New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-02
OUR CUBAN POLICY.

These are intrinsic evidences that the
government of the United States has de-
cided to act definitely upon this import
ant question. This anomalous condition
of affairs has existed in Cuba for more
than six years. The resistance of the
Cubans has assembled from the low grade
of tumult through instruction to civil
war, and that portion of the island which
claims to have congress-if not the Con-
gress of Cuba-with an executive and an
army, is now, according to the law of ma
tons, and even the text of the press dis
patch, a "civil war" The government of
the United States may, then, acknowledge
the belligerency of Cuba without just
cause ct discomfort on the part of Spain.
The recognition of independence is ques-
ton Of more moment, and is surrounded
with further complications. The govern
ment of "Free Cuba does not extend over
the whole island tbs doubtful whether the
republicans represent the majority of the
present subjects of Spain on the island.
To predicate independence of the whole
island unless majority of the legal voters
shall assent, would be an anomaly in our
policy, which has always respected what
ever form of government q people may
prefer. This is, no doubt ''the complex
elements of domestic ard foreign policy"
to which the dispatch refers.
To our mind the solution of this diff
Guilty has been obvious in the recognition
Of the State of Free Cuba with the
boundaries which that autonomy may
claim and defend. This our government
might do under the precedent of Texas
and of other States and colonies upon
this continent, History is filled with
similar instances of protection afforded a
fugitive State by foreign nations, end the
recognition and guarantee of modern
Greece in her revolt from the Turkish
empire, by the three greatest powers of
Europe, would alone close the mouths of
those powers against similar interven-
ton on the part of the United States.
The great equity which moved Russia,
France and England to send their fleets
and soldiers to the aid of Greece was the
cruelty of the Turks toward the
Christians. The government of the
United States has to demonstrate against
the re-establishment of despotism. After
the adoption of republican rule over
Cuba, and the maintenance of slavery in
one part Of Spanish dominion after slavery
had been abolished in another and ada
cent part of her dominions (the island of
Porto Rico). The dispatch adverts to
the perpetuation of despotism and slavery
as inconsistent with the harmony of the
republican system of America. Has the
State department considered that these
republican States are, in common with
others, contributing directly to maintain
these two obnoxious systems? Spain has
imposed "a war tax" of from ten to twen-
ty per cent, in addition to her tariff on
foreign productions. It is plain, there
fore, that Spain collects from the United
States and other nations sum of money
to enforce her system over her refractory
subjects. Every dollar, then, which
American -four, or pork, or steam engines,
or plows, or cotton cloths, pay upon this
extra tax, is direct tribute to maintain
despotic government and the institution
of African slavery. The United States
has right to protest against any such
exaction or application of its money.
In offering to the department the sug-
gestion of recognizing the independence
of Free Cuba, if such suggestion will
facilitate the action of the government,
we but remind the department that other
West India islands are divided between
different jurisdictions, and the two States
of Free Cuba and Slave Cuba, or East
Cuba and West Cuba, would but make
territorial and political division which
exists in Hayti.
1t may be, however, that the govern
ment may go in on the broad ground that
the present or prospective condition of
Cuba, under the regal government of
Spain, is incompatible with our interests,
and that such government ought to be
abated as nuisance and bad example;
then we are prepared, on behalf Of the
white and colored Republicans of Louisi-
ana, to tender the government measure
of support and cooperation.
We can also report for large part of
the opposition, which, many months
since, adopted resolutions of sympathy
with Cuba. These were the spontaneous
expressions of Americans who felt for the
woes of people pursued to the death for
love of freedom, and these men can not
be controlled by any orders Of political
leaders here or elsewhere. We can also
answer for the languishing interests of our
Western produce merchants, whose export
trade, whether foreign or domestic, is fall
ing off in an alarming manner. Already
are the plantations along the river and
Western railroads receiving their Western
goods direct, while the heavy duties on
such products has almost stopped their
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