Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-09-12
French and English ideas about Cuba and the United

G1RARDIN is Editor. The Presse is the first journal
in France 1t says:
Now, in the question with which we are occupied.
the facts reduced to these two ncontesbe points,
the American Union is destined to absorb all the
Northern Hemisphere the Island of Cuba tends
rapidly and forciby to free herself from the oppres
sive guardianship of Spain. We may discuss the
utility of this double tendency, but it is impossible
to contest the reality.
The history of the Union carries every page
the proof of the irresistible attraction which she
cses the territories and people surrounding her
These people and these territories whatever they
may be, she must absorb and gradually assimilae.-
This assimilation is complete in louisiana lately
French, and in Florida coded by Spain. The Union
marching with giant step to her glorious destiny
is arrested only in extending her frontier by the
waves of the Pacific Her free institutions
have penetrated Santa Fe, and installed themselves
at San Francisco. Canada is attracted, and Eng
land will have enough to do for the movement she has
succeeded in REFRESHING will break out again in spite
of her. How can the Island of Cuba--this great
fortress which commands the Gulf of Mexico-es-
cape this common law
1--WE know very well that in Spain public spirit
revolts at the idea of renouncing even by regular
negotiation, this magnificent colony so fecund in re-
sourses. But we believe, also, that the government
of Madrid will sacrifice in the end its Castillian
pride to reasons of State when the public interest
demands it. 1t knows we'll that to-day is not the
first time Cuba has thought of initiating Mexico,
and the other countries of America who have by
their arms freed themselves from Spanish DONNA
ton. The independence of this island is of those
events which fOreseeing government ought to be
prepared for because it is inevitable and it is much
better to cede to-day upon good conditions, and with
good grace, that which some day cannot be pre-
vented from being done by violence and without COM
pensation.
For long time, the inhabitants of Cuba have
not only thought of independence but annexation to
the United States and the government at Madrid
ought to know we'll the causes of this unconquerabe
IUhi has nrOdunn0 me- in
surrection.
The population of the island is composed of three
elements-the natives, the foreign and the Europe
an-Spansh. Between the Creoles and the Spaniards
there exists antipathy which is explained by the
conduct of the mother country. All places are oc-
cupied by functonaries sent from Madrid, and the
garrison is composed exclusively OF soldiers and ol-
from Europe. These functionares have, in gen
eral, despotic bearing and arrogance which
wounds deeply the inhabitants; and much more so
wten in comparing their political, commercial, and
intellectual state with that of the parent State, they
cannot find this rigorous guardianship sufficiently
justified.
The island of Cuba, in effect possesses in much
higher degree than Spain all the advantages of
commerce grand scale, and with all the coun-
tries of the world and she has never seen, like the
mother country, the sources of her immense riches
dried up. She possesses system of public instruc
ton more liberal, an administration more solid and
better organized and finances better managed, which
need not fear the light of public examination. She
and success, the progress of European
science and industry. In 1S47 she had already fin
ished nine railways, and two others are nov in con-
strucOn. She had devoted five millions to these
terprses before Spain had done anything. Her COM
merce amounts to more than sixty millions year,
and her revenue to more than twelve millions, of
which the greatest part is absorbed by the mother
country.
This state of things must or later cause
explosion. Already several attempts to break
the chain have taken place. and though they have
been severely repressed they do not the less menace
the future.
"The garrison of the Island, composed of 900
men, is spread over vast extent Of territory and
Havana alone is formidable position in war. The
other cities are not secure against coup de mdlh.
Of this we have had bad proof at Cardenas. Con-
sequently from her geographical position from the
distance from the mother country, from whence she
must draw her resources and which would be a
serious embarrassment when her resources failed
Cuba make herself free whenever she seriously
wishes it.
1.-The Creoes have been restrained till now by the
fear of seeing the blacks subject to the desperate
auspices of the Government. Without this appre-
henson, independence and annexation would have
been accomplished long since But the rapid increase
of the white population cuts off every day and
this obstacle to an explosion. The Spanish
government then, will be drawn, and without doubt
very soon, to negotiate the cessation of this colony
which the natural course of things tends to take
way from her. and which perhaps she may one day
lose have said without sufficient com pensation
In any case, quite the U. S. will not
lose ght of this territory Of which the acquisition
will be so important to them. Cuba produces sugar
coffee, tobacco indigo and cotton; and where no
thing will grow, there are copper mines at present
worked by some English companies, which yield
great revenue. AS military position, Cuba is in
valuable and the u. S. could establish at Havana
and other points, docks dockyards, marine arsenas
and so command all the commerce of the Gulf
On the other hand, the London Times, of 10th Au
gust contains long editorial the relations of thu
United States and Cuba, which we give. The threa
Ofinterference towards the close is the very thing
to provoke people to the capture of Cuba. L
will deter no one
"The accounts recently received through some O
the American papers with reference to an insurrec
ton in the island of Cuba which is said to have bro
ken out early in the month of July require au
thentic confirmation before they altogether ere
died for these statements of the New York journal
not entirely dsnterested and they are,
contradictory. The state of Cuba is so ntmatel
connected with the late pratcal attempts tG iTivad
and revolutionize the island fren port in the Uni
ted States, and indeed, with the grand question
slavery throug hout the Union that all representa-
lions this subject tinged with the party fee
ings of American contemporaries A revolutio
in Cuba if it should turn that these disturbance
not efectualy depressed by the military power
the government is not merely question betwee
that important colony and the Crown of Spain
will speedily be found to be mixed up with America
sympathzers, and identified with the predatory libe
rallSm of the southern States and it would nevita
bly, give rise to political considerations of the utmO