National Republican., 1877-03-13
THE INDEPENDENCE OF CUBA.


broglio was In itself sufficient glory for
one administration; but in addition to this
we have had the marked career Of Minister
Washburne, at Paris, who, during the
whole of the Franco. Prussisn struggle,
held, as 1t were, in the palm of his hand
the Diplomatic balance OF power, and with
1t protected the Prussian as well as the
American and even the citizens of France
from the fury Of their own Commune.
Our influence has also been extended
among the distant nations Of
the Earth by able Ministers,
in China, Japan and elsewhere, controlled
by the judcious counsels Of our late Sec
retary Of State; while as the eliminating
point in these peaceful triumphs the rep.
resentatives Of every nationality have been
drawn to our own shores to witness the
marvellous growth in a century of the
American Republic We reflect with pride
upon these accumulated triumphs the more
from the fact that they had been won by
the pen and not by the sword, making
America, as it were, the grand expone mt of
international arbitration, the pioneer in new
paths for nations to follow, which it is
hoped and believed will prove in the future
to be paths of peace and ways of pleasant.
ness.
But, while all this has been going on at
home and abroad, scarcely, perhaps, within
the range Of the home circle, and yet not
far enough of to be beyond the circle of
our direct influ ence, there turks a question
of the greatest importance to this country
aud to the world at large. We mean the
question of Cuba-still unsettled, undis-
turbed After eight years of struggle for
precisely the same principles which caused
the great uprising" of the people of the
North, the war still goes on; between the
poorly.fed patriot of Cuba and the gilded
ninion of Spanish despotism the "irre.
pressible conflict Is waged, without one
word of sympathy from the Government
which has proclaimed the emancipation of
II race, or from the people who fought TO
obtain it. Our late Secretary Of State ON
this question seems to have been lullcd
into apathy by some "sugar coated "
anodyne, and even the promises the Span
ish Government, reluctantly made after the
brutal massacre of unarmed men and the
insult to the American flag are, yet unful-
filled. BURRIEL struts through Spin in all
his native insolcnce, defiant and unpun
ished. RYAN and Fry still lie in desc.
Grated graves at Santiago de Cuba. The
salute TO the American flag never has been
fred, and the war of desolation on the
island of Cuba goes on unrebuked. For
all the forbesrancc on the part of our Gov.
ernment we have--TwEED!
1t is to be earnestly hoped that the in.
coming Secretary will give this problem
his earliest attention, and seek for it SO.
luton worthy of the nation, and without
any regard to the diplomacy which keeps
the "word of promise to the ear and breaks
it to the hope"
And still the inhuman strife goes on in
Cuba. Each recurring day the American
people become more and more restless con
eerning the prolonged bloody strife which
has for the past eight years laid waste the
finest island in all the Indies, and made II:
inhabitants wretched beyond the power
of those to comprehend who are not there
: to witness the crimes which are constantly
: being perpetrated upon them. Notwith
! standing the uninformed condition OF thu
l masses enough Of woe and bitter cruelty ar,
known by all to touch the tender chords o
; pity, which are ever waiting ready to re
: spopd to the sufferings Of humanity
! And this the people feel. 1t is no
, a transient sympathy, but strong an
t full of deep and honest feIvor, which vii
e never be satisted until the yoke which nov
S gals shall have been lifted and the preciou
t boon of freedom given to the patriots
e freedom for which they have struggled 70
'. eight long years, and which in the eyes Q
o the world they have won. The attitud
: OF the Government Of the United State
It has been so stolid and Indifferent that fror
l. all outward appearance we have no sympg
e thy with that people, whose cries for hel
y come to us constantly from over the Caril
, bean-cries filed with so much pain an
e pleading that it has been wor der to tt
,. world that the American people could hay
,e wthstood their moving appeals
r. Not q day has passed for eight years b,
c. what has been .fraught with.scenes of Il
o most shocking inhumsnity on the islam
!. For eight years the mercenary rabble
1t Spanish soldlery have swept through Il
i. rich and luIuriant districts with the kni
p. and torch, leaving in their wake ashe
le blood and widespread ruin. This rabb
to are the minions of the Madrid Governme
in doing the dirty work of their master. Il
in King. By these men the island has BET
ie laid in waste, the crops destroyed, tow
u