New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-31
HdRIISlf IN EIIBA


The temporary interest which tho incident
of the Vrginius conferred upon Cuban mat
tcrs has faded away, and affairs In the Island
have resumed their former mOnotony. THIS
does not mean that the Island is quiet; such
news as that would he anything but mOnoto-
nous. Cuba is a standing contradiction to
the maxim Of D'Alembert that those nations
are happy whose annals are dull. The woes
of the unhappy Antilla afillct the world with
equal pity and ennui Our news this morning
is of the well-ISnOwn sort. The insurgents are
more active than usual though they do not
gain much ground. The Spaniards arc prepar-
ing for a final campaign, which shall take the last
man and the last dollar, unless the last man
shall prefer to engage in the peaceful pursuit
of the last dollar, in which not improbable
case both clements must be eliminated. Gen.
Jovelar says he will finish the instruction or
it will finish him. He has not been long
enough IN Cuba to know how ludicrous these
antithctcal phrases sound. He will do neither
one thing nor the other. He can do no more
in Cuba than his predecessors have done. lie
can talk, and organize final campaigns, and
review the Volunteers. Ii he attempts any
thing more he will compromise himself and
be sent back TO Spain. Soler has sailed qui-
city homeward, after the fine flourish OF
trumpots with which he came to "study and
determine" the colonial question. Even
if the Government of which he formed
a part had lasted he could have
accomplished no results. He could only have
dned at the Spanish Casinos, received sere-
nades and made eloquent illusions TO the
sword of Guzman. At present it is not within
the compass of Spanish statesmlnshD to
bring peace and order to Cuba 1t would be
rash to say that it is a possible thing to do.
Certainly no Spaniard, no Cuban, no Amcrl-
can, has yet suggested an effective remedy for
the evils that aflict the Island The Span
iardS say, let the rebels lay down their arms.
The Cubans say, let the Spaniards leave the
Island. A few Americans demand that our
Government shall recognise the instruction.
ID needs but n moments reflection to see how
puerile are all these suggestions The Cubans
will not cease to be rebels. The Spaniards
will not leave the Island. Our Government
will not make itself ridiculous by recognizing
an authority which does not exist.
Meanwhile the state of public feeling in
Spanish circles in Cuba is seriously disturbed
by the advances which the cause of Carlism
appears to be making in Spain There is the
usual mixture of reason and fancy in the
rumors to which this state OF opinion gives
rise The highly improbable story is told in
Havana that five hundred Carlist soldiers
deserted and went over to the enemy in the
fight of Los Mcloncs thus causing the defeat
OF Gen. EsDOnda. The success of the CarlistS
in the vicinity of Santander touches the Pc
nnsulars of Cuba in an especially tender place,
as it seriously interferes with the distribution
of their provision supplies. Another hypothe-
sis which deprcsses them is that Don Carlos,
if he succeeds, will cede the Island
to the United States. We do not re-
gard this so seriously "a the Span
iards of Havana. Every pretender and
every conspiratOr who plots the destruction
of an existing Government in Spain, naturally
regards the sale of Cuba as possible card in
his game, but no one has as yet dared to at
tempt it when he has once obtained possession
of the Government. Gen. Prim, as early as
1885, when in exile, sent an emissary to MIR.
Bigelow, then Minister at Paris, with an offer
of the island in certain contingencies, and
even after the flight of the Queen he author
lied the opening of negotiations for the same
purpose But he was easily frightened from
his plan, and vehemently denied having ever
entertained it. Don Carlos might easily be
brought to sell his right of eminent domain in
the Antilles, while he remains with his
shadOwy court in the mountains of Navarro.
But il he should ever geS to Madrid the proba-
bity of such action would be much dimin-
ished.
FRAMING.