Year: 1873




which forbid the contemplation OF war by either


side. You must


DO US THE JUSTICE THE HERALD
to say that with all the we had for resent
mentor amount Of argument VIII convince
Spanards that the Virgnius WIS anything else out
apirste-we have passed through the excitemento OF
the past fev weeks without . single serious conf
mission OF disorder. people must be very much
reduced In public spirit that would fan 20 oiler pro-
test OF some kind against the humiliation which
Spaniards believed America Intentionally inflicted


What to you correspondents appeared Impossible
obtained by simple appeal To the understanding
and discreet feeling OF the people.
CoRREspoNDENT-The press has already done JUS
tice to the tact and ability OF Your Excelency in
the policy you pursued. Pray, what are your
views on


THE SLAVERY QUESTION
CAPTAIN GENERAL-I deem that matter as being
now In process OF solution. A project is being
considered for the abolition OF slavery; but why
should America be more exacting OF spain than of
any other nationS II II were not war necessity
President Lincoln would never have issued his
proclamation OF emancipation in 1868 1t was the
inspiration OF amoment, but not the prompting OF
any moral sense. 1t was issued as military
measure calculated to help the North and weaken
the defensive resistance OF the south. The injury
which stroke of sudden emancipation would IN
nict cannot be readily defined. Newspapers that
advocate this course are apt to be Influenced
by partisan politics or private passions
They are sometimes prone to raise se-
rous questions like this and attempt
to decide them without reference to the results
involved. America cannot overlook the fact that
she Is deeply concerned In this same matter of
slavery, and that the disorganzation which would
follow immediate ana total emancipation would be
grevously felt in the States as well as here.


/ DO NOT THINK THE HERALD HAS TREATED us
FAIRLY


in dealing with this subject. Slavery as it exists
in Cuba to-day has few features or cruelty. The
very motive Of sefinterest restraints slave owners


from being cruel to their help There is no longer
any introduction OF slaves into the island, ana


therefore it is consideration with the shareholders
to protect in every way their property IN the


slaves. Besides this there are laws laid down to


punish those who treat their slaves with injustice
or severity


At this point OF the conversation telegraph
operator entered and handed a despatch to His


Excellency, ana Brigadier Alvear took occasion to
say, in the meantime, that he had plantation


which he should be happy to show to a HERALD
correspondent, that he might judge of its actual
workings. He mentioned that 100 negroes who


were lately entitled to their freedom requested to


remain with him under the old condition of things.


His Excerency after reading the despatch. turned
TO the table and picked up copy OF Ell Crontstd,


which had an illustration on its last page OF late


whipping scene in Delaware, and said, "You, who


are resident of the island, never saw anything OF


this kind happen to the negroes"
CoRRESPoSDENT-Tha Illustration represents the


manner in which justice is dispensed in one single


little State out OF 81. and ls not fair sample of the
way Americans treat their criminals. You cannot
DENY many of the slaves are i'll rreateds
CAPTAIN GENERAL-To be sure. There de-


PRAYED men everywhere, VINO will abuse white as
well as black.


THE MINERS AND MANY OF THE WORKING PEOPLE
OF ENGLAND ARE NOT AS WELL OFF AS THE


SLAVES OF CUBA


This much will say, that there is almost q unani-
conviction that the abolition OF slavery has be-
come an imperative necessity, and In one way or


another this will be done, but in such manner as


will produce social disturbance. We have


vagrants enough, and black men, when free, must
work as well as white ones.


| OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES are your views of the in


surrectionY


CAPTAIN GENERAL-The Virginius which has been


my nightmare for the last month, prevented me
from giving the necessary attention to the insur
recton and devising measures for It's extinction.


am convinced il can be suppressed, though 1t is
impossible to say what time may be taken in the
operation. We cannot have decisive battle like


Auserltz that would give the coup de grace to the
| trouble and settle 1t in day. There is no enemy
| that will AFFORD US pitched battle. This is war
| sui ge7ae7iS. IL is bushwhacking one way and
| bushwhacKing the other. II is carried in a


country that is passabe for none OF the destructive


enginery OF war, that precudes man9uvering Of


troops that is all in favor OF the defensive and fatal


to the aggressive mode OF warfare. However. as
| soon as can concentrate my attention II, shall
i devise better measures than now prevail TO bring
4 1t to an end.


| Here Brigadier Alvear interrupted BY saying il


His Excellency would only go to the Central De-


partment himself he would soon bring 1t to end
i The Captain General continued: Il am in favor Of


reforming all such abuses said to exist in


the army and in the military administration. am


aware there is dissension and q want OF that har-


mony which is essential to effective military move
/ ments.


MUST ESTABLISH A SYSTEMATIC CAMPAIGN
4 and inaugurate sucn tactics as Will meet the Pc


cuar warfare employed by the insurgents. | an


ticipate we shall make much headway this winter


in pacifying the insurrectionary districts.
| CoRREsPoNDEST-Have you any plan in contem-
\ plation or the cure OF the financial evisy
i CAPTAIN GESERAL-ThaI, l trust, will also be


satisfactorily arranged. When you find the people


willing, as they are. to help the government in


nquidating the debt-when even rs per cent has


been offered by some OF our wealthlest men out o I


their private ncomes-you can easily judge that we


in fair way already TO get out OF the trouble


and-return to gold payments. Numerous propo
/ stions have been made to Us. They all aim at


solving the problem in hand, and 1t is only mat
! ter Of consultation which shall be adopted, though
1 all are good


| CORRESPONDENT these offerings OF which you
| speak to be taken as voluntary propositions, de.


signed TO pay the debt, or will general tax COW


ering all the people, be levied to meet the liquida.
| tion and provide for future war expensesY
| CAPTAIN GESERAL-A general war would seem
| to be the most reasonable and consistent, for
| every one would then have chance OF contribut-
| ing to the end aimed at. There may be some dis
| senters, but we have already the evidence that
| A MAJORITY FEEL ANXIOUS TO HELP THE GOVERN