Year: 1874

the Herald, containing the following piece
of news about Cuban affairs. The sub
stance of the letter is as follows:


Ihaye reason to believe that the two citi-
zens of Venezuela who have just arrived
from Havana with passports from General
COncha, come here commissioned by him to
treat with Aldama for the surrender of their
arms by the patriots of free Cuba, in con-
formity with some arrangements to be made,
the tenor of which am igrOrant These
two Venezaelans went to Cuba in the first
expedition Of the Yirginius, and have been
engaged short time ago in the ranks Of
the patriots, and lately they were desig-
mated by Santa Lucia to see Coneha and
Aldama


If all this is true, as believe it to be,
you have here an explanation of the fall of
the Republic in Spain and the accession of
SerranO to power; the appointment of the
sanguinary Concha to the Captain General
shipOf Cuba; the deposing Of Cespedes, who
has always rejected every kind Of compro-
mise with Spain; the election of Santa
Lucia, declared adherent to the doctrine
of Spanish territorial integrity; the nomi-
nation of Aldama, who does not wish the
war should be carried to the West, and the
paralyzation of business IN the agency since
December. All this indicates that there are
more motives than one for believing certain
suspicious rumors which have reached US
from Cuba, Paris, London and Madrid.
You will observe that Maxine Gomez is OPP
posed to these secret maneuvres of Santa
Lucia, and this fact will explain the rumor
which states that they had already fought
with each other. They have not come to
blows, but they have quarrelled; they
threaten each other, and therefore Sanguili
has resigned his command and is expected
to leave Cuba.-Neo York Herald.


The above may be hoax, but, if so, it
Is a very cruel one. 1t is bad enough when
men make the misfortunes of individuals a
matter of jest, but how inexcusable and
criminal when they endanger the cause of
people struggling to be free, by charging
the leaders with perfdy, and readiness,
Arnold-like, to betray the patriots and sell
the organization for gold. But the report
may be true, and, if so, what thena What
does it prove, and what will be the conse-
quences2 In the first place, if the Cubans
shall lay down their arms, and submit to
the domination of Spain, it will clearly
demonstrate that the United States are
properly chargeable with the failure to
establish a republican or democratic gov
ernment on the island.


The course of our government cannot be
defended upon correct political principles.
If we are free people and the advocates
of liberty and independence, it is the duty
of our. government, without forming en-
tangling alliances, to recognize every peo-
pie as free and entitled to government of
their own choice just so soon as they show,
according to the law of nations, sufficient
ability to sustain themselves as one of the
powers of the earth. 1t will not do for us
to follow the diplomacy of the effete ma
tions of Europe who seek to keep the
people beneath the yoke of monarchy or
imperialism. They can afford to +zait long
time when they know that struggle is go
ing on for the overthrow of one of the
powers with which their own interests are
inseparaBly involved, because every change
only xeakens their own hold upon the
people and their claims for pTescnptive
rights Revolutions, therefore, are the
bane of monarehies; and every successful
efforto apeople to be left to the erection
of government founded upon principles
of their own choice, is stab at the mon
strous doctrine of the 'sdiYine right of
kings But our government should learn
wisdom from the policy of the old world.
Whenever they ascertain that the leaders of
monarchies aad empires have shown rca-
sonable amount of ability and consistency
in the maintenance of such governments,
they. recognize them at once as separate
nationalities, entitled to all of the privileges
and immunities of the powers of the earth.


But lit is quite different when apeople
proclaim their right to enjoy the blessings
Of democracy, to establish republic in
which the greatest liberty to each citizen is
claimed as one of the fundamental prinei-
ples-a liberty onlyrestricted by wholesome
laws enacted by representatives, who are
themselves the servants Of the people But
one wrong is very apt to produce others,
and nations, as well as individuals, are fre-
quentIy torn by thorns Of trees Of their own
planting. The Confederate States were not
permitted to stand as one of the republics
of the earth. The Northern States denied
them the right of setting up government
of their own choice. They were
called rebellious, and the armies of
the United States were placed in the
field TO overpower and force them to remain
as States of the Union. They had shown
sufficient power and resistance to be enti-
tied to recognition; but the United States
government took every precaution and ex-
Iercised the most sleepless vigilance to pre-
vent any Of the nations of Europe from re-
cognizing them. Those nations were in no
haste to do So It exactly suited their own
inclinations and policy. In no event could
they be injured. II the Confederate States
extorted recognition from the United
States as separate republic, it mattered not,
as there would be two smaller and weaker
governments /, If. on the other hand, the
Union was maintained, it would strengthen
monarchy, because it would show that
the model republic found it necessary
to circumscribe the liberties Of the people
and the government of the United States
would, in the future, be compelled to adopt
policy more in accordance with the ideas
Of monarchy in their dealings with other
powers.


The recollection Of these fscts-of the
manner in which the Confederste States
was treated--I,as had the ELECT Of restrain
ing and crippling the government in taking
position for the recognition Of the inde-
pendence Of Cuba. Had theWar not taken
place there can be no doCbt that, to-day,
Cuba would be recognized as frse and inde-
pendent. and it is right that he should