Year: 1872

The Cuban Insurgents-The New Plan


OF Campaign.


Those who imagined that the age Of Quixot-
ism had passed away are likely to find out that
they were too sanguine by watching the pro-
ceedings in the Spanish Cortes In spite of
the warnings Of common sense the naughty
Spaniards will insist on subjugating Cuba and
restoring peace to the "Ever Faithful Isle in
the most approved 'peace reigns in Moscow
style. Nothing will convince the representa-
tives in Madrid that they cannot easily put an
end to the struggle which for years has desc
lated Cuba. Like their grand chivalric pre-
decessor their lance is in rest, and whether
they charge muleteer or windmill is of no
particular Importance, so long as the spirit of
chivalry is maintained. So strong is this feel
ing that the would-be heroes cannot be made
to recognize the righteousness of their
position, and while the arm of the
windmill is carrying them through
the air they continue to sing a song of tri-
umph. 1t is very difficult to advise people
SO erdH<, and one would imagine that the fruit
less efforts made by Spain for the last few years
to crush the Cuban movement ought to have
convinced even enthusiasts Of the hopelessness
of the task Not but that the movement has
been suppressed out and the revolu
ionists completely annihilated several times
on paper. Somehow, however, they got resur-
rected, and the Spaniards admit that there are
four thousand some hundreds and odd The
government is very careful to give the exact
number, as proof Of its skill in divination.
The Ministers do not tell us how they came by
such perfect reports of the state of the Cuban
Army, which they have been loudly assuring
the world for some years had no existence.
Be that as it may, the report is not
creditable one to Spain or her
army. Allowing that the report is
true, even to the odd man, it may
be pertinently asked why the sever faithfuls'
do not put an end to the trouble by extermin-
ating the gallant few who uphold the Cuban
cause? 1t is not creditable to the chivalrous
Spaniards that some thirty thousand troops of
CASTLE should be held at bay by miserable
band of four thousand adventurous mostly
Mexicans, negroes and Americans. We should
never think of rating SO low the courage Of
Spanish soldiers. But the fact is admitted,
even paraded, and therefore we must believe
it to be correct.


1t is truly o miserable affair from the begin
ming, and the best thing that Spanish states
men could do would be to recognize the
Importance of reconciling their pride
with their real interests, and allowing
Cuba to dispose freely of her own
destinies. Our own pitiful policy has been
much to blame for the bloody and protracted
struggle which has been waged at our door.
Had we had statesmen with grasp of mind
enough to shape reasonable and decided
policy we should have used our moral infu-
ence as mediator between the belligerents, and
by clear definition of our own position de-
prived either party Of any illusion they may
have INDUCED in So far from pursuing this
manly and straightforward course we have
trifed with the Cubans by hollow expressions
of sympathy, which mean nothing and were
never intended to mean anything. The
chances of peaceable solution of this ques-
ton seem to be as remote as ever, unless the
Spaniards succeed in the coming campaign in
completely annihilating the insurgents. Sad
as this prospect is our boasted civilization has
no alternative to offer, unless some powerful
third party should appear on the scene, and
there is not much chance of this.


ANOTHER EXPLOSION Yesterday morning
the echoes of the Kill Won Kull were startled
by the loud explosion Of tugboat near Cavan
Point When the terrified dwellers on the
shore sought the cause of the sudden noise
they saw in the stream what remained of the
Passaic, of Newark, and her crew of four
men. The captain, fireman and the negro
cook were so badly scalded and bruised that