A correspondent of the Charleston
Courier writes that paper a letter from
Havana, containing something interesting to and about "Los Confederades." He says:
‘
The war has effected some strange changes in the old Cuban metropolis.
Two years ago English was but rarely spoken, except among the educated class.
The influx of "Confederados" has brought a smattering of our language into general use, and there is scarcely a shop in
Havana where English is not spoken to some extent.
The sympathies of the mercantile class in
Havana are warmly with the
South. "Los Jankees" are held in great execration, while the "Confederados" are received with open arms.
With the Cubans generally a somewhat different sentiment prevails.
Two parties exist on the
Island — the Spaniards and the native Creoles.
The former are in power, and are likely to always remain so. They embrace among them nearly all the men of intellect in
Cuba, and attached to their interest are the wealthier and better educated Creoles.
From the
Captain General down to the soldiers in the ranks they are enthusiastically for the
South.
The utmost interest is felt in the progress of the war; maps of
Virginia, the
Mississippi, and
Charleston harbor, are eagerly studied, the photographic and lithographic representations of
Jefferson Davis,
Lee,
Jackson, and
Beauregard, (who are the great heroes of the war in the estimation of the world abroad,) are familiar to every room, every shop window, and every lady's album, and the qualities, political and military, of our readers, as well as the strategy of the war, are almost as familiar to the public mind in
Spain as they are to our own. In no country, I am informed by recent travellers in
Europe, does a sympathy for the
Confederate States so universally pervade.
all classes of the community as in
Spain.
In
England and
France there are parties opposed to us; in
Spain none.
With the native
Cubans the case is different.
Thousands of them have been educated in the
Northern States, and have imbibed in the
Yankee schools not only admiration for the
North, but, strange to say, a tendency to Abolitionism.
There are among the educated Creoles open advocates of emancipation.
The superior Governor of
Cuba,
General Dulce, is, of course, restrained by his official position from active manifestations of sympathy for the
Confederates, but the feelings of his heart are well known.
He has done his utmost to protect the
Southern interest in
Cuba from the illegal outrages which have been attempted by the yankees.
In
Havana are at present many refugees from New Orleans, the victims of the cruel orders issued by
Banks, expelling them from their homes with scarcely the clothes on their backs.
Among the
Southern gentlemen I had, the pleasure of meeting in
Havana were
Charles J. Helm, the official representative of the
Confederate States, and the venerable
Pierre Soule.
Mr. Helm was the
Consul General for the
United States previous to the war, and now acts, though unrecognized, for the
Confederacy.
Mr. Soule has been residing in
Havana since his release on parole from Fort Lafayette.
His treatment in the Bastille was shameful, particularly in consideration of his gray hairs, impaired health, and long service for his country.
He is now much better, and is looking forward to his exchange under the recent cartel.
I need hardly tell those who have known this "old man eloquent," that the wrongs of his beloved South still bring the old impulsive quiver to the mouth and the fiery flash to the eye.
’
