The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-07
THE CUBAN QUESTION.
How II may be settled without war.


destruction Of property In Cuba without loss or
exrense to ourselves, and that Is to allow the
dissatisfied Spani irds to take Havana.
The Casino pihOl Of Havana has for tho last
two years az least been the arhiter Of the fate Of
Cuba. 1t has held the kew to the position. THIS
association ia composed % loyal Spaniards,
mostly wealthy men, the majority Of them
owners OF valuable sugar estates and large ganrs
OF slaves. They have spent their money freely
during the last seven years In order that Spain
might be enabled TO suppress tho revolution,
and a consequence Of such suppression per-
petuate slavery on the island. They have seen
failure after failure Of each succeeding Captain
General, and they have witnessed with alarm
the slow but ifreprcssible advance of the
patriots westward. They have some time since
convinced themselves that the Ultimate result
OF the conflict, delayed though 1t may be, must
be the Independence Of the i-land.
They have witnessed the destruction Of their
estates by the Cuban torch, and feel .nat the
Government which they have 50 generously sup
ported is not only impotcnt to trotect these
estates, but that the Spanish Government itself
has virtually connsc tie these same properties
by the taxes levied Oh them.
That loyal Spanish sugar estate owner is
now merely tho tool employed to-day to raise
the sinews OF war for the Government without
any interest or possibility Of prpnt to such
owner, Ia clearly proven by the following list Of
taxes now levied by Spain on Cuban sugar plan
tattons. A well-managed sugar estate In Cuba
before the war left at least 1fty per cent OF tho
value Of IT. gross proceeds IA net profit to Its
owner. 10 day the following extraordinary ex-
penses must he added to the normal expenses
of ATTY per cent:
Is per cent. on the product OF the estate.
10 Der cent to the notes Issued nv the spanish
% DO,
besides floating delt VI tIO,OOOOJO.
q per cent mgni,cipal 1aI ,o.... ..,r. ,,.,,..,
and paying thc toldi,rs on tue estates.
81 per cent. total extra taxes levied since the war
OF course property 30 taxed ceases to have
any value. ia, IN fact, no properly, and n policy
like that Of Spain must soon die for want Of
matter on which to support Itself. Unless the
war Is suppressed, ana even In that almost im-
possible event, for several years thereafter,
Spain could not reduce her taxation. In other
words the planters-and the Casino EspahOl Is
their political representative irrstrevably
ruined as long as Spain rules in Cuba.
Gen. Jovellir Is now on his way from Spain to
to take Count vamasedas vacated posi,l %.
lie Is expected to do one OF two things Ether
he must suppress the revolution, or he NUT
come to terms with the Cubans.
or the probability OF his carrying out the first
part of tbis programme, It Is Sufficient to say
that he has tried II once before and allied, and
that at time when tho patriots were not so
strong as they arc to-day; that his Immediate
predecess r, Valmaseda. knew the Island, the
people, aud the social, political, ana military
situation lar better than any other Captain GEN
eral ever did, aad that he threw up the sponge,
convinced Of the imposssibility not only Of sup
| pressing the revolution, tut even Of protecting
| the otcs Of the VII aud Colon, or Of i'm
l
army.
ANY step that Jovellar may m Ike In coming to
| terms with the Cuuans cannot possibly 60 be-
yond Offering them autonomy under the rrotec-
ton ana dominion OF Spain. Ii is not to be sup
| posed that a Madrid Cabinet would send It's
chief to this colony merely to st.n a cession Of
the island; but, unfortunately for Jovellar's
| prosp cts Of success In this second part OF his
allotted task, autonomy has been offered to and
refused by the Cuhans when they were fr
weaker tn n they are now, and offered by eacn
successive Captain-General since tno rule Of
| Gen. Dulce.
No solution Of the question is therefore to he
expected from the advent Of the new Captain
General, for no Is called upon 10 peform aUso-
! Lutte imposs utilities.
The Spaniards Of Havana, notably the Casino
Espahol long since made oyertures to the
| CuOans. They were then willing to pronounce
for free Cuba In Havana. and order the repre-
sentatives OF Span out Of the islanI; and IA the
army receives what little and tirdy pay Ia doed
out to IL from them, It can be relied upon to
carry out their behests. The spanish navy, too
may safely be reled upon not to shell Havana.
II Is more than probable that this programme
would have been carried out before this. aud
that its execution was DELAYED only by the ar
rival Of the 5000 men sent by spain to Cuba, In
| af.lu ~ a..
II President Grant really wishes to stop the
| bloodshed and the destruction Of property In
Cuba, recognition OF the Independence OF
Cuba by this country would be Immediately fol-
| lowed by the capture of Havana by the dissAtis-
fed Spanlards, aud an invitation to President
Spoturno TO come aud take formal possession.
MORO.