The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-05-31

bihty will ere long be wrested from the
hands Of the Spanish Government. under
the control Of which there nOw only re-
mains in the Western World, Porto Rico
and Cuba.
Spain was the first to give Columbus
the means to make the discovery Of the
Western Continent and at one time own.
cd nearly the entire coast together with
all the West India Islands. At thatti
Spain was probably the most powerful
natiun in Europe, but with the death Of
Ferdinand and Isabella. the patrons of
Columbus. her power began TO decline,
aud now after the lapse of three hun.
dred years she has lost nearly all hel col
onies ard can scarcely maintain het hottie
Government. How true it is that ma
tions as we'll as individuals must suffer
the punishment of their trahssressiohs.
Cuba has been permitted to remain in
possession of Spain only because The In
terests Of rival nations demanded it,
Weak as the Government Of that fallen
kingdom now is, the United States had
nothing to fear from that source, and our
Government has generally been content
with assuring Spain that we would guar
ahtee to her The possession of the Island
SO long as she made no attempt to traits.
FER it to more powerful nation.
Cuba Is The largest of the West India
Islands, containing about $4,000 square
miles, to which may be added a few ad-
lacent small lslauds cor tanning about
5000 square miles, all of which are un-
der tho same government. The length OF
the Island is about 6l | miles, the breadth
varies from 30 to 12O miles. Its torn is
not regular. and it possesses few most
excellent harbUrs. To the nearest point
of Florida it is probably distant about so
miles.
Its climate is healthy and exceedingly
uniform. In fertility aid productitehess
the soil is scarcely edualled. In adJi'
ton to all the tropical fruits which grow
In great abundance its chief productions
are sugar, tobacco aud coffee. the formet
two of a superior, the latter of an inferi'
or quality. Its exports are estimated foI
the past year at between $50, 900, ,00O
and $40 ,OOo,0 900. Its population, at the
present time, is said To be one aud hall
millions Of whom about one half are
are whites. The principal city is Ha
vana with population of $4,000, many
of whom possess great wealth aud live
in the highest state of ease and luxury
There are also several other places u
some importance upon the Island. and
some small towns which are in state o
decay.
We cannot style the Governmem d
the Island IN other terms than desp"t
ism, and that In its worst form, Weak
ness in nation generally creates jeal
onsy and the Government looks upon al
its subjects with suspicion. Spain at tht
present time is unfortunately in that con
dition, aud the jealous eye Of her Gov
stumeut for years has been tuned upo'
Cuba from her proximity To Republican
institutions. The rights of person an'
! property are but little respected, and iii
only the weakness and slothfnlness Of he
people that has permitted the Island thu
long to remain under the control of the
! parent Government.
Whether the present enterprise c
!. Gen. Lopez is successful or not, depend
much upon the state of feeling that exist
! among the planters and the army. Spal
/. has lar force upon the Island and W
see it stated that $4,000 troUps can b
mustered into service. Should these pos
sess any Of the elements of good soldiers
we do not suppose that sufficient nun
Der Of adventures can be mustered /
v make any headway against them. o
}. the otlier hand it is said that much dil
lr satisfaction exists among the soldiers, an
= should this prove ue,the conquest of tn
,r Island would prdte an easy operations
I A few weeks at furlhest will give us
b. better chaHce Of guessing at the result
= :, CALIFoRNIA-.B BiopemeHt.--The 70
h. lowing article is clipped from one Of Il
IL California papers. as a specimen OF II
y nance in the regions of gold. Thel
Z. have been elopements heard of befor
:. but it is probably the frs, where the ia
ic one run away I'm corduroy pants al
lg flannel shirt"
'i' I'VE have received communicate
:h from Sacramento City. by which We a
IN informed that the young lady who le
~ The city some what suddenly some tin
L. since. and concerning whom so maj
lis contradictory reports have been in circ
RS. a,iUrr. each apparently with good a
bs thotily, is In one Of the towns above Sa