The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-10

demoralize the soldier As a general rule the mill
tary administration had been chaos. disorder and
conduct of the contractors OF supplies for
the troops They have made fabulous
fortunes. though the government stu owes them
enormous sums. The army was dissolving; public
spirit decayed daily; personal interest had
powered all moral principle. The most patriotic
gain and to exploit the Spaniards but
IL thoy could not do this they had soruple
as to gaining and exploiting the insurgents.
could not pay the taxes. and many more did not
wish to in any way The public income was not
enough to cover a moiety of the war expenditure.
aud all the other public services were left unpaid
In Spain they began to be tired of the in Cuba,
which. if it did not cost them cent cost them the
grave chiefs and officers complained loudly
because it took from them their best sol
and because the officers who returned brought their
characterization and corruption to the corps they
afterward joined. The Spanish mothers mourned
because their sons were taken from them and they
saw them not again; and il of them did chance
to return they were sick, mutilated. ragged and
poor and all to defend those who made sugar that
they did not eat and those who wished to maintain
the slavery OF the negroes
A SUPREME EFFORT.
The government made great effort, the last
which they could now make to give to Martinez
de Campos the elements essary to prolong the
Spain. had failed. and il the spaniards here
had determined to prolong the fight. while they
saved their persons. their families and some OF
their property. at last the young King
Don Alfonso would have had to be
content to abandon and lose this aoron
of his crown. True the Spaniards would readily
have consoed themselves. on seeing their ships dis
mantled, their armies destroyed. by crying out very
loudly, as did Philip H. in the Escurial on hearing
of the loss of the 'invincible Armada: "-"Wc do
not send to fight against nature against the climate
and against yellow fever; sent to fight against
the insurgents; they have not beaten us; We have
been beaten by sickness"
THE CUBAN PATRIOTS CONSIDERED.
Certainly the situation of the Cubans was not bet
ter. II Cuba before the could day have boon
a nation. really independent. once the island
abandoned by the Spaniards she could not be
tion and much less independent. The distinguished
patriotic men who could have given direction and
tone to Cuba Hbre had disappeared; They sleep
the eternal sleep of death. Others. bent by years
and troubles. had lost their vigor and illusions
aud were living obscure. and retired. having lost
caste. From among them there did not come one
single eminent man, either in war or diplomacy.
Those who fought in the island tlbse who plotted
in tho cities. and they who stirred up the fire from
abroad. were divided and quarrelling with
the other Undeceived many, doubtful others.
they recognized neither head nor chief; plot
ting to take away one from the other the
the power they had they denounced, in
formed. gave quarter. The more expert exploited
the innocents; those who did not fight lived by the
war; and those who fought died of starvation and
misery: all wanted to govern; none knew how to
obey. The white element became reduced in num-
Der; the colored increased daily in.mportance and
ardor.
INDEPENDENCE AxD-cHAos.
Had the Spaniards decided to leave the island, not
having one with whom to treat. behind them, the
negroes would have overrun the fields and pene-
trated the Cities bringing with them anarchy and
civil war. The armed rabble would have aban-
doned the estates, but not without previously
having robbed and burned them. The negro
of Cuba is not bad. but SO stupid that he does
not comprehend liberty without power. nor does
he believe he is free IL he has to work to live. All
would have wished to govern. all to be generals.
Ministers. The men Of knowledge, of education
and of principles would have been the natural enc
mics of the rabble mob. dominant and irresponsible
for its acts. The colonial policy of Spain,
and the most absurd that has yet pre-
vailed in Cuba. has consisted In govern
ing only by force. Spain has always had great
fear of losing her distant possessions and
to keep them subsection she has kept them in ig
norance of all relations to the government She has
not educated her colonists that they might day
be men, but that they should be perpetually chill
dren. Never has she cared for the future. She has
believed always that her dominion must be eternal
The independence of her colonies has been and will
ever be premature. She does not educate them to
govern themselve; she educates them to live eter-
nally in tutelage.
WAITING FOR THE PILOT.
When Martinez de Campos arrived here we were
in the situation OF q dismasted ship without .
pilot the of which were fighting among
themselves for the division of the spoils,
and which going straight toward reef.
men, Gains the passions and re-estab1ishes peace
and order and guides the ship from the rocks where
she is about to 20 to pieces. Now we run without
masts or helm before the wind on the vast ocean,
without compass pilot. There is board
an appearance OF tranquility. scarcely disturbed
by some few hints Of the past turbulence.
The pilot. on leaving. promised to return
and direct the ship. or to order from
the shore what was necessary to establish
q definite peace and US. From the past history
of the politics of Martinez de Campos comes our
present situation. In my future letters will in
form you and your readers what is the present pot
ical. social and financial situation of the Island Of
Cuba and the probabilities that exist of saving Of
losing the ship.