Year: 1873

boast with good reason, that 1.-THE sun never SET ~


II. with the change OF flag. the people can be got to
look forward, instead OF backward In sllly worship
OF past glory, there may be brilliant and honor
able career yet In store for Spain.


How these events may affect


CUBA


Is, perhaps the point OF most interest to che
American reader, and to me the issue seems clear
enough. Matters have just now arrived at that
stage which renders the loss OF Cuba inevitable.
Either the federal Republic will be true to the
principles upon which 1t has been founded and give
to Cuba home government or it will continue the
war OF determination. Should the first resolution
be taken much bo0dshed and trouble may be
avoided and the island continue for years nOmi-
nally an integral part OF Spain; II the latter, the
chances OF the republicans putting down the in
surrection are still more remote than under the
old system. 1t is to be supposed also that the
American people will one day get tired OF looking
on at the slaughter OF Americans by European
hirelings. Very many in the United States are apt
to forget that


THE CUBANs ARE AMERICANS,


and that the eyes OF their butchers this Is their
chief crime. Even Spanish republicans can
scarcely expect the United States to stand by
while men, claiming liberty for themselves, shoot
down Americans who claim the inalienable right
OF every man TO freedom. on the other hand
should the present government he overthrown and
a despotism established, It would become doubly
the duty OF the United States to interfere. hope,
therefore. that no time Will be lost In completing
the ships voted by Congress. Ii see Pi y Mar
gall before leaving Spain intend to urge on him
the wisdom OF accepting Cespedes' ofIer-that the
Spaniards should abandon Cuba and receive in ex-
change $70 600 guaranteed by the United States.
If this course were taken Spain could enter
on the work OF regeneration with every
chance of a successful consummation of the work.
The chief danger to the Republic springs from want
of funds, and here Is Just the means of supplying
that want. If Spain desires conquest and glory
Africa is open to her, where her rule mighvbe made
really useful to civilization. No one would object
to her extending her power over Morocco, which
IL one Of the richest countries in the world, but
almost wholly undeveloped under its present
rulers. If the Spanards do not take my advice
they will regret it. for one of these days they will
get thorough "licxing' and they will have neither
Cuba nor the millions to console them.


have already given some slight account OF the
"chivalrous'' way in which the Havana authorities
treated me, and there is very little temptation to
recur to so uninviting subject SO far the treat
ment accorded to the imprisoned representatives
Ofthe free press by the. Spanish Republic has GER
tainly not been marked by any extraordinary con-





any of the insults offered to me during my incar-
ceratiOn in "tbe ever faithful isle" to the liberal
parties in this country. The truth is Cuba is a
political pariah that degrades all parties by simple
contact. There Is In the atmosphere of the "Queen
OF the Antilles" the KIND OF moral Infection at
tributed to other creatures OF heaveniest seeming,
whose bright smile and scented breath are fatal to
the austerest virtue, especially of Captains General
That unfortunate class OF public servants are Pc
culiary exposed to the atmospheric influence ofthis
cline the Ofcial constitution, and the result is
that escape from its evil effects is in their case
without precedent. 1t must be said. however, in
justice to the contagion so fatal to official morality,
that, II dangerous IN a moral aspect from its ma
ter1al and selfish point of view, the intrmties 1t
brings in It's train compensate in some minds for
the moral damage sustained. The smiles of gen.
erous beauty; the applause of men distinguished
10y their high position; the enjoyment OF bOundless
revenues that shame the "Arabian Nights" and EN-.
able the avorite child OF fortune to build cbateauI
en- Espagne in real solid masonry-not the airy
nothings that whie away the lighter hours or
Gallo neghbors-cOnsOle the official conscience for
loss OF SO useless commodity as honesty. It Is
not to be wondered at therefore, if under the usual
pressure


GENERAL PIELTAIN


has become convinced that there were two sides
to the Cuban question. and that the Madrid gov
ernment are not taking the view most in accord
ance with q Captain Generals interest Under the
magic influence of the Negrero's eloquence the re-
publican official was necessarily shaken in his con-
viction as to the convenience and propriety OF
granting freedom to the. slaves; If the government
would only give time, say a thousand years or so
the slave owners would by that time have gradu-
ally prepared the way for the total emancipation
OF the colored people without exposing the struc-
ture OF society TO any rude shocks. This and siml
lar arguments are so cogent, so new, and made in
such good faith, that the Official mind which has
already been skifuy prepared for the reception OF
such important truths, is at once convinced. The
orders from Madrid are certainly based on total
misapprehension OF the true state OF the island,
and Is therefore the duty of every true Spaniard
not to take any step that may imperl the national
unity; and as proof of the "true Spaniard's " de-
vOtOn to the indeg'idod naciOndl, the orders oil
the home government are thrown into the waste
paper basket, ana a vigorous protest sent home
about the impossibty of putting Revolutionary
reforms into force without reducing the ever
Faithful Isle' to the State OF st. Domingo. The
solid foundation of the chateau en- Espdgne has now
been laid and If the last addition to the ranks oil the
good Spaniardsr is as clever as he ought to be he
will in short time be able TO build honestly as fine
palace as did that other good Spanard Valma-
seda. But, after all. it is the old story-history
peating tself-and this melancholy age has no SUI
icient reason TO grumble.


When the time has come to take up the whole
Cuban question viii do full justice to the Official
class and their allies in their political and
social aspects. desire to say good word for


THE MUCH-ABUsED REPUBLIC


has led me to touch upon subject which had
intended to reserve for more opportune moment !:
but the present letter will OF necessity be kind OF
mosaic made up of bits OF the opinions Of others
rather than my own. The motive cause OF my
writing Is to throw little light on the conspiracy
at present In iul play that is endeavoring to over
throw the Republic and restore a despotism
that Will give satisfactory guarantees" to
TIE friends of smoral ORDER not alone In
Spain, but In Europe. IL would be serious
error 10 look upOu the struggle now going on i'm