National Republican., 1875-07-28

In 1869 proclamation was issued to ap-
p ase the insurgent Cubans, but it had no
effect Like our own revolutionary sires
they had made up their minds to be free.
The Island now became the arena OF
bloody and devastating war, and In March,
1869, the army, under the patriot general
Quesada, was organized, and soon after
this it was strengthened by recruits
and large amount of the munitions oil
war. It would be tedious to enumerats the
battles fought, the plantations and property
destroyed, and the atrocities committed by
the Spanish soldiery; but considering the
extent of the country and the number OF
combatants engaged, the rebellion has been
on large scale, and 30 active In its CHAR
acter as to win recognition from some na-
tions and the marked sympathy of others.
On General Grants accession to the Presi-
dency General Cespedes, commanding the
Republican forces In Cuba, addressed him
letter in which they asked the accordance
of belligerent rights and recognition OF
independence, and for these reasons, among
others, that nineteen twentieths Of the in
habitants desired IL, because with 7O,OOO
men they were conducting q civilized war
fare; because "the United States is the
"nearest civilized nation to Cuba, whose
political institutions strike responsive
"cord in the hearts of all Cubans. The
commercial and financial interests OF the
"two peoples being largely identical and
reciprocal in their natures, Cuba earnest
"ly appeals for the unquestionable right of
recognition" and for other reasons equal
ly forcible. Following this address hostili-
ties were actively renewed and with vary
ing successes on either side. In April,
1869, deputies from all parts of the Island
met at Guaimaro, and General Cespedes re-
signed his provisional authority. The
Congress then. with perfect unanimity,
proclaimed to the world the Republic Of
Cuba, and Cespedes was elected President
and NJ. Quesada commander in chief, and
on the 18th of April, 1859, Quesada issued
proclamation, concluding as follows:
81 implore you, sens of Cuba, to recollect at
all hours the proclamation of Valmaseda.
| That document is an additional proof of the
| character of our enemies. Those beings appear
deprived even Of those gifts which nature has
conceded to the irrationals-the instinct OF
| foresight and warning. We have to struggle
| with tyrants, always such-the very same ones
| of the Inquistion, of the Conquest and of
Spanish domination in America. In faith and
in death they live and succeed the Torquema-
das, the Pizzaros, the Booes, the Morillos, the
Tacons, the Conchas, and the Valmasedas.
| We have to combat with the assassins of the
| old women and of children, with the mutilat-
ors of the dead, and with the idolators of
| gold"
Several desperate fights now took place,
and in May the important expedition from
the United States, under the command of
General Jordan, landed at Mayari- In June
the Captain General of Cuba, Dulce, re-
signed, and Rodas, ''the Butcher of Cadiz, "
succeeded him, and at once haugursted a
series of the most bloody measures. Jor-
dan was appointed TO the command of a dis
trict. Several other expeditions were fitted
out but most of them were complete failures
with the exception of that of the Lillian.
In 1859 Chilli and Peru recognized the in
dependence of Cuba, and the most active
sympathy was felt in her cause in the United
States, and President Grant, in his message
of December, 1869, said ''the contest had
cat no time assumed the conditions which
"amount to war in the sense of interna-
"ional law, or which would show the
existence of de factO political organiza-
"tion of the insurgents sufficient to justify
ga recognition of belligerency."
At this time, nearly six years ago, the
opinion prevailed extensively in Europe
and in this country that Spain could not
quell the insurrection, and, in fact, her
weakness was confessed to the world by
granting to the islanders representation
in the Cortes, religious freedom and the
right to establish Independent institutions
of credit.
On the 18th of May, 1870, a bill was
introduced into our House OF Repre-.
which provided for a compact be-
tween the United States and all
the Spanish-American republics. Ii
was referred to special committee, and in
their report they argued strongly in favor
of the recognition of Cuba, and the bill
passed the House by large majority, buI
failed in the Senate. The year 1870 wa!
marked by bloody war in all the island, and
toward its close the insurgent patriots OBJ
tanned decided advantages at Nsjasa ant
Guaimaro. Informal negotiations for peact
were conducted in Washington in Decem
Der, 1870, but the Cubans would not lister
to anything short of complete and unquai
fed independence. All through the yea
of 1871 the armed resistance to Spanish
authority was continued, but without any
special success for the patriots. The order
of the Spanish generals were terrible ir
their cruelty, and scenes of butchery tool
place dreadful in their character, and call
ing for the loudest denunciation in Con
gress, in the newspapers, and Throughout
the United States generally. On the I'd o
January, 1872, the Legislature of Florid,
passed resolutions in favor of the indie
pendence of Cuba. In 1878 the expedition
of the Virginius resulted in the loss o
valuable men to the cause, and made heavy
drain upon the finances of the Cuban off
cials in New York. The history of tina
affair Is fresh in the minds of all our readers
The war has continued all the time, anC
to-day the insurgents are as devoted a!
ever to the accomplishment of their arden
desire for liberty. 1t is felt that the United
States should not longer regard the scene Al
mere spectator, and that the time has CONT
for a recognition Of the true facts in thu
case. Not wishing to interfere, hoping
against hope for peace between Spain anC
her colony, the war has continued, and now
our natural sympathy for brave aud noble
people, struggling through years of bittel
misfortune for liberty and independence
perhaps villas it certainly ought-fnt
an authoritative expression. 1t would b.
in accordance with the feelings of tn,
American people, as indicated by the actor
and votes of representative men Of each o
the great political parties, and with tina
broad, national humanity which SHOULD
guide governmental power. The recen
tone Of the press throughout the country
fatters and encourages this idea, and nota
bly, justifies speedy action in the premises
coLoRKD SCHOOLS.
| II will ha seen nv n referenee In orIr ra