The Russellville Democrat., 1881-06-09
CUBAN SLAVERY.
abolition Going on in an Encouraging
 Manner.


 abolition Going on in an Encouraging
 Manner.
 Charles A. Dana, who is how in Cuba, writes as follows to his paper, the New York Sun: The abolition of slavery was decreed by an act of the Spanish Cortes, which received the Royal signature on the 18th of February, 1880. By this law, the title of the owner to his slaves is transformed into what is called a patron ate. This is to last during eight years from May 8th, 1880, at the expiration of which the former slave becomes entire ly free. During the patronate, the mas ter is required to house, feed and clothe the servant, to give him medical care, and to him for his or her labor at the fixed rate of $3 per month, gold.
 He is no longer allowed to whip the servant, or to infiict any sort of corporal punishment without the previous assent of magistrate or magistrates who are established for the purpose in each dis trict. The patron may, however, dock the monthly pay of his former slave when he either cannot work or refuses to work; and this power, am assured on all hands, is extremely eficacious in preventing any such refusal.
 The patron is also obliged by law to maintain the old and infrm who cannot work, as well as to provide food and clothing for the children, and to give them primary instruction and the edu- cation necessary to exercise useful art or occupation"
 These obligations he cannot escape from by any voluntary remuneration of his authority over the servant. This au- therity he can only renounce in the case of those who are of age and able to work. He can sell his patronate, but in SO doing families must be kept together. The obligation to provide for the old and infirm and to educate the children goes with the sale of the patronate. The le- gal value of a patronate in the case of a perfectly valid man or woman, without children or parents to be supported, is for the present fixed by the law, at $50 a year for each year of service remaining due. Whenever the servant tenders this amount the patron is obliged to give him his freedom.
 In the case of any abuse on the part of the patron, the servant has the right to complain to the proper magistrate, who must hear the matter immediately; and if the abuse isgross, the magistrate has power to give the servant his free pa. pers. With freedom he acquires all civil and political right, except that for four years he remains under the oversight of the authorities, so far that he is bound to be engaged Tn some satisfactory pur- suit of industry.
 Under. the provisions of this law which has been in force now for nearly year, the abolition of slavery appears to be going forward in Cuba in perfectly reg nlar, peaceful and encouraging manner. There is no interruption of labor and no disturbance of pubic order.
 The former slaves everywhere do their work as we'll as before. Indeed, l was told that they do it much better; and could not learn of single instance in which any trouble had arisen from the change in their relations. The receipt of wages affords stimulus which they ardently appreciate. Spaniards long resident in the island, who had always been strenuous opponents of abolition admitted to me that the success of the measure is complete. Indeed, the fact that whereas under slavery considera- ble proportion of the suger crop was an- nually destroyed by incendiary fires, while under freedom such incendiarism is thus far unknown, is more conclusive on this point than the mere opinions of any numer of persons.