End Of The Cuban War

All the rircumstances seom to indícate that tho Cuban war, -vhich bas now lasted about ten years, has been brotight to a close by a trinmph of Spanisli authority. But it is evidently a triumph gained rather by concession than by the assertion of superior force. There is Httlo doubt thnt tho Cuban patriots could have mnintained a formidable insurrection for niany years Jonger hnd Spain fonght them under the barbarous and inhuman taeties pursued dnring several years by Yalmasedn, encouraged and sustained by tho home Government. Then tlio polioy was massacre, not war, and Spain fouud its flgbting material under the u ame of "vohisteers" i tho penitentiaries, and galleys, and chain-gangs; tho beautiful islaud of Cuba was laid desolate, and men and boys were slaughtered by the tens of thousands by these bloodthirsty wretches with commanders soaroely less brutal than themselves. Had this kind of warfare been maintained up to (ho present time, we believe that not only wouid thcinsurrection not have been crushed, but that some portion of the civiJized world would have interposed on the ground of hurnttnity and the confessod inability of Spain to govern Cuba us one of her provinces. Whether or not Cuba shall long remain in a state of quiet will depend entirely upon the good faith of the home Government in following out the spirit Lf oonciliation and fair treatment promised by tho terms of poace, Cubain the past lias always been at the Buerey of the Captain General, who ruled with as depotio a sway as if ho were an Emperor in the Middle Ages, and the Captains General have usually been chosen by the home Government from men who would apply tho screws and extort the utmost reven uo from the residents of tlie island by fair means or foul. This is the underlying reason of the constant succession of revolts, insurrections and rebellions which have torn and rent the lovely island ever eince the population was large enough to offer resistance to the policy of oppression. Nor is there any reason to expect a permanent cessation of outbreaks nowunless thcSpanish Government shall abandon the etïort to squeeze out of Cuba, by taxations and impositions, the entire yield of its rich resources.