Year: 1869

The recent declaration of the Cuban reyo-
iutionary Congress, that the patriots are
fighting for freedom from Spanish rule and
for annexation to the United States is one
of no small Importance. 1t behooves the
administration and the American people to
consider whether they will aid the declared
purpose OF the revolutionists, or discourage
so much thereof as relates to annexation to
this country. That the general feeling of the
American people is favorable to Cuban indie
pendence cannot be doubted. The instinct of
our nation is to sympathize with any people
who may be struggling to free themselves
from the hand of the oppressor. This has
been shown from time to time, in such
manner as to be unmistakeable. The only
question heretofore has been whether or no
we should recognize the revolutionists as
belligerents. For the government of the
United States to interfere with force of arms,
between Spain and her rebellious colony
would be highly improper, so long as the
rules of civilized warfare were observed.
The events of our own war are still too fresh
in our minds to make us wish to take step
of this kind. But the recent order of Gen.
Dulce, the Spanish Captain General may
we'll cause the question to be asked, if the
proper time for the recognition of the bel
ligerent rights of the revolutionists has not
arrived2 This order is one calculated to smoth-
er all nice distinctions of international law in
the indignation created by the brutality ofthe
government which sanctions such infamy.
This order directs the execution of every
Cuban over fifteen years of age who may be
found away from his home without being
able to give satisfactory explanation, and
further directs the burning of every house
which does not show a white flag. No more
infamous and brutal order was ever issued
by Christian or Pagan, and it may well be
! asked if the time has not arrived for the
| United States to interfere. We should be
opposed to any interference for the purpose
OF acquiring Cuba by military force. To the
purchase Of Cuba we should also object, be-
lieving that the United States already ha
too much territory to need to buy more. If
the Cubans succeed in freeing themselves at
all it will be done by the aid of Americans,
although, perhaps, not with the formal
sanction of the government. That many
Americans are already with the patriots is
certain, and that thousands more will soon
go is considered equally certain. Vessels
for the purpose of transporting arms and
munitions of war to the insurgents are known
to be fitting out in various parts ofthe coun-
try. They.will, nearly every one, land their
cargoes, the Spanish war vessels being too
slow and inefficient to prevent them. Un-
der these circumstances it is more than prob
able that the Cubans will succeed in freeing
themselves from Spanish rule. That they
must have some protector is but natural.
The Cubans have ever been warm friends of
the United States, and wish to become one of
the confederation of States. There is nothing
/ in their proposition which is Objectionable
vi WulCu WOuiu uOG lCSulI w lllc
of both parties. The geographical portion
of Gu "a is such that she would be of great
advantage to the United States as naval
station, setting aside her other great and
numerous advantages. That Cuba will SOON
er or later be a part of the United States no
one can dispute, and it looks very much as
f1lo 4. =, IL Al.
France and England regarding American in
reference amount to nothing at all. They
would do nothing for they have too much
to attend to at home to be willing to risk
much to defend the possessions of Spain.
We hope that the government will recog.
nize the belligerent rights of the Cubans
and content itself with so doing The Gu


bans will then have fair field and can
work out their own destiny.