Year: 1872

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and hopeless war with the South American
States when they declared their independence,
and which prevented Spain from recognizing
them even after they had established separate
nationalities, exists still; but the four years
of desperate resistance Of the Cubans, the
enormous cost of the war against them, both
in money and life, the financial difficult
ties of the Spanish government both
at home and in the colony and
the apparent impossibility of crushing
the instruction, ought to make Spain more
reasonable The sympathy of other nations
is not with her now as at first. Even the old
conservative monarchies see the folly and
cruelty of the relentless and hopeless war she
is waging against Cuba. They are not fright
ened as they were some years ago with the
bugbear of American republicanism and it's
extension. The leading journals of Europe,
which short time ago declaimed against the
sale Of Cuba to the United States and what
they termed the aggressive ambition of this
Republic, now advise Spain either to surrender
the island to this country or to give the Cubans
independence. The nations of Europe are
shocked at the barbarities of the war in Cuba
and would not have the island ruined. A
more liberal spirit is abroad and people every
where begin to recognize the right of self
government in distinct community when
that is desired. People now look more to the
progress and happiness of communities and
to the commercial advantages to be derived
than they formerly did.


But there is one view of this Cuban ques-
ton which must enlist the sympathy of the
world more and more for the Cubans and
make Spain more obnoxious. That is relative
to slavery. The Cubans abolished slavery in
their declaration Of independence and in the
constitution they framed for their Republic.
Spain upholds it both in Cuba and Porto
Rico. With the exception Of Brazil, where
slavery exists in mild form and is in process
Of being abolished, the Spanish colonies are the
only spots defiled by the institution throughout
the whole extent of America. Spain defies the
sentiment Of the civilized world. Though
this Republic has abolished slavery and raised
the negroes up to all the privileges Of citizen
ship, Spain perpetuates the institution on our
border So determined is she to do this that,
as we ore informed, two wealthy planters in
Porto Rico are to be prosecuted by the
NIT some eight hundred of their
slaves. Surely the anti-slavery sentiment
which has been reawakened through the
exposure of the slave-trade atrocities by our
correspondents in Egypt and of the Living
stone Search Expedition, by DR.. Livingstone,
by Sir Samuel Baker and by others Of late,
will lead civilized nations to denounce the
conduct of Spain for maintaining and riveting
the chains Of slavery in the Antilles. Our own
government ought to be the first to interpose,
for tue slave colonies of Spain are near our
shores, and the American people are deeply
Not only the citizens of this free Republic, but
civilized people everywhere, will naturally con-
clude that it is not wise to countcnance cruel
apd despotic government which upholds
slavery and, at the same time to give the cold
shoulder to those who have declared the free
dom of the slaves while heroically struggling
for their own liberty.


In view Of the slavery question, which is
now acquiring fresh importance; of the pro-
longed and fearfully bloody struggle in Cuba,
which Spain is powerless to end; of the inse-
curity to Americans and American interests in
Cuba; Of the threatened ruin to the island
and our commerce there, and of the demands
of humanity and civilization, is it not time
that the United States should recognize the
Cuban patriots as belligerents, and thus put
both sides on the same footing? That would
tend to ameliorate the horrors Of this most
savage war. With all her war ships, gunboats
and large armies Spain has not been able after
four years to suppress the insurrection or
even to weaken it. A people who can resist
such power for that length Of time, however
limited their resources or small their army
may be comparatively, seem to deserve recog-
milton. Spain is not likely to make any con-
cessions to Cuba, or to make the war less hor-
rible as long as the United States does not
recognize the Cubans; but if our government
were to change its policy that might lead to o
solution Of the whole trouble.


The Vienna Exposition.


The preparations for the exposition of the
art and industrial products of the world at