Year: 1869

We have information of the arrival in this


city of Sehor Morales Lemus as an ambassador


from the provisional government in Cuba to


the government of the United States. His


object is to obtain the recognition by this gov


ernment of the revolutionary proceedings in


Cuba. Whatever may be done in Washington


regarding the reception of this Minister from


Cespedes, it will not be uninteresting to our
people to recall occurrences that have bearing


upon positive event like this.


The Spaniards and Spanish organs have all
along proclaimed that the insurrection in Cuba
was o triding affair and would soon be sup
pressed, and, according to the accounts we
have been receiving through Spanish sources
at Havana, the Cubans have been defeated
with terrible slaughter over and over again.
Strange to say, during all this time the
insurrection has been gaining strength and
spreading further and wider. By the tele-
gram from Havana which we publish to-day in
another column it will be seen that the cap
ture of Mayari, recently reported on official
authority in Havana, turns out to be defeat
of the Spanish troops, and that they were
falling back on Santiago with their wounded
commander. From Villa Clara, too, where
we have been SO repeatedly informed of the
defeat of the insurgents, we now learn from
returned Spanish volunteer that Colonel La
Tore was defeated on the Sd inst, and that
the insurrection there was so strong that ten
thousand men would be required to open the
railroad to the coast In connection with this
fact we have the singular general order from
Colonel Lasca, who had recently got into
Puerto Principe, that all the women and chill
dren who had gone out to afford aid and COM
fort to their friends in the field must return to
that besieged and hungry city or be subject to
military law if captured.


The truth is, nearly all the first reports of
events received from Cuba are manufactured
or garbled by the Spaniards to bolster up
their cause and declining power. We can
not rely upon them. We can only judge Of
the state of things on the island by general
facts. Well, what are these? We see that a
little cloud, no bigger than a mans hand few
months ago, has developed into general
storm. From few insurrectionists under the
lead of Cespedes in remote and sparsely
settled corner of Cuba organized revolt has
spread over the greater part Of the island.
The whole native population is profoundly
moved. The rich and young men have staked
their lives and fortunes in this struggle for
independence. The horrors of execution, of
Spanish cruelty or of penal exile to Fernando
Po do not check the movement, but rather
in1ame and give impulse to it. The more
the Spanish forces have been increased the
wider has the insurrection spread and the
stronger it has become. For every Cuban
slain dozen spring up in his place. The war
resources Of the insurgents are increasing
daily Arms, ammunition and artillery of the
most effective kind are pouring into the island
The chances Of success improve daily, and,
from present appearances, the despotic rule Of
Spain over Cuba is doomed, the end thereof
being only question of time and circum-
stances.


The most important news received is that the
insurgent authorities in the Central Depart
ment have decreed the abolition of slavery.
The freed negroes may either enter the patriot
army or remain to cultivate the soil. Doubt
less many win take up arms; but In any case
this act Of the insurgents will strengthen their
cause. tits wise measure; for, whatever might
happen, slavery was doomed, and 1t win have
the effect of rallying public opinion in the
United States in favor of Cuban independence.
But the best effect will be seen, undoubtedly,
upon the negroes themselves. Their worst
masters have been the Spaniards, and the
negroes will remember that. They will join
those who have given them freedom. Besides,
however ignorant they may be, they have sense
enough to know that their interests and future
welfare are identified with those Of the native
Cubans, and not with those Of the Spaniards.
They must be aware that the Spaniards are
foreigners, who, like leeches, fatten upon their
industry and the wealth of the island-who
have, in fact, no abiding interest in them or
their country. 1t is probable we may soon
hear Of the negroes becoming an important
element in this war for independence.


Under these circumstances what should be
the policy Of our government with regard to
Cuba !? No people in the world struggling for
independence from despotism have ever failed
to meet with sympathy from this country.
The Hungarians, the Poles, the Italians and
all others have met with 1t. This country
represents the liberal and republican ideas Of
the age and world, and all nations regard it as
the hope Of the oppressed everywhere. But
Cuba has special claims upon us. The Cubans
are our neighbors, are Americans, and belong
to the American system. The colonial gov
ernments Of Europe are exotics on this Conti-
nent, and ought to be uprooted. The policy
which favored and recognized the independence
Of the former colonies Of Spain in America,
and which laid down the Monroe doctrine Of
no more European conquests or colonization,
now requires fresh and extended application.