The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-06
Mr.. John Welsh of Philadelphia.

Slavery Is bad enough even when its hor-
ror- are .litgated by the consdcrate care
Of kind masters. In Cuba, where more than
quarter of a million of men and women are
still held in bondage, there remains little of
the old patriarchal system. On the cafetals,
as a general rule. the slaves were as hui
namely treated as upon the best OF our own
southern plantations before the war. Since
coffee growing gave place to sugar produc-
tion. with its greater and surer profits. the
treatment Of the Cuban slaves has become
harsh and cruel beyond anything known to
the readers OF Mrs. HARRIET BEEcHER
STOVES descriptions. Given so many acres to
plant in cane. and required so many boxes of
sugar to ship from Havana or Matan1as,
the comfort health. and even the lives of
the slaves employed have ceased to be fac
tors in the calculations Of the proprctors.
This is especially the case where the es-
tot-- arc owned by absentees and the adj
nIini-tration Of affairs is intrusted TO agents
who may ply the lash unquestioned so long
a. they make n satisfactory showing of
profit at the end Of the season Many pro-
yrletOrs relieve their conscicnces Of part of
the responsibility for human miscries by
knowing and caring to know nothing of
those mscries They live in Havana or in
the States and have no concern for the
bodies and souls Of the slaves they own while
the income from their investment Is undi-
nnished. Brutality is profitable, starva
lion Is profitable, and even murder may be
profitable if it i, murder by degrees
Some years ago a Spanish woman in lla-
vana sent Tor brave American who had won
distinction upon the seas. 4" want you to
take charge of my sugar estate" she said.
tie went ami inspected the estate and re-
ported to the Donna 81 think he said,
1--WE can make it yield twenty-five hundred
boxes -" But the last agent made it yield
tMuy-ilyc hundred boxes she replied,
"aud bog killing few more niggers year
you ought 10 get four Thousand out Of it,"
10 the honor Of the American sailor his re-
Fly was this: q" I beg your pardon, Scnora,
Lid not know that You were looking for an
oxccutioncr Tor your slaves. do not desire
the position"
The Americans and Englishmen who are
base enough to coin money out Of human
blood, generally prefer to cover their shame
from the sight OF the world. A Cuban agent
COOS to a capitalist In this city or in London
AID inquiries whether he cares TO invest
twenty, twrntY-tvo, or nifty thousand dol
lar-, rs the ease may hc. in sugar growing.
II So disposed, the merchant gives the agent
draft upon an Havana bank and asks no
questions Hi money buys Slaves but he
prefers t. know nothing Of that part of the
transaction. Sometimes the failure Of the
Cahan representative Of Christian capital TO
fuliil his promises compcls the capitalist to
hold a mortgage on the men and women
whom his money has bought. Even then
the matter can bc so arranged that the
odium Of savcholding does not attach 10
the name Of the real principal Instances
wnrro American merchants openly avow
their interest in the Infamous business are
uuv very rare indeed.
lhceo facts put In an extraordinary light
thr following extract from the official list Of
F.uv"oVn"l- in the jurisdiction Of sagua Ia
Guudr;
I.'nfr rnno. nwnors Ncssrs Gw wtisH
A'n-ol .u.i. l-.tI. r.rr. oi cane. On
h'''- l4 fr'. ounn uoit. cooiir. none
1i"7 fHl .ni 'lui fi-,-l7. net Value. Sllp'H
The puiiocetatc was formerly ow: ed by
RI branch of the lzNAGA family The firm OF
; d. W WELSH, familiar for forty years
tothe commission merchants and tax col.
lr.ior- ol Havana, is the firm Of SAMUEL a
WILLIAM WELSH Wost India me- chants Of
"'oHntb Wharves, Philadelphia Mr. joins
H. who has been nominated By Mr.
...'' 'o ho Minister TO England, ia al
nrnyr partner in the house OF ). d "
WELSH
Eo-dny or tomorrow tho Committee OF
Foreign Relations Is expected 10 report t,
the senate either for or against the cunGr
nation of Mr.. JoHN WELSH. What senator
Republican or Democratic, can DO found u