Year: 1873

was almost universally enjoyed, and for one
day at least people seemed to forget that war
with Spain was imminent and even that
hard winter is before us. 1t was a day of
thankfulness, festivity and feasting, celebrated
as only happy and contented people can


celebrate day of national thanksgiving.


Our Relations with Spain and Cuba.
+ From the record of the diplomatic negotia-
ton with Spain, as generally made known, it
appears that there was material change in
our position between the 10th and the 26th
inst On the 26th it was announced that Mr..
Fish and Admiral Polo had agreed upon
basis of settlement, which was 'the restora-
ton of the Virginius; the release Of the
unmurdered captives; indemnity for the fam
lilies of the slain. Our demands on the 10th
were, ''the formal delivery of the virginius to
officers of our government TN "a port Of the


United States; the release and restoration to our
protection of the surviving :captiyes; money
indemnity to the heirs of all taken from on
board the virginius and put to death; the
trial and punishment Of General Burriel and
all other responsible officers; the immediate
and unconditional abolition Of slavery in Cuba
as the source of all the pending difficulties and
cqmplaints."'
Mr.. Fish's reported settlement Of the 26th
is, therefore, the ultimatum of the 10th eInas-
| culated tbs softened by every point that the
| Spaniards found troublesome Instead Of the
formal surrender Of the ship zip port Of the


United States" we are to be Content with her


restoration" That is, the Spaniards will
simply cease to guard her where she lies in
their waters, and we may go and take her. In
stead Of the restoration of the captives ''to
our protection" they are to be "rsleased" =
turned adrift outside Spanish prison. No
trace is left of the demands for the punish
ment of Burriel and for q guarantee against
future misconduct We consent it seems not
! to insist upon the punishment of this mis-
creant because he acted under orders, and his
offence is therefore, the offence Of the govern
ment, and is condoned in the surrender of the
ship and the payment of indemnity. If Bur-
riel acted under orders in his assassi-
nations, what becomes. Of the story
that the Spanish government did it's
utmost to prevent precipitate action9


CASTELAR,, we were told, telegraphed that no
punishment should be inflicted, and some evi-
dence has been given that his despatch was
received by Purriel after the killing Of Ryan
and Fry and before the wholesale slaughter.
Upon whose orders, then, did he act in doing
these murders if he had specific orders from
Madrid not to do them? Do the shallow peo-
pie who put forward this plea for an incar-
nate fend mean to intimate that the Spanish
authorities have some legal right to order
their subordinates to murder our people? But
the most important feature of change is that
in the last report the demand for the abolition
of slavery in Cuba is not present. Can we
let that point escape us9


Slavery in Cuba is point Of such impor-
tance that it cannot, of course be left out of
view by us in any negotiation by which we
may hope to establish more satisfactory rela-
tions for the future, and to secure ourselves
against constant recurrence to the bar
barous outrages of Spanish officials. Indeed,
the relative positions on that subject of the
Spaniards and the insurgents ought alone to
be sufficient to secure to the latter the moral
support of our sympathy and good will, and
whatever more active aid it may be lawful to
give Spain has acted in regard to the abolition
Of slavery with duplcity that is not the less
shameful for being an inseparable attribute of
the national character of her people, and while
she has amused us with fair promises has
done nothing save invent frau udulent pretences
to cover and excuse her inaction. In short,
the present position of Spain with regard to
Cuba begins and ends in the slave interest.
1t is not the result of any political necessity,
nor yet, as has been SO impudently said, that
the nation stands on point OF honor with
her colony; but it is simply job in the
interest of slaveowners and planters. Cuba
is source of enormous wealth, not
so much to Spain as to certain
Spaniards-and if they should lose the
slave labor there would be as great change
as there was in the wealth producing power
OF our cotton fields by the abolition of slavery


consequently they have exerted themselves
to prevent inimical legislation, partly by the
use of their wealth, and partly by playing
upon the popular deluson that the retention
of Cuba is necessary for the maintenance of
the national honor. 1t matters not to them
how long the government may he compelled


to fight portion of the population, since the
expense Of the war comes out of the whole


country and the benefit goes into their pockets.


Only the Cubans suffer; the taxpayers pay
and the sugar planters win all the time. 1t is


for this reason that the inhabitants Of Cuba


are not permitted to share in any Of the bene-


fits Of the Spanish revolution. No matter


whether there is republic in Spain or a mon


archy-whethar Carlos or Castelar, be in the


place of supreme power-Cuba will remain


where she is slavery will be continued and


barbarous repression will be the only indico-