Year: 1871

| Spanish Barbarism in Cuba.


The letter which we publish to-day from


our correspondent will, deepen the horror and


Indignation which was felt by the civilized


world at the assassination Of the Cuban


students for an act that would have been


severely punished by short term of imprison-


ment The provocation offered to the Spanish


volunteers by the thoughtless act of few


young men was made to assume political


importance which did not belong 10 it, for the


purpose Of in some way justifying the bar


barous vengeance which was wreaked on the


offending students. But it will be seen from


our correspondents letter that even this


Himsy excuse has been taken from the authors


Of the most cowardly crime Of modern days.


So far from any political demonstration hav-


ing been intended, it now appears that the


students visited the cemetery for the object of


pursuing their anatomical studies In the dead


house, which is within the grounds. And ii


was while engaged in those studies that the


suggestion to mark their disapproval Of the


Spanish cause was made, and acted upon


without reflection. In a moment of repre-
hensible folly the young men offered insult to
the grave of Castahon, proceeding with


which we can have no sympathy; but the
civilized world has lost sight of the
indscreton in view of the terrible ven-
geance which has been taken with such
relentless cruelty by the Spanish authori-
ties. Nor will the poor excuse that the
blood of these young men has been offered up
to appease the clamors of bloodthirsty SOL
diery avail aught before the tribunal of public
opinion. By the action Of her responsible rep
resentatives Spanish rule in Cuba has lost
all claims to be considered civilized, and the
people would be fully justified in placing
those public assassins outside the pale of law
A few more such acts of barbarism, and it
will become a question how long we shall
permit civilization to be outraged at our doors
with impunity. Spanish orators and governors
mistake the calm and dispassionate representa-
tions Of our government and press for weak
ness or pusillanimity but there is limit
even to our patience, and if once the popular
voice shall definitely demand that the Spanish
outrages in Cuba shall cease, no government
will dare long to refuse obedience to the popu-
lar will. Had the victims Of the latest act of
been confirmed political offenders,
or even men taken with arms in their hands
fighting for what they thought the rights of their
country, we should not have considered their
execution justiiable under the circumstance of
their trial No such mockery Of justice has
filled the halls of justice in Paris and de-
manded the blood of the aristocrats. The
scene at Havana, on the occasion Of the trial
Of the murdered students, had more than one
point Of resemblance with the darkest days of
French history, and we can see in the blood
thirsty volunteers who forced General Clavijo
10 return to his place on the court martial
the worthy rivals of Marat's butchers.
Whatever excuse may be offered for
the maddened and oppressed Frenchmen,
who at least sought vengeance on class that
had grievously injured them, none can be
blood of boys because they had foolishly and
desecrated grave. Between the
crime and the punishment there is such mani
lest disproportion that we stand aghast, and are
really unable to realize that men with human
hearts could be capable of SO much cruelty.
the very enormity Of the crime which chal-
lenges our condemnation; but when the depth
and atrocity Of the outrage are fully realized
there will arise . universal cry for justice on
the assassins. In setting at defiance every
principle Of justice, the opinions of the civil
lied world, and making code to themselves,
the Spanish authorities are but Fastening the
end which is inevitable. The people Of the
United States are not much inclined to ag-
gressive war, but if the spirit of the age is to
be defed aud rule Of barba-ism set up just
at our doors we shall be compelled, in the
interest Of humanity, to bring 1t to an end.
The shooting to death Of the eight students at
Havana may for moment have repressed by
terror the disaffection Of the Cubaus, but it
has created feeling in this country that will
not die away with the report Of the murderous
volley Of Spain's soldier assassins. The iron
grasp in which valmaseda and his companions
hold the Queen Of the Antilles may prove to
be but the death clutch Of Spanish power in
America.


Too MANY IRoNs IN THE FIRE. -sBoss


Tweed" il appears, with the flush times Of the


s'Ring," had entered into many enterprises,
including Americus Clubs, sample rooms,
l,oto1s ooy;noo ho la raa1 aetata and Gr0t0n
water speculatons, railroads and newspapers.
Perhaps It was in view of removal to the
United States Treasury in Washington with q