The New York herald., 1875-12-02
THE HERALD AND TIKI CUBAN CAUSE.
To ruu EDITOR o. rHu HERALD

To THE EDITOR oE THE HERALD
AS member Of the press OF this city would
spectfuy ask you grant the courtesy OF allowing
this communication 20 appear in your valuable paper,
nasmuch as the journal edit in the interests OF tho
Cuban cause is published in foreign language unln-
tcligble the majority Of the American people For
this especial favor you may be sure Of my sincere graf
itude
The HERALD of yesterday Thanksgiving Day con
tans the following brief editorial article, addressed 70
the cubans:-
ADvIcR GRATIS TO sonE cUnAN PATRIOTS
We notice that some Of the Cubans living in this
country have begun abuse the HERALD Tor US recent
course upon the Cuban question. These people seem
forget that the HERALD has for long time been the
consistent and powerful friend OF CUBA lnat y mas
spent money very freely for correspondence 70 pre-
sent the cause OF Cuba fairly and fully 20 the world
that il has constantly expressed It's sympathy with
the attempt to make the island tree, ana It's
desire Tor tho success Of the Cnbans ~ mas not
changed but 1t does not propose that tn,s country
shall fight tho Cuban battle "Who would be iree
themselves should strike the blow" SAID poet VINO
also was sincere aud devoted friend OF liberty ana
will tell these Cubans who are now grumoug at lne
HERALD absolutely sure and effective way 70 iree
their beloved island. II they will all go over 10 CuDa
Immediately and fight the Spanards they can acnleve
success in less than six months There are IN TINS
country according to the best accounts nearly 1000
Cuban If they where they ought TO De they
could sweep the Spaniards into the sea IN six weeks
Why will they not try 1T
To the sentiments expressed IN the ABOVE ines
would reply beginning with the well known maxim
that ITO blame an unhappy people is always easier
than to give them generous aid" do not think that
the Cubans alluded to- commenting freely upon the
late position assumed by the HERALD the Cuban
question: had 1t in their minds to abuse or
rcyile that Journal but they could not help
witnessing with extreme surprise the sudden
and unaccountable change erected IN lnat
paper which only yesterday stouty maintained with
recognized beigercnts by this government and to-
day throws the whole weight Of It's influence IN op-
position Of the very views before advocated by It.
That the HERALD has been the strongest champion OF
Cuban independence from 1871 to 1875 and that i has
spent large oil money in sending correspondents,
who, breaking through the Spanish lines might reach
the territory of free Cuba and make known to the
outer world the existence Of the government of the
Cuban Republic and its organized defenders, until then
denied by the Spanish authorities; the Cubans have
not forgotten, they forget It, and this is why
they look with amazement on the late uteTances OF the
HERALD, compared with the sentiments IL has before
expressed on the same subject
The Cubans far from pretending that the United
States government should draw the sword In
their behalf thata single drop or Amcri-
can blood should be spilled on Cuban soil in
defence OF their liberty and independence but
they do maintain that this government should do
justice 70 heroic people that for seven years have
proved themselves entitled 10 that recognition which
would give them the same advantages their enemies
have. that the exed Cubans be not looked upon as
pirates nlibusters IL they send men and ammunition
IN aid Of their brethren, while Spain Is granted the
right OF constructing gunboats and osensiby purchas
ing in the United States and equipments, which
she exports without difhculty by all the American
steamers Of the Havana line; and when the Cubans
after immense sacrifices obtain small craft, nwhich to
send few muskets and cartridges TO their compatrots
the State and Navy departments and the whole police
force OF this nation stirred action in order to
prevent the sailing OF the defenceless small craft and
grant the claims Of the Spanish Minister who
demands the enforcement Of the neutrality laws, DIS
puted him by one, since Spain sends from the harbor
Of New York gunboats, cannon, Remington rifles
powder and cartridges with which TO drown in blood
the aspirations OF people who demand their rights to
liberty and independence.
Let the American government recognize the rights OF
the Cubans to begerency, and the world Will see how
they alone will suffice TO end Spanish dominion in Cuba
in very few months; for have they not opposed, un
aided all the power oSpain for seven consecutive years.
and ald low 10000 Spanish soldiers, forcing that
nation TO exhaust $3.50 600 OF the Cuban Treasury
without the rcmotest hope until now, Of pacfying
the island? And all this the Cuhans have accom-
pished in spite Of the indifference Of the United
States government and without the material aid OF the
American people, for they have been so unfortunate
that in this Centennial epoch they found not gallant
Lafayette who, the head of16 600 veterans would
the share with them the triumphs and de-
ieats OF their war OF Independence.
The HERALD was mislnformed when II said there
were in this country 90 600 Cuban who could
drive the Spaniards into the six weeks fthey all
should go to Cuba at once. The Cuban men, women
and children living in exile In this country scattered
from New Orleans TO Boston aud struggling against
overwhelming odds TO earn their bread in foreign
land hardly amount to 600 all told and OF this
ber there are hardly 900 men servceable for war but
who would be fighting with their compatriots to-day
had they the means OF transportation.
steamships2 Yes; but every armed man landed the
shores OF Cuba would $780, and therefore $3.50 900
would be needed enable those 900 20 follow the
HERALD's advice. And how could such a be raised
when tho Cubans exed IN this country who fortu-
nate enough TO find work hardly SO or $40 per
week with which supply Of their fanillesS
Are there any Americans who would advance the
money for such enterprise? Surely not But grant
that the Cubans could obtain the necessary
funds for their transportation and armament
how could they leave these shores without
being hIndered by the government at Washington
and the claims Of SPANS representative hereS For
without having the rights Of beligerents, diplomacy
simply places in the standing Of insurgents or
pirates, and neither canthe Cubans obtain the means
10 90 In aid of brothers in arms nor would Amer
lean citizens dare to lend such assistance to men
regarded BY their government pirates or nl6usters
The HERALD then, will "hOw much easier II is to
blame unfortunate people than TO lend them gener
aid" Does the HERALD wish to immortalizc its
in grand noble and glorious entorpriscg II can
do II IL chooses for it has ample means Let II offer
the Cubans loan Of $500 000 and 1t may rest assured
that every OF them in this country VIII go to Cuba
and sweep the Spanards into the sea- ay and IN less
than six months. Why not try itg The only thing
wanted by the Cubans 70 finish their war OF inde-
pendence is not 'advce gratis" but money, money
money In the meantime, alone, and without aid, wo
shall do what We can; burning every sugar plantation
the island, running the production and the com
mcrce and exterminating the Spaniards With the
TORCH occasional bullets, and and then that
faithful friend Of the Cubans the machcte That all
we can do at present, and il IS enough
J. b. De LUNA Editor La Independencid
NRw YORK Nov. 20, 1876.