National Republican., 1875-08-03

ban patriots as belligerents-a course from
which the United States for sundry reasons has
heretofore abstained. There Is no doubt but
that any measure or course Of action the effect
of which would be the restoration of peace and
prosperity to that unhappy island would meet
with the heartiest approval of the people of
this country. For five years Spain has not had
shadow Of o chance of success In Cuba, ard
In al that time her warfare against its people
has partaken more Of the nature of butchery
Of men and desolation OF the land than of
aught else. A continuance of such hostili-
tiescsn have no good results, and as we said
once before so say we now, IL the mother coun-
try cannot see this II Is high time other nations
further advanced in justice and civilization
should show it TO her. tha Y. -
CFrom the Kansas City journal OF Commerce.l
The St. Louis Globe Democrat says 1t Is re-
ported on very good authority that the Cabinet
at Washington are celebrating the question Of
recognizing the Cuban revolutionists as bel
ligerents. Whether this is true or not, Of
course we cannot say, but the Administration
could do no act more In consonance with the
feelings Of the American people than 10 so rec
ognize the Cuban patriots. II for no other
reason than in the interests Of humanity this
ought TO be done. Spain has not even the
sbility to maintain q government at home,
India possessions. There is no pretense of
exercising authority in large portion Of the
leland, and the DEGREES Of the Madrid Govern
ment are no more regarded outside Of the lines
Of the Spanish troops than they are In the neigh
boring island of Jamaica. Theaccord of bellig-
erent rights will force the Spanish authorities
to treat the Cubans according to the usages Of
nations at war, and thus an end will be put to
the now barbarous butcheries that disgrace
the struggle In that island-ior it Is only
butchery az now conducted. II, after such
recognition, Spain continues her present policy
Of murder, then II will become the duty Of
neutral nations TO interfere and stop the war.
For eight years now has this sanguinary
struggle continued and spain herself has had
three governments IN that time. During the
Republican rule OF Csstoiar there was Q sym
pathetic feeling on the part Of the American
people, that was opposed 70 weakening the
Republican prestige by the loss OF Cuba But
now all this has changed. Then our people
were q unit against Don Carlos, whlle to-day
the feeling, n any at all, "a IN his favor %
sgainst the restoration OF the Isabella dynasty.
No moro propitious time than now has offered
for action on the part Of the United States,
and we hope the report is true.
tProm the New York GrAphIe,J
II Is quite probable that the Cuban question
will como up for reconsideration In some form
before long. The Spanish Government has
failed to meet lis engagements under the re-
cent diplomatic arrangement. Acknowledged
Indebtedness to American citizens has not been
paid. The course pursued by the Spanish au-
thorities towards our Government has been
Irritating If not insolent, and our protests
sgainst continuation of the inhuman struggle
waged against the Cabans have been treated like
SO much wind. But aside from these special
causes for interference there is call of hu-
manity which comes backed BY the signature
OF justice. This war began in October, 1858.
In the spring Of 1869 the Republic of Cuba
was formally organized, and was recognized
by half dozen South American republics.
The organization has been maintained since
that In spite of the most strenuous efforts to
crush 1t, In which 1t is estimated that half the
property of the Island and q nearly quarter
OF a million of lives have been DESTROYED, and
thousands of men, and even women and chill
dren, have been inhumanly butchered by the
Spanish authorities. The result of this long
strife Is that the Spanish authorities have not
only not put down the rebellion, but have de-
monstrated their inability to put It down, and
have to-day but 1.-THE of the real power on
the Island that they had seven years age. The
heart OF the Island belongs ts the Republicans
To continue the fruitless strife longeris merely
to prolong anarchy and slaughter. Spain, with
arebellion of her own she has as vet been unable
to crush, Is In no condition to enforce her au-
thority In Cuba and the men who attempt to rule
in the Spanish name would be among the first
to resist her interference were her authority to
be enforced. The question takes another shape
when 1t is remembered that the unjust dis
elimination against American commerce In the
Cuban ports and the exorbitant customs and
port duties on articles of American import
have been protested against time and again
without avail. The tax levied on American
L. -
prolong their internal strife in behalf of sla-
yery-for that is the ground and cause of the
contest. The Republicans declared every slave
on the island free. They are fighting the bat
tie of human liberty against an inhuman form
of chattel slavery. But though the Spanish
authorities have repeatedly promised to take
steps towards emancipation, nothing whatever
has been done to secure 1t. Practically every
piece of machinery and yard of cloth that our
merchants ship to Cuban port pays tax to
support slavery on that island and shoot down
the friends of emancipation. 1t becomes a Sc
rious question whether our Government can
consent to be put in this false position any
longer for the benefit of few thousand Cuban
planters and cut-throats. 1t is a scarcely less
important question whether our Government
can consent to have an island like Cuba lying
at our very doors, one of the most productive
and important islands in the Western hemis-
phere, blotted out of existence so far as the
interests OF commerce and the welfare of man.
kind are concerned, simply that a squad of
Shareholders may crack their whips over the
heads Of their human stock and grind them up
in their sugar mills. 1t is not that the United
States wants Cuba as State; but VIC do want
Cuba free, and 1t is question whether our
Government is not bound by every considera-
ton of interest and right and humanity to stop
this seven years strife, with It's savage burn
ings and butcheries, and make the island free.
Exactly how the question will come up is not
yet plain, but it is bound to come up In some
form, and when it arises II will hardly admit
of but one answer.