National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-25
THE CUBAN VOLUNTEERS.

The impression generally prevails in this
country that the volunteers in Cuba are of
the same sort as those who, during our
late civil war, volunteered for active ser.
vice in the field. This is a great mis-
take. They are, in reality, nothing
more or less than militiamen, organized as
our militia is, for the purposes of parades,
displays and the preservation of social rela-
tons, with the understanding that when
called upon for service under municipal or
State authorities they are not to be relied
upon except when their sympathies are
enlisted. Just now they are in great
trouble. The authorities have ordered that
five per cent of them shall be drafted for
actual field service in the war for the sup
preston of the instruction. They do not
relish this at ALL and are inclined to rebel
against it. Heretofore they have reioiced
in power over the Captain General which
enabled them to escape from the dangers
of the field, and the fighting-what little
there was of it-has been done by troops
sent from Spain. But matters have changed.
The present Captain General, COncha, 'the
cruel, finds himself in sad need of availa-
bic forces to resist the encroachments of the
rebels. He has called on the home Gov
eminent repeatedly for achievements, and
with the exception of occasional install
ments' of three OF four thousand badly
disciplined infantry his calls have been ig-
nored. The yellow fever and sickness of
all kinds generally carry off these unaccli-
mated troops without remorse, so that with
each recurring monthly muster he finds
himself as weak as before. 1t was this
dire extremity that induced, or rather COM
PEELED, him to resortto the draft to which
we allude. The quota called for under
that draft must be made up in the Western
Department before the list proximo In
| the meantime the volunteers" are getting
anxious, and some of them, according to
recent advices, are beginning to
change their views regarding the
situationssof affairs. In short, it is stated
that, since the draft was ordered, the num-
Der of quiet sympathizers with the insur-
gents has increased TO a wonderful extent.
This, added to the revGlsiOn Of feeling
which occurred last summer, when the ex-
traordinary and arbitrary levies for taxes
were made by the Spanish authorities, has
dampened the ardor OF. the opponents Of
the new republic, and has proportion
ately added inspiration to that of the
Patriots.
The difference between fighting battles
by proxies of Spanish-born soldiers and
fighting them themselves, strikes the "Vol.
unteers" very forcibly. AS we have said,
they were formerly able to control the
Captain General of the Island with such
success as to avoid personal danger, and al
the same time keep up their militia organ.
ization as a nucleus for social amenities,
or, as in the case of the massacre of limo.
cent students not long ago, as nu.
cleus for riots and murder. They
are composed of men of high and
low position, of merchants and professional
people, of gentlemen by education and
birth, and of rowdies by nature and associ
alton. They are, in short the incongruou'
combination of men which might be ex