The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-10-22


The occupation OF such an island must give strength
and wealth TO any nation. Cuba is the strength
and wealth of Spain. She is the last fragment of
OF all those splendid provinces which attested the
genius OF Columbus, and the fortunes of the Escu-
nal, Cuba alone is left, the earliest and the latest
memorial Of brittle glory. When Cuba is wrench
I'd tiom Spain, then will Spain be poor indeed
And, II our transatlantic reports prove true this
contamination Is not distant.
Thee are bit tWo l0iros IA The icorld rho could
occupy The island w PROFIT; bm there IS none ,ct,ci
couid oecply II riihout dishonesty. The t,oo to
nhCm he OC ppatto,l Of Cuba C0uld be prnfiabe are
Great Britain and He Unated States of Atnerica
The former has a sort OF equitable lien upon il for
the money which she has lent 10 Spain. The latter
has not even this hight to it. Both are equally able
TO make themselves masters of il by force. In the
hanos Of either, perhaps It's eventual fortunes might
be the same The possession Of 1t by Great Bril-
tain would crush slavery and the slave trade imme-
dlaely IL the western seas In the hands of the
American Republic il would aggravate the causes
Of dissenslon between the abolionists and their
opponents, and by the menace of a rupture insure
a compromise IN favor Of the slaves But TO nei-
ther Can II be annexed without treachery or inus-
tce, or the combination Of both.
II IS true that the President has officially and au-
thontauvely discouraged the project OF Cuban
nexatlon. Ii Is true that he has swarned the free
corps OF armed adventurers, with which the east
ern ports were life, that the occupation invasion
OF territory belonging to a friendly power is vio-
iauon, not only OF International, but Of American
law. IL Is also true, We believe, that these dis
suasives and prohibitions are not merely formal
and illusory. We are inclined TO believe that
General Tay lor has scanned with correct eye the
prospective dangers Of enlarglng the territory of
the States hey ond the legitimate boundary OF the
ocean, and that his apprehensions are shared by
the most sagaclous OF the American statesmen. But
THIS, unfortunately, gives no assurance 10 the
world that the central government at Washington
VIII continue TO MAINTAIN pacific tone, and repu-
date the prize Of conquest. The government of
the United States Is a weak government. Ii Is
fs.f foil.
obey where II ought TO command. Wherever the
ministry are not the willing and avowed servants
OF popular passions and popular ignorance, they III
nmately become their reluctant instruments. The
policy OF the cabinet is oitener decided by the
rapid movements OF Tesolute faction, and the
clever schemes OF unprincipled Adventures, than
by The counsels OF statesmen, and the advice of
legislators There is always, in the States, a
large body Of loose, reckless, and daring men, to
whom all peaceful occupation is dull. the amuse-
ment OF home politics vapd, and the wide
plains OF the Missouri and Michigan narrow
and confined. They cast their eyes about the
surrounding regions for novelty and excitement.
Texar, Mexico, California, Mosquito, or Cuba-lt
is all the same to them. Neither lard nor ocean
bounds their desires and their curiosity. They are
troubled with no unnecessary scruples they have
phllosophic indifference to treaties they have a
comprehensive ardor of acquisltiveness. If an op.
poruniy offer Itseffor extending their travels, and
improving their fortunes, in another land, they will
lingy seize il. They care little for proclamatons
from Washington, and notifications from the White
House. They have a shorter and reader way of
solving state problems Than IS known TO diploma
lists ana Jurists. They put themselves into COM
muElcatlon with the democratic, or constitutional,
or some other party OF neigbboTng and friendly
state they send over detachments of sympa-
timers; they organize conspiracy among such
troops as the degenerate colonies OF Span or the
unsettled republics Of the New World, boast OF (;
then, when all is ripe, fresh detachment of inva-
ders, open and avowed, bursts across the border,
untes itself To the former bands of sympathzers,
IN ma gtarz he nafIN pzpll IaTu
and, taking one of the native commanders for It's
head, proclalms a new constitution, or, at once,
annexation. The cabinet at Washington has no
option but TO acqulesce In this abrupt policy, or
else TO endure a" Young America" on its frontiers,
with all the insolence and all the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF
youth. Having objected, discouraged, and for
bidder, as long as 1t could IT IS Obliged, at the last
hour, TO sanction by ats authority, aud soemnie by
ITS ceremonies, the victory which 1t denounced
and tie acquisitions which II deprecated.
Such bids fair To be the course Of action IN Cuba.
For some time past there has been IN Cuba parry
friendly to America, as there used to be in the
lonlan colnes parties friendly TO Sparta and la the
Dorian colonies parties friendly to Athens. II
would be visionary TO suggest the motives which
inspire the American faction IN Cuba. Whether
the Cuban planters think that they would get more
slaves, ann thus cultivate their soil more cheaply
or that the African slave trade would be SUPPRESS
ed, and that thus they would sell their slaves
dearly under the government OF the States, II is
IDLE to ask Suffice II 10 say that there does exist
in the Spanish colony party friendly to American
rule; end that American patriotism IL not likely 10
reject the advantage OF such IN alliance. How
lar the desire Of such ACKNOWLEDGEMENT has spread
through The republic we know not; but the history
Of recent nvasons tells us, that when the idea Of
conquest has once been bruited about by rumor-
when II has been seconded by the public press OF
AmeTica-eBd when the politics Of the obnoxious
State are favorable 10 inteIferencethatt the period
Of aggression " not remote. Any pretext for
rupture will suffice and the abduction Of Juan
Rty, together with the subsequent trial OF the
Spanish Consul AT New Orleans, supplies ample
materials tor discord, which American cupidy will
clutch, and American diplomacy may recognize.
How Tar the interests OF civilization would be
promoted by the substitution of Am srcan for Spa
nlsh rule, ~ hard 10 determine. IL would replace
the despotism Of a monarchy by more than the
usual laxity Of n republic and It would introduce
new energy INTO the political and industrial con-
diuons Of Cuba. II would weaken, If not destroy
the Influence Of its present stIigIon and perhaps
ergrait 10 other upon IL. II would, however,
sooner or later, strike fatal blow az slavery, be-
cause II would at once destroy the slave trade with
Affioa. This Is good which would couniervail
many evils.
But no excuse can Justify the contemplated an.
nexanon. Whatsoovor might be lts fTuits, II would
still be foul sat nlonsirous wrong. II would be
a violation Of the law end equity Of nations. IL
would be bold and Insolent triumph OF might over
tight. II would involve the whole American pco-
ple IN the same general condemnation which the
splnt Of reputation drew upon individual States
IL would, however, be a seasonable comment upon
the very confident orsons and essays OF the peace
props gandlsts who have been kindly informing US,
for the last twelve months, that ware and aggres-
sions are the amusement only OF kings and enl-
A tha