National Republican., 1875-07-23
sHALL cuBA RI FREEi

stability as Government. Meanwhile it
has been recognized by half dozen Of the
minor treaty making powers of South
America as a nation in the full significance
of the word Other treaty making powers,
including the United States, and all Of the
leading nations of the world, have held
aloof from even indirect interference for or
against the patriots, although repeated
provocations have occurred to induce them
to protest against the savage cruelty Of the
Spaniards, as well as to seek redress, as in
the case of the Virginius, for damages in
ficted upon their citizens and commerce.
This holding back policy, in the face of
widespread public sentiment In favor, both
of according belligerent rights to the Pa
triots and recognizing the independence Of
the Republic, resulted from extreme and
generous leniency towards Spain, and from
a strict construction Of international Jaw
which supposes that no insurgent power
without seaport or flag upon the high
seas Is OF sufficient dignity to be entitled to
consideration as government.
The time is near, however, when the in
terests of humanity, to say nothing of other
important considerations, will demand that
some preponderating authority shall inter-
pose to put an end to the strife. 1t is not
exaggeration to say that more than two
hundred thousand human lives have been
sacrificed by disease and the casualties Of
battle since the rebellion began. With all
this record of blood, and added to it the
destruction of commerce. as well as the
devastation of productive area in the
economy of the civilized world, and the
paralysis of vast industries, the parent Gov
eminent has failed to make any headway
in its efforts to subdue the Patriots. On
the contrary, the latter have advanced, step
by step, from comparatively Insignificant
sway over a small portion of the island,
until they have now absorbed its richest
and most fertile geographical divisions, and
virtually hold possession of so much terri
tory that the Spanish authority simply ex-
tends around and about them like the
fragile shell of an egg, liable at any time to
be broken. In fact, the interior of the
island pays tribute to the Patriots, furnishes
them with recruits and supplies, and only
pays heed to the Spanish authority when
the presence of Spanish troops makes it
compulsory.
While this array offacts attest the strength,
progress and duration of the revolution,
there are other considerations that must not
be overlooked, not the least of which is the
signal failure OF the Spaniards to redeem
solitary pledge made in pursuance of the
diplomatic intercourse occasioned by cir.
cunstaAces attending the war. Pointedly,
the United States has been deceived in this
regard, or put off with weak excuses so
many times and in so many ways that pa
tience has almost ceased to be q virtue.
The abolition of slavery on the island,
promised years ago, has not been attempted.
Embargoes upon the estates of American
citizens have been continued in violation of
solemn agreements. The payment of &C.
knoHledged Indebtedness to American citi-
zens for injury to property has been pro-
crastinated Delays and preVarications in
the transaction of business between the two
Governments have occurred so frequently
and in such way as to be liable to the
construction Of Indifference on the pari of
Spain if not of intentional insult.
While it is true, unfortunately and dis
gracefully, that American citizens residing
in Philadelphia, Boston and New York
hold mortgages upon slave-property in
Cuba, the almost unanimous voice of the
American people is raised in behalf of the
Patriots because they have proclaimed
equal liberty to all men, and have
modelled their Government after the plan
of our own upon the basis of unrestricted
citizenship. AThis fact, taken in compari-
son with the slave policy OF the Spanish
Government, is of itself sufficient to shape
public opinion in favor of the Republic;
but the Patriots offer comparatively re.
ciprocal commercial relations to US which
the Spaniards deny. Fhe unjust and dis
eliminating port and customs duties not
only form the basis in the American mind
of objection to Spanish rule on the island,
but serve Us arguments why that rule
should be replaced by friendly and
neighborly policy. The protests of our
Government to Spain regarding this
subject and the eager endeaYors
to obtain a modification of Spanish ]
customs regulations, have failed
of their object AS long ago as
May, 1874 Captain General Conchs
levied an income tax upon the Havanese
merchants, which the merchants imme-
distely provided for by adding the amount
levied-ten per cent-to the invoices re-
mitted by them to their correspondents in
the United States. This, however, is but
q solitary instance of the financial policy
of the Spaniards in Cuba, which has ever
been seemingly designed to compel the
United States to pay constant tribute to
the treasury of the Captain General. In |
truth, it is capable of proof that with
duties upon locomotives, agricultural i'm |
plements, and American manufactures and |
products of all kinds collected at Hayana |
and other ports with which we have direct
-rade, the spaniards have to great extent |