The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-13

The complete triumph of the military
party in Spain is worrhily signalized by the
restoration Of valmaseda to power in Cuba.
The reappointment OF this man, whose name
is associated with deeds of cruelty and blood,
may be regarded as declaration of war OF
determination against the partisans OF Cuban
independence. The civilized world has not
yet forgotten the slaughter of the Havana
students, done with the sanction of this
hidalgo Count Valmaseda. That was how
ever. but the GROWING act of career of
crime. If the volunteers of Havana insisted
on the slaughter of number OF
schoolboys for pretended desecration
of Casta1on's tomb they but carried
into practice the theories of government by
terror which were promulgated by this model
ruler. The outside world has little knowledge
of the hundreds of men suspected of dis
loyalty that during the rule of Valmascda
were torn from their families at night and
hurried before a drumhead court martial.
and, after tho mockery of trial, shot to death
as a warning to their fellow countrymen that
doubtful loyalty was as dangerous or rather
moro 80 than active participation with the
rebellion. He it was also that made war on
the families Of the rebels q prominent feature
of his system of repression. The suffering
and distress caused by his attempt to stamp
out the instruction by stamping out the
Cuban people have scarcely had parallel since
Alva deluged the Netherlands in blood or
Cromwell desolated Ireland. So long as
the Cuban people exist this man will be
named only to be execrated. Could the in
surrection have been suppressed he would
ough." There was no measure, however
infamous, no policy, however cruel and
bloody, that he was not willing to employ for
the achievement of his aim; and yet he failed.
Like most tyrants he overreached himself.
Had he only used half the severity he en-
ployed against the insurgents he might have
succeeded. But to the terror inspired by his
acts succeeded horror and despair. Valma-
soda may be said to have changed the Cuban
nature. The wholesale deportation of the
families Of the men In arms deprived the
Spanish party of one of the most powerful
levers for compelling the surrender of the in
-surgents. With the exile of their families and
the destruction of their property inaugurated
by valmaseda they were LETT like Satan and
his legions.
With rallied arms to try what may be yet
Regatned in heaven, or what more lost In hell
It was then the war of retaliation and
vengeance, since waged with such terrific
effect, began on the part of the Cubans. They
learned from Valmaseda the use of the torch,
and now the returned Captain General can
almost see the flames of the burning planta-
tons from his palace. He will find the work
of dealing with tho instruction more diff
cult than in his celebrated march through
Camaguey, feat we venture to predict he
will not repeat Perhaps the most important
and immediate effect of the advent of this
man will be to drive into open instruction
thousands Of the disafected, who, under
m,lder governments, were content to aid in
directly their countrymen in arms. This
class knows we'll that with Valmaseda in
power there will be more safety for them in
the Cuban encampments than within the
Spanish lines. We may, therefore, look for
large accessions to the insurgents already in
arms and the wagipg of the war with in
creased vigor and more pronounced ferocity
by both parties