The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-31 00:00:00

This is setting a bright example to England.
When we wanted to suppress slavery in our do-
minions we paid down at once Twenty Millions
Sterling, equivalent to one hundred millions of
dollars, and have cheerfully submitted to. a very
considerable annual outlay in preventing the trade.
But Uncle SAM would go more cheaply to work—
give him Cuba, and hey, presto, the work is accom-
plished in a moment. There is not a particle of
selfish feeling or cupidity in the entire matter. It
is all for the good of benighted Africa and the dark-
skinned race who have so suddenly become the
chief objects of Presidential sympathy.
But, before we accede to these very liberal pro-
posals, we should like to see some practical proof of
the sincerity of the professions so profusely and
eloquently put forward. Before Mr. BUCHANAN
starts as the regenerator of Cuba—the straight-
forward and candid abolitionist of slavery in the
West Indies-L-might he not do something at home ?
might he not persuade the southern planters, by
whom he was elected to the important position
which he now occupies, to consent to some

slight modification of the system, to relinquish some
few grains or pennyweights out of the pound of

human flesh to which they are legally entitled?
Should he do so, it would greatly strengthen our

opinion as to his sincerity, and as to the propriety

of reposing full confidence in his " disinterested "

exertions. But we cannot forget that Mr. BIICIIA

NAN was the chosen candidate of the Southern

planters, and that he has been the strenuous

advocate of " the domestic institution ;" and
we cannot, therefore, place implicit reliance

on his " new-fledged zeal,"—the main object
whereof is obtaining possession of Cuba, and add•

ing another Slave State to the Union, whereby

the balance would be turned in favour of the

South and against the North. The Trojan pries

"feared the Greeks, although tendering apparently

valuable sifts." And we, in like murner, must

doubt Mr. President BUCHANAN, when

offering to suppress the slave trade with Cuba,

provided the island be annexed to the States !

If Cuba were given up, if it became part and
parcel of the United States, should we not speedily

hear of a slight addition to the MONROE doctrine ?
Would it not be said that no European State had

any right to a position in the West Indies ?

Would not Jamaica be also regarded as a

desirable acquisition, and the Leeward Islands

be looked on with longing eyes. New complications

would arise from the first concession, which would

virtually be the admission of " the sharp end of the
wedge." It is, therefore, as well that Mr.

BUCILINAN should know in the first place that any

attempt to obtain :Cuba by improper means will be
steadfastly resisted byEngland, and that, in common,
we believe, with other European nations, we shall

endeavour to enforce the laws of national morality
and national honesty.

The vell-known S. G. 0. has entered his protest
against Household Suffrage and the Ballot in rural
districts. At present there would seem to be little
need for alarm on this score. The Radicals appear
to think only of £lO occupation suffrage fOr the
counties; and unless Mr. DISRAELI can succeed in
inducing Lord DF,RBY to enfranchise the agricul-
tural pc try, which some think the Hen. Mem-

which they are the immortal ebullitions. English-
men though we are we can read with emotion the
record of the famous deeds of BOLIVAR. Strange it
would be if we could read without em -tion any
narrative of the South American episode in the life
of DUN DONALD, more particularly wh n that nar-
rative comes to us in the form of a fragment of his
autobiography written down by the glorious sailor,
when he has past the age of an octogenarian.

"Get money—honestly if you can, but get money!"
Such was the advice of the dying miser to his son,
and such seems to be the resolution of the living
Americans with respect to Cuba. They are resolved.
that it shall add another gem (and we dread to say
how many stripes) to the star spangled banner ;
Cuba was made by nature to belong to the States,
and our transatlantic cousins are not by any means
disposed to slight the gifts of Providence, or to
relinquish any portion of " the goods the gods
provide." As to the trifling fact that it belongs
to another nation—that Spain has an irresistible
title—that is but of slight importance. It
is of comparatively little utility to Spain,
while it is all in all to America ; and if the old
country will not consent to be bullied or cajoled
out of " the Queen of the Antilles," she must be
prepared to fight for its possession. American
ti morality has never been very straight-laced where
a pet project of annexation was concerned, and
King AIIAB did not covet the vineyard of NABOTH,
the Jezreelite, with half the intensity that Presi-
dent BUCHANAN does " this neat little, tight little
island," wherein " the domestic institution"
flourishes with a degree of vigour unsurpassed in
even the most favoured of the Southern States.
fay, more, it is there the traffic in human
beings is still carried on, where the enterprising
potentates of the African coast can alone find a
market for their animated commodities.
" Cuba, in its existing condition, is a constant
source of injury and annoyance to the American
people." But where is that injury? What the
annoyance ? Is it not that which HAMAN of old—
who seems to have possessed all the qualifications
required for a modern President—felt when he saw
MORDECAI the Jew sitting on the steps of the
palace? "Envy, hatred, malice, and all unchari-
tableness," are excited by seeing that which would
make so nice an addition to their own terri-
tories in possession of another that cannot duly
appreciate the blessing. In like manner
does Bill Sykes," or a flash Toby
Cracket repine when they see that blessed old
hunks in possession of such lovely plate and other
valuables, which they feel would be far more useful
to themselves if enabled to convert them into ster-
ling coin.

But it is on moral grounds that Mr. BUCIIANAN
comes out most powerfully. He declares that
Cuba " is the only spot in the civilised world where
the African slave trade is tolerated; and we are
bound by treaty with Great Britain to maintain a
naval force on the coast of Africa, at much expense
both of life and treasure, solely for the purpose of
arresting slavers bound to that island. The late
serious difficulties between the United States and
Great Britain respecting the right of search,
now so happily terminated, could never have
arisen if Cuba had not afforded a market for slaves.
As long as this market shall remain open there can
be no hope for the civilisation of benighted Africa.
While the demand for slaves continues in Cuba war
will be waged among the petty and barbarous
chiefs in Africa for the purposes of seizing subjects
to supply this trade. In such a condition of affairs
it is impossible that the light of civilisation and
of religion can ever penetrate these dark abodes."
It is for the purpose of advancing the civilisation of
benighted Africa, of preventing the wars waged
amongst the petty and barbarous chiefs for supply-
ing the demand for slaves ; amusing" the light of
civilisation and religion to penetrate these dark
abodes," that Mr. BUCHANAN boldly asks for Cuba,
the end fully sanctifying the means by which it
may be obtained.