The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-02
iron THE nupvDLrc.l
The Cuban Excitamant.

years the language OF an portion oil the
public press in this country has been Scuba must
be Cuba must belong TO the United States.
Spain cannot keep it. England shall not have it.''
The language was not, Cuba shall be independent;
but, SCUBA shall be ours What has been the
resu Spain. jealous of our disposition to rifle her
OF the Queen Of the Antilles, has watched us with
an eagle eye, and imposed on the Cnbans them
selves a series OF measures which no doubt OPP
pressve, but the necessary result of the posture of
affairs She has acted towards Cuba as Mexico did
towards Texas. do not pretend to justify this
tyranny in any sense, but il policy which
they thought necessary, but which has proved
impolitic.
These measures have accelerated the present
crisis.
Every appliance which could be brought to bear
by certain citizens Of the United States has been
used. As far as they able to effect it, they
have encouraged revolt on the part of the Cubans
themselves, but without success. Not content to
wait the TOO slow workings of public opinion, the
attempt made few months ago by mis-
guided few to hasten the revolution. This signaly
failed and covered the hero of the expedition and
his followers with ridicule and disgrace. Now,
ask, what is the real spirit and motive at work in
all this' Is it the earnest and honest desire to ben
eft the Cubans? Is it to spread the area of liberty?
Is it the offspring Of real desire spread the bless
ings OF true liberty, or is it not rather lust of ter
ritory, OF power, of wealth? / said the language
WAS, SCUBA must be ours"
The feeling is still the same. Liberal pay and
wealth the rewards offered. If the spirit of
liberty was the motive, would there be such to-
tai disregard to the mandates and earnest solcita
tons of our own Government; of treaty stipula-
tions; Of the dignity and honor of the nation? Is
the acquisition of Cuba of so much importance
that, in getting it. must treat our own Govern
ment with perfect disregard and contempt IL it
not obvious that this disregard of authority at
home will do US more harm than the liberation Of
Cuba could do them good?
Can men who thus disregard their own Govern
ment, and who would cast odium on those who
are only disposed to do their duty be worthy of
credit? Can those foreigners, who, coming to our
country as an asylum, make it the place to breed
conspiracies, in contempt Of the Government, be
worthy of credit?
To effect their ends they have stopped at no
means whatever. The press and telegraphs have
been used but many means to excite the
public mind to acts Of violence and disobedience
of authority. When all this patriotism then is
closely examined, what is it? Simply the conquest
Of Cuba by citizens of the United States" or the
desire to do with the consent of the Cubans if it
can be obtained; without it, if necessary.
| When Lopez made his first attempt, he told his
followers the Cubans were ripe for revolt, and
would receive them with open arms. The country
| knows the result.
| And how stand the Cuban patriots now? With
| a large white population, how many Cubans have
locked to his standard? All the accounts from the
scene of action represent this patriotic people
not only Indifferent but, mass, opposed to their
dear friend Lopez and his followers, and actually
in arms against him.
Does not this prove that freedom does not consist
only in the removal of an oppressive government,
but in the understanding of the people, their know
ledge of its real nature, and disposition to acquire
and preserve il? Do the Cubans show any of these
qualified Yet these the people, this the popu
lation, we would make free-they who do not ask
for freedom. If you could give it to them they
could not understand its nature. Shall we con-
tinue to initiate the policy of Cortez and his follow
ers, and thrust liberty they would religion down
the threats of semi barbarous people against the
"stomach of their sense
am not surprised that the alleged barbarites re-
Gently committed the persons of those who were
or had been American citizens, should excite the
public mind. But had they not been fully warned,
| both by our own Government and the Spanish au-
hortiese Barbarity is to be justified That bar
bariy has been practised by the order and consent
of the Spanish authorities / do not believe; GER
ainly in the affair of the Creole, great eniency
manifested. That these authorities should infiict
prompt and summary punishment, under the cir
| cumstances, was to have been expected. What
was General Jackson's course towards Arbuthnot
| and Ambrister? Shall we expect more Christian
conduct from government cxasperated by real or
| supposed injuries?
| But can Cuba, acquired in this way, If we shall
be 80 fortunate as not to get into with Spain,
and perhaps other powers, be of any true value?
| We are just through with the difficulties which
followed the acquisition of Texas; not through in
deed. Our institutions bear the marks of convul-
sion. Shall we rush again heedessly into a series
of new and more formidable difficulties? If these
acquisitions of territory go on if the reins are to be
thrown on the neck of this lust for more room and
more power If these departures from the objects OF
| our Government and true genius OF our insttu-
tons continue, the result is easily told We
must be either weakened by decisions, or become
more powerful people under q neio form of gov
eminent That the true principles of republican
government will be sufficiently urdersto and prac-
ticed on by people inhabiting such extent OF
territory do not for moment believe. / wish
it could be should be glad to see the whole
continent-nay, the world-one vast republic. But
where, ask, is the republic of Mexico? Where
are the republics of South America? know the
capabilities and disposition of the Anglo Saxon.
But see the attempts of some of the now to
dissolve the Union it now exists Will the ac-
QUESTION of still territory lessen the danger;
| We will too soon
| have the fullest confidence in the ultimate cor
rectness of the American mind. Our people know
how to distinguish between the furious acts of a
mob and the uprising of the people in the cause Of
IA IL
from Cuba should excite The feelings which prompt
it are commcndable. The people ofthe United staes
as a mass, are ardent worshippers at the shrine
of liberty. But let not permit every artfu
rumor and cunningly- devised report to excite us
There are men and presses in the country living
only by excitement. Nothingis grateful to their
morbid appetites as agitation Like birds which fly
before the storm, they make night hideous with
their onearthy screams. Their doctrines about
our own Government, and our whole social system
are full of revolution and anarchy. They would
fail into Ort,ln hf