Year: 1878

tfpOstOn IOSL.l


AT last we witness the termination of q
contest on a neighboring island which has
been waged, practically without distinct
purpose, for almost ten years; entailing in
Its protracted progress the destruction of
lives and property, the waste of means and.
the confusion of productive industry which
1t will take many more decades to fully re-
stores. The end of such war is necessarily
notable event There were master minds
at work in directing the original movement.
but passion was after time allowed to OBJ
tain sway, and the revolving cruel methods
OF old Spain were madly initiated and rival
led by the leaders of the revolt. The
strife, which ought to have been one
between liberty and tyranny, soon
degenerated into one OF personal feeling,
and in such boiling caldron the chances of
freedom were invisible. For this cause the
war became one of ASSASSINATION, destruction
and general ruin. The clear loss to the rich
estates of the island it is at this time lmpos-
slble TO compute; nor can it be estimated
what damage has been done to productive
industry and trade, or how much has been
extorted from those of the population whe.
had visible wealth to be plundered, or how
many lives have been sacrificed to spirit
that aimed far more at composing revenge
than establishing freedom. 1t had long
since become a question whether, il the
rebellion succeeded, the island would have





under the Spanish tyranny it seemed bent
on trying to overmatch.


As for Spain herself, she has lost more in
men and money by this prolonged struggle
than she will ever be viking TO acknowl-
edge. How many of her levies of troops that
have been sent ever lived 10 return may
never be known. The climate was fatally
against them, and therefore opposed to their
success. The Cubans could have kept up q
guerilla warfare inde6nitelv Rut fhere is
no doubt that both sides were at last equally
ready to treat for peace, as both appeared
equally resOlute never to acknowledge defeat
The conditions agreed upon are apparently
liberal, and having been readily accepted by
the insurgent chiefs are reported to give
satisfaction throughout the island. They
are, substantially, that Cuba shall receive
the same political organization and admin
lstrative concessions as are enjoyed by Porto
Rico; ample pardon for all political
offences. committed since 1868, liberty
for persons under sentence and political
prisoners, and general pardon to deserters
from the Spanish lines; liberty to slaves and
Cinnamon within the insurgent lines: re-
lease from obligations to do war service, un-
less peace be re established everywhere; and
facilities for leaving the island to ali persons
who so desire. Terms of this character clear
ly imply that the power granting them is
as heartily sick of the struggle as the rebel
ious party possibly can be. There is little
doubt that on such basis the whole island
will at cnce settle itself to the coveted repese
of peace. 1t seems almost an age since the
early proclsmations of Cespedes; and the
role of csptains-general who have been sent
over only to be recalled, reads like half
forgotten story. We may well ejoIce at the
end of an unparalleled war in our Cay that
will restore to us so much of the rich trade
We have lost