The New York herald., 1878-03-04

the abolition Q, slavery General Rulon, Pole,
with 1000 insurgents OF the Villas, was successful
in several battles with the spauiards in February.
1860 On April II Cespedes was formally elected
President OF the Cuban Republic. ana General Quesada
Command In Chief OF the army. In the meantime
valmaseda-calied the "tger- issued general order
that every male over hfteen years Of age found
IN the country away from his homo without
good reason should DO shot, and that every house on
which white mag not dspayed should be burned,
and that all women and children found alone on their
farms should be removed. II necessary, by force.
either to Bayamo or Jguani. Important
landings were made of arms and men during
May, one under Rafael Quosada and the other
under General Jordan The arst reached its destina
tion without molestation, the latter was attacked
twice but repulscd the spaniards ana reached the
Cuban camps The command of tho army Of
the Oriente was given 10 Jordan, who alter
ward succeeded Quesada as Commander-n-
Chief In August, 1870. Mr.. Fish. the United
States Secretary OF State proposed terms tor the ces
OF the island to the Cubans, but the authorizes
at Madrid declined to consider lhem GenerlI Ca
baero do Rodas succeeded Dulce as Capton General,
arriving In Cuba In July with rcinlorcemcnts equal
to So 900 men, De Rodas not proving to be popular
with The volunteers OF Havana he was superseded by
valmaseda in December, 1870 The rulo OF Val
maseda has been stained by the cruel MUIR
der OF eight medical students for a So
called political demonstration at cemetery, and by
tho issue OF many barbarous orders, which wero in
general carried out the letter by the willing vol
unteers and military officers He was succeeded in
1872 by Ceballos and in 1878 by General Piesain,
who tried to open negotiations with the In
surgents on the basis OF Cuba remaining
state of the Spanish Republic This Offer was, how
ever declined, and the operations OF the patriots
pushed vigorously westward into tho Central Do
partmcnt In November, 1873, Pieltain was super
seeded by General Jovellar Captain General, aud
Cespedes gave way to Csneros as President OF
the Cuban Republic. From October, 1868, to
the end OF lS73 Spain lost 6s 900 out OF the S0 900
troops had Cuba exclusive OF her losses OF
resident Spanards and in the first three years, end
ing October 1871, s70,0O0ooo. The destruction
OF sugar estates and other property continued with
out interruption during all this tme and nshting was
OF daily occurrence on the lines between the oppos-
ing forces
vIRGISIus AFFAIR AND OTHER EVENTS.
Tho reader will remember the excitement created
In the country the arrival Of tho OF the cap
ture of the Cuban virginius OF Jamaica, and
the subsequent shooting Of her passengers and many
OF her at the slaughter house In Santiago
de- Cuba. Coincdent with that massacre
attack by tho Insurgents MaDzanillo and
also tho battle of La Zapa. The horror manifested
In the United States at tho massacre OF the Vrgnius
crow taken advantage OF by General Quesada
TO appeal to General Grant for bcgerent rights for
the insurgents which, however, were not granted.
General Burriel Governor of Santiago do Cuba
who ordered the murder OF the unforturato men OF
the virginius, was recalled to Spain, but re-
warded hcro for hts butchery. In the latter days OF
December battle was fought at Palo Seco, in which
tho Spaniards were defeated They sustained
another defeat in January 1874 at Meones, and the
insurgents destroyed a large number OF plantations
throughout that district In February the in
decisive battle OF Maranjo was fought In juno
tho patriots captured the town OF Bayamo
and In July negotiations wcro reported being again
In progress for q settlement, but came to nothing
From until tho end of 1874 continuous fight
ing was Kept up. Sixteen serious engagements took
place during that time.
AS Vamaseda was again made Captain General he
offered amnesty in March, 1875 to certain lenders
with their followers, but 1t was rejected, BEFORE
and tho war went on with vigor. although the
Captain General renewed his offers again and again.
Cespedes' death tragic ending TO a patriotic
career. Hc was succeeded by Palma and Juan B.
Spoturno rs presidents. Tho recent surren-
dor OF Spoturno marked tho dissolution of
tho Cuban insurgent government At the end OF
1875 vamaseda was superseded by Jovcllor, who sot
at to work IN a systematic manner to reconcile
the insurgents with the inevitable failure OF
their cause. In this no has been seconded
by General Martinez Campos, who, although
nominaly in command Of the army,
took an active part the negotiations II Is TO bc
feared that volunteers Of Cuba may not immodi-
ately accept the peace terms but tho power OF the
government will undoubtedly be exercised for the
preservation Of ordcr.