The New York herald., 1875-12-09
CUBA.


AND MADRID coRREspoNDENcE-w THE
ENGLISH AND FRENCH PRESS SAY OF THE
ANTILLES IMBRoGLIo.
LONDON, Nov. 27, 1875
In reference TO Cuban affairs It is remarkable how
little reliable information is to be CLEANED from the
English journals Up to few days ago there had not
been line about the difficulty between Washington
and Madrid; and coud not of course, understand
the excitement which has apparently been prevailing
with you the causing the preparations for
possible conflict The Daily Telegraph of this morn
ing however, touches the Cuban subject both in It's
Madrid and Paris kilograms The latter reads thus.
The Journal des Debats refers TO correspondence
from Cuba, published by another paper, and says:
On reading these Panta details i would appear doubtful
70 deny alike civilization and all ot
recton by Of regular army the spanish govern
ment employs CaTs. prisoners TO dc the work These IN
Of ebony during the most period Of the
Cuba composed of thieves and vagabond taken from
.e various prisons Thus ioS were furnished r. from the
60 from Cartagena, 40 from Oadis and finally 225
committed by these noble warriors the horrible
rendered Children we're carried away at tho
Spain win forfeit all claim the sympathy of other nations
learn from other sources that much Of the foregoing
is embodied in the claims brought forward against
Spain by the United States Large numbers OF these
soldiers lnd means Of escaping from Cuba, and
OF the Union The American Minister has repeatedly
and energeticaly protested against Cuba being turned
into penal colony and complained that It's proximity
had become source Of alarm and annoyance have
likewise learned good authority that the presence
OF SO many miscreants on Cuban sou leads To other
conflicts There are, is well known, many
absentees among the Cuban pianters Some Span
iards others allegiance W the United States Ii is
an easy matter 70 Ind among these convict soldiers
men ready 10 swear in the most barefaced manner,
that many Of these absenees wanting patriotlsm
A small number OF dollars suices TO procure AFFIDAVIT
that has atda and fha
rebels. The affidavit procured court
martial Is held and In one breath the party thus
implicated Is accused judged and condemned to death
Condemnation, OF course, is followed by conhscation
The Spanish government In. reply to remonstrances
against these summary proceedings, has invariably
asked time TO introduce reform. After much
Cling II turns out from tie note which has just been
sent from Madrid that nothing has been ceded TO the
United States saving that future the accused may
invoke the aid OF counsel before the Cuban
tiaL The note, am informed, upward Of forty
pages OF the usual polite verbiage The Spanish gov
ernmcnt points 70 the fact that In two II
ordered restoration of connscaed plantations. but
IN all these cases much tune had been wasted in nego
tations the magnaninity Of the Madrid government
proved unavailable, inasmuch in the meantime the
property had been leased sold and the Cuban author
ties declared themselves unable 10 comply with the
ders from Madrid Some time ago in conversation
with General Sickcs, had the foregoing statements
substantially confirmed; he telling me, If remember
rightly, that he had applied, when Minister Spain,
three distinct umes TO push claims Of the nature de-
scribed IL appears that American citizens have been
heavy losers BY the arbitrary mode Of proceeding
by the want OF energy 10 sanction enforce
OF reform.
MR.. ousHNG's NOTE.
The Madrid telegraphc correspondence TO the same
Journal on the same date is equally noteworthy
The reply TO Mr. Gushing lett two three evenings
ago by special messenger England The was
very vouminouS So far be learned Spain prom
ises reform IN the matter OF conscatng property but
declines TO adhere the terms Of her treaty Of 1895
Spaln therefore, means TO continue 10 try by
martial all Americans who are unfortunate enough to
fall into the hands Of the Cuban authorities There
note, owing TO the changes in the Ministry The orig-
nal document was drafted by Senior Casa Valencia,
completed by 6enerai Jovear, and finally signed by
Senor Calderon.
Regarding the military outlook a high authority
assured me last night that the army about
Navarro and she Basque Provinces numbers nearly
$50, 600 independent of garrison troops. Early in
December decided move Is 20 be made, and il is fully
expected that before the close OF the year the will
be at an end
THE vIRcruUs CASE
An incident connected with the vrgnius affair has
my knowledge which tends TO show that the
matter has not been placed on the shelf Mr.. Layard
recently returning from England, where he had been
on leave, passed through Bilbao on his way Madrid
He there paid hs respects TO the local military and
civil authorities but entirely ignored General Burel
the Captain General Of the Province Under the appre
hension that some mistake had occurred somewhere,
General Burel resolved TO call on Mr.. Layard. on
reaching the hotel OF the latter the General senLin his
card, which, however, Mr.. Layard refused TO receive
Subsequently, his reaching Madrid the Minister Of
State interrogated Mr.. Layard, when the latter
firmly declared that he had felt no inclination
TO ieeeiye General BureL explaining AT the
same time unreservedly hs motives The Minister,
report says expressed much astonishment that
dplomatist and the representative OF England should
have refused 10 recognize Spanish official But Mr.
layard remained firm replying that he had no Official
business with General Burel, and that, prompted by
the feelings OF an Engshman he had abstained from
shaking hands with the person who responsible for
the massacre Of the passengers and crew Of the Virgin
us The fact Is that although the Spanish government
stands pledged punish General Burie and the naval
oicers Implicated in the Vrginius affair all these
have been promoted and decorated. England cannot /
take afton alone since she Is not the only party inter-
estod Repeated promises have been given 10 the United
States 10 try the offenders by court martial The gov
ernment az Washington accepted She promises by way
OF satisfaction and II would invdiOus England
TOOK the initiative In demanding the punishment OF
General buriel and his accomplces
THE sPANIARDs USEAsY-cAIcuLArrSG THE CHANCES I
That Spain Is not very easy in her mind viewing the
prospects Of with the United States may be
gathered from fact learned yesterday from an ocer
Of the English navy and we'll known Arctic explorer
This gentleman told that he has been asked by an
o1cia Of the Spanish government If in case Of war
with the United States, he would be willing 10 take |
charge Of prvateer for the purpose or preying upon
American commerce. The English naval onlcor re-
ected the oner with dsdain The incident proves very
clearly, however, that the first result OF war with
Spain would DO the fitting OF notilla Of pirates
whose chief would be furnished with commission 10
IRspx American Vessels "a Rossihls /