The morning call., 1893-05-04
THE RESURRECTION IN CUBA.

It seems unlikely that the outbreak in
Cuba which is reported by Telegraph will
have any: serious consequences. 1t will
probably turn out to be an enterprise of
brigands.
In the past half century. Cuba has en-
1oyed about fourteen years OF peace to
thirtysix years of war. Before our own
civil war the slaye-owners were red hot for
the annexation of Cuba, because it was a
large and fertile.island which might have
been cut up into four States, and because it
was already slave-holding. 1t was the rich
cotton and sugar planters of our Southern
States who supplied ONE Of the means for
the periodical rebeilions on the island
They encouraged the flibustering move
ments. There was ample excuse for revo-
luton in Cuba. The people were taxed to
death. They had no representation in
Spain. Two years tenure of the captain
generalship was supposed TO be worth a
million. When, in addition to this. the
three leading representatives of the United
States in Europe-MessrS. buchanan, Mason
and Soule-united in the Ostend manifesto
and declared that the United States must
have Cuba, peacefully if they could, but
that they must have it, it is no wonder that
Cubans were always prfmed for revolt
They never accomplished anything, and
when slavery persisted in this country they
lost their hackers.
The revolutionary temper survived, how
ever, as it had plenty Of legitimate material
to feed on, and in 1863 a new outbreak on a
large scale took place, which it took the
Spaniards ten years TO quell. It. ended in
the concession by Spain Of many of the
Of To nh no &c
had commended. By the convention of
Lanjon, which was signed in 1878, Cuba was
granted representation in the COrtes and
the same local Institutions as Porto Rico.
The demand of the insurgents to elect their
own Captain-General and to mako their own
tariff was denied. Their complaint that
native born Spauiards were preferred to
CuOans for Office in Cuba was also ignored
Bur the chief grievance which Spain refused
to abate was the law which particularly
compelled the Cubans TO buy their food from
Spain instead of the United States, which
could supply them more cheaply. 1t was a
feather IN Mr.. Fosters cap that he was en-
abed to remove this cause of discomfort by
his reciprocity treaty with Spain. Under
that treaty American wheat and American
provisions were admitted to Cuba on pay
ment of a revenue duty. The Spanish ag-
Ticuiturists had to content themselves with
preserving the old prohibitory duty on
foreign -four imported into Cuba, but as
American wheat was let in it has proved
that the Cubans can dispense with Spanish
-four.
Thus the present grievances OF the Cubans
are narrowed down to the extorIon prac-
ticed by the Captain-GeneraI, who still
makes fortune out of his Office, and to the
exclusion of native Cubaus from public
Office. They also complain of the oppres-
sive taxation. But this is mainly due to the
enormous cost Of the war which ended in
1873. The ten years fighting cost many
millions OF dollars, and the insurgents had
no money and Spain had none TO spare,
The outlay became lien on Cuba, and the
interest has had to be supplied by the sugar
| and tobacco interests. Those interests
would naturally like to throw off the bur
den, but it pes not seem that they are likely
TO attain their end-by the road of guerrilla
warfare.
The time is not propitious for another
insurrection IN Cuba. It would not fnd
symrath zers in this country, as sucn move
ments did in the days OF Lopez and Col
conria.. We DO not want to take Cuba from
Spain. Our interest is that the islands
should maintain peaceful, orderly govern
ment. We are not forgetful. either. of the
fact that during our civil war when the
+ British Bahamas were nest of rehel
cruisers, not one vessel was ever allowed to
sail out of the port OF Havana to prey upon
American commerce. Even il there were
any remains of the. old fiiibuster feeling
in this country it does not seem that il
would do the rev insurgents much good
Spain keeps an army of % goo regular troops
on the island, and the National Guard nun.
bers $1,000 bayonets. or these last the bulk
must be in favor of law aud order. Unde:
the Mckinley tariff The Cuban sugar plan.
tations are doing better than they have fol
years. It is hardly likely that their owners
want to see them devastated, as the planta.
tions of Puerto Principe and Santiago de
Cuba were twentyyears ago. The rebellion
+ will. probably be nIpped in the bud