poll
tcians Of Spain would consent to participate in the
scandals of her Court, Concha offered his services
to the Queen, and they were accepted. He re-
NAMED but short time as President of the Coun-
Gil OF Ministers. couple Of days after Queen Isa-
bella had gone forth prescribed from Spanish ter
ritory the Marquis Of Havana found himself
alone at the head OF the ship OF
state, without compass or chart to
direct him. In this situation Concha sent to Ser
rano, the conqueror OF Alcolea the famous tele-
gram which said :-"Let General Serrano come
here" And to It received the reply, II have no
of September Concha was obliged TO leave Spain,
in order, It was said, to avoid the anger Of his
The death-blow which General Pavia gave on the
I'd Of last January, TO the expiring Spanish RepuD-
n Wso the aa Tor the o M
Among others was COncha, who returned with the
hope OF being once more named Captain General
Manuel Calvo enabled him to accomplish his ends.
The time, too, was favorable. In February last
General JOvellar asked Tor 20 900 men TO reinforce
his shattered army or operations so that he might
Gor the hundredth tme) finish the insurrection,
and In case the forces asked Tor were not forth
coming his resignation was placed at the disposal
OF the government
and the Marquis Of Havana, who knew this, profted
by the opportunity to offer his services as Captain
General q Cuba a. jSnc,ure when .sn wen known
TO be obliged to deceive his government and they
Among the oficial acts OF concha's life there is
none, perhaps, better remembered In America than
the issuing OF his celebrated circular OF the 29tn OF
and military commanders throughout the island OF
Cuba. Machiavelli himself might have been proud
fernal contrvance Of super-refned tyranny as viii
well repay Its perusaL 1t Is as follows:-
c1, GENERA, Or rsr EVA FAITHFUL ISLAND or
This beng well aware that the traitorous
nous indulgence with which until now the Queen has
srosTTLs saorxcrED BY THE NEW ADMINISTRATION or THE
are projecting an invasion Of this island in considerable
H p sna ns Ss e Of s
5 Of s nass Of the
the % % % Js % ans
and arranging inactive classes OF the police remen
militia and enrolled sailors, and will also form unat
tached companies Of all the young men and Spanish
shopkeeper which the natives who are known to be
well disposed towards the just cause OF Her Majesty may
be admitted.
using armed force II Il be you WIZ have con-
formerly designated in the list sent by you TO this Supe
ror Government influential persons on account OF
their knowledge, riches and revolutionary spirit Wren
gathered together there you Will make them sign
manifest in conformity with the form sent you on toe
3th OF last July. You will then order the immediate
OF such manifest taking care 70 add 70 the
particular guarantee Of all that each one may own,
according to your own Judgment
fhtyd-Aware, this government Is that 1t can only
count upon the adhesion and Of
men, and also persuaded the same time that all the
creoes are enemies at Indifferent the triumph
OF the sacred cause OF Her Majesty and that In the end
their VIII 80 to serve traitors and revolutionis,
you Will coiect nom said gathering Of creoles
ALL THE READY WHICH rHHY NAY HAVE,