The New York herald., 1879-12-18
Spanish Rule im Cuba-Its Advan-
tages and Disadvantages.

ment for Independence which commenced
at Yara, October TO- 1865 and terminated
by the capitulation or treaty of Zanjon In
February, 1878. 1t was natural that TINS
should be the case, and the failure OF the
''patriots" to make good their vow to
die in the last ditch need not cause
us to intone a mea culpa over their proven
incompetency. Sympathy with CUBA
did not necessarily imply hostility to
Spain Cuba is much nearer to US
than Spain our interests in the "Eyer
Faithful Isle" are vastly greater than in
Spain herself, and the thousands of refu-
gees in our Atlantic cities were an ever
present reminder of the woes inflicted by
Spanish misrule. The atrocities perpe-
trated by Spanish proconsuls, the inso-
lence of Spanish functionaries respecting
American claims and the language OF Span
ish organs here and in the Peninsula were
not calculated to win our hearts. Never
theless we heartily sympathized with the
successive legitimate governments of Spain
in their struggles for existence against COM
munistic outbreaks and the Carlist pre-
tender, and in the case of President Caste
lar our good wishes were ELUSIVE. But
our sym pathy for CASTELAR, did not imply any
desire that his Captain General in Havana
should suppress the Cuban insurrection.
Now that Cuba, after the ftful fever of
nine years, has slept well, we can formu-
late the autopsy of the insurrection with
greater precision than we were able to give
to its diagnosis. We can calmly review its
rise it's decline and fall, and inquire
must not expect an absolute answer to all
our queries, for problem so complex as
that of Cuban relations to Spain cannot be
solved upon. general principles. Circum-
stances alter cases, and we must pass upon
not few hard facts which differentiate the
case of Cuba from that Of the other former
colonies Of Spain in America. At first sight
are tempted to extend to the Cuban cause
the same sympathy which we, like Great
Britain, extended to the other Spanish
American colonies in their struggle for
freedom half a century ago. What reasons
could be alleged in behalf Of Mexican inde-
pendencs which do not equally apply to
Cuba?
In reply it may be said that there are
| good many circumstan ces which differen-
tiate the cause of Cuba from that of Mex
| ico Colombia, Peru and Chile. Not to
raise here the question whether the inde-
pendence of those colonies was not rather
premature, and not insisting unduly upon
our national interests arising from the close
proximity of Cuba to our coasts, the fol-
lowing considerations may we'll give us
pause:-In the first place. the population
of the republics in question is largely COM
| posed of native Americans ed Ind :
ians-whereas in Cuba the original Carib-
| bean race has long been extinct Second,
| the negro element in each of these colonies
was comparatively small. and in each case
the insurgents FASTENED emancipation,
| whereas in Cuba the African race is numer-
Gus and is still held in bondage. Third,
each OF the colonies in question had tradi-
tions of ancient civilization and indepen-
dence, maintained with more or less
vigor during the period Of Spanish vassalage,
whereas Cuba never possessed self-govern-
ment or an indigenous civilization, while
the African population is exceptionally
barbarous. Fourth, the republics of the
Spanish Main are large enough, populous
enough and distinct enough in their re-
spective situations, productions and in
terests to justify independence, whereas in
Cuba the ties with Spain were always rela-
lively stronger, and were vastly increased
h., = a ~, ;yro ton of Cpopiordc frop, ~ n
other colonies when indiscriminately ex-
PEELED by the insurgents. Then, again,
Cuba has been for half century the last
foothold Of Spain in America, and as such
the only outlet for large peninsular i'm
migration. Moreover, the physical con-
formation of the long and narrow
island renders every portion accessi-
BILE within few miles by Spanish
cruisers, difference of prime Importance
from the continental republics. which
abound in inexpugnable Businesses. The
brutalizing influence of the peculiar in
stitution," which has more repulsive fea-
lures in Cuba than it ever had elsewhere in
America, constitutes another special social
danger and reason of unftness for inde-
p6uQenCe, Will lJS ScQuelS VI IeVO-
lutions, forced loans, outrages upon foreign
capitalists and general ''cussedness" of up
start governments, which it could scarcely
escape. This suggests our last argument
The peculiarly close geographical, strate-
gical and commercial relations Of Cuba with
the United States, while constituting o
valid reason for q species of protectorate in
behalf OF good order, impose upon us the
obligation to prevent the pearl OF the An
titles" from ever falling into uniriendly
satisfactory dealings with an Independent
Cuban government are by no means fat
tering.
The above considerations may be held to
j IL 4 = a