New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-28

Then all the moo because thou canet not hear
Poor human words of blessing. will pray,
o true brave heart God bless thee. wheresos' e
In His great uni vel 50 thou ait to-day.
Shall Cuba Be Frees
IN reality since the tenth Of October
1868, war against Spanish tyranny ant
for the independence of Cuba has beer
waged on that island. On the eleventh o
April in the following year the republic o
Cuba was effectually organized, and sine,
then has maintained with more or less sue
cess its stability as government. Mean
while it has been recognized by half dozer
of the minor treaty making powers Of South
America rs q 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 OF
against the patriots, although repeated
prOvOcatiODs have occurred to induce them
10 protest against the savage cruelty OF the
Spaniards, as well as TO seek redress. as IN
the case of the Virginius, for damages in
tiicted upon their citizens and commerce
This holding back policy, in the face OF
wide spread public sentiment in favor, both
of according belligerent rights to the pat
the republic. resulted from extreme and
generous leniency toward Spain, and from
a strict construction of international law,
which supposes that no insurgent power
without q seaport or a Gag 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 preponderatiDg authority shall inter.
pose to put an end to the strife. 1t is not
exaggeratiOn to say that more than 1000
human lives have been sacrificed by disease
and the casualties Of battle since the re-
beliion began. With all this record of
blood, d added to it the destruction OF
commerce. as we'll as the devastation Of a
prod uctive area in the economy of the civ.
ilized world, and the paralysis Of vast in
dustries, the parent government has failed
to make any Roadway in it's efforts to sub.
due the patriots. On the contrary, the
latter have advanced, step by step, from q
comparatively insignificant sway over a
small portion of the island, until they have
now absorbed in its richest and most fertile
geographical divisions, and virtually hold
possession Of 90 much territory that the
Spanish authority simply extends 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 trib-
ute to the patriots, furnishes them with re-
cruits and supplies, and only pays heed to
the Spanish authority when the presence of
Spanish troops makes it compulsory.
While this array Of facts attest the
strength, progress and duration of the revo-
luton, 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 pursu-
ance of the diplomatic intercourse Occa-
stoned by circumstances attending the war.
Pointedly, the United States has been de-
ceived in this regard, or put off with weak
excuses so many times and in SO many ways
that patience has almost ceased to be a viz
tue. 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.
knowledged 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 a way as to be liable to the
construction of indifference on the part of
Spain if not of intentional insult.
While it is true, unfortunately and dis
gracefully, that American citizens residing
in Philadelphia, Boston ami New York hold
mortgages upon slave property in Cuba,
the almost unanimous voice OF the Ameri-
can people is raised IN behalf of the patri-
0ts 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. This
fact, taken in comparison 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 reciprocal commercial rela-
tions to US which the Spaniards deny. The
unjust and discriminating port and customs
duties not only form the basis in the Ameri-
can mind of objection to Spanish rule on
the island, but serve as arguments why that
rule should be replaced by friendly and
neighborly policy. The protests of our gov
eminent to Spain regarding this subject,
and the eager endeavOrs to obtain 2 modifi-
cation of Spanish customs regulations, have
failed Of their object. As long ago
as May. le74, Captain General Concha
levied an income tax upon the Havanese
merchants. which the merchants imme-
diaseiy provided for by adding the amount
levled-ten per cent-to tho invoices re-
mitted by them 60 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 treas
ury of the Captain General. In truth. it is
capable of proof that with duties upon 10.
comotives, agricultural implements and
American manufactures and products of
all kinds collected at Havana and other
ports with which We have direct trade, the
Spahiards have to great extent betrayed
the expenses Of their government, and vir-
tually forced the freedOm-lOying people of
this country to maintain the armies which
have been sent into the field in the vain en-.
deavOr to overcome the rebellion. In other
words, free America has been compelled to
contribute to the perpetuatiOn of slavery in
2 contiguous territory.
Meanwhile the immunity from adequate
punishment for numberless infringements
Of international law and violation of the
laws Of civilized warfare has embOldened
the Spaniards and encouraged them to as
sumo an impudent disregard Of the plainest
of diplomatic intercourse which
other nations. Besides this, the great CON-
mercial powers of the world suffer, to q
greater or less extent, as the United States
do, from the interruption of agricultural
products on the island. These facts have
reasons why those powers have
recently examined the Cuban situation
with extraordinary scrutiny. and while
there is no authority for the assertion that
direct interference has been seriously con-
templated by them, there is every reason
10 believe that such an event is possible.
In view OF all this it may not be improper
that this government shall change its
Cuban policy from oAe OF inert sympathy
and strict neutrality to one OF comparative
and natural determination with the patriots.
1t is certain that such q change would be
with enthusiasm by the Amer
can people, who ever entertain tender
and encouraging regard for those who