San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-03-23
End Of the Cuban War.

All the circumstances seem 10 lnulcute
that the Cuban war, which has now last
cd about 10 years, has been brought TO
a close by triumph Of Spanish author
ity. But it is evidently a triumph gained
rather by concession than by the asser-
ton of superior force. There is little
doubt that the Cuban patriots could
have maintained formidable insurrec-
ton for many years longer had Spain
fought them under the barbarous and
inhuman tactics pursued during several
years by Valmaseda, encouraged and
sustained by the Home Government.
Then the policy was massacre, not war,
and Spain found its fighting material
under the name of "Volunteers " in
the penitentiaries, and galleys, and
chain-gangs; the beautiful Island of
Cuba was laid desolate, and men and
boys were slaughtered by tens of thou
sands, by these bood-thirsty wretches
with commanders scarcely less
brutal than themselves. Had
this kind. of warfare been main
tanned up to the present time, we believe
that not only would the instruction not
have been crushed, but that some por-
ton of the civilized world would have
interposed on the ground Of humanity
and the confessed inability of Spain to
govern Cuba as one of her provinces.
There is reason to believe that Gen.
Martinez Campos deserves the largest
share of the credit for the more recent
policy of dealing with the insurgents,
which has finally brought about their
surrender; for, had Jovellar, the Cap
tain General, followed his instincts, he
would have abided by the traditional
policy of oppression in peace and ex-
termination in war, which has charac-
terized Spanish rule of the Island of
Cuba for century and half But
Martinez Campos, after showing the su.
perior strength of good soldiery, under
proper discipline and fighting accord
ing to the rules of civilized warfare, in
dicated policy of Cancellation. The
terms include general amnesty, the
emancipation of slaves who were in the
lines of the insurgents, representation
in the Spanish Cortes according to pop
ulation, and the application to Cuba of
the same provincial and municipal laws
as obtain in Spain these laws have been
in operation in Porto Rico for some
time.
Whether or not Cuba shall long re-
main in state of quiet will depend en-
tirely upon the good faith of the Home
Governmentin following out the spirit of
Cancellation and fair treatment promis-
ed by the terms of peace. Cuba in the
past has always been at the mercy of the
Captain General, who ruled with as des-
potic sway as if he were an Emperor
in the Middle Ages, and the Captains
General have usually been chosen
by the Home Government from men
who would apply the screws and extort
the utmost revenue from the residents
of the island by fair means or foul.
This is the underlying reason of the con-
slant succession of revolts, instructions
and rebellions which have torn and rent
the lovely island ever since the popula-
ton was large enough to offer resistance
to the policy of oppression. Nor is
there any reason to expect permanent
cessation of outbreaks now unless the
Spanish Government shall abandon the
effort to squeeze out of Cuba, by taxa
tions and impositions, the entire yield
of its rich resources. The Cuban popu-
lation, in its present advanced condi-
ton, demands all the advantages and
concessions due to q civilized condition.
The gradual emancipation project must
be carried out in good faith; the am
nesty stipulations must be fully main
tanned; the native Cubans must have the
same property and personal rights as
the Spanish enjoy; the policy of trade
discrimination must be steadily modi-
fed till it disappears, because it is this
more than any thing else which has OPP
pressed and impoverished the Cubans
in spite of the exceptional luxuriance OF
their island and almost unlimited prod
uct of their soil. Any return to the old
Spanish misrule of the island will more
surely incite instruction in the future
than IL has in the past.-NeU York
Times.
The Time to Advertise.