The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-18
From the Philadelphia Ledger,
The News from spain.

The News from spain.
BY the last arrivals we learn that the people and
government of Spain were much exasperated
against the United States through the attempts
against Cuba, SO long and openly and approvingy
mentioned by American politicians and newspa-
pers, and twice attempted by American armed
bands. The newspapers of Spain very openly and
zealously recommended declaration ofwar against
the United States, saying that, while Spain was in
vulnerable American commerce would be rich
and easy prey, which would not only indemnify
Spain in some degree for the loss OF Cuba, but
would furnish means for paying no small portion
of it's onerous debt. And they added that such war
would not be dreaded, but rather courtcd, by the
Spanish government as the means OF uniting the
various and conflicting political parties OF Spain
This intelligence does not surprise US, because
the Spanish views Of the which il presents are
no novelties in our eyes. More than once hereto
fore have we said that, unless these piratical at
tempts against friendly nation were restrained
and punished war with that nation would ensue,
in which, while II was lnvulneraole 10 us, except
ing in Cuba commerce would be the prey OF
all who chose to assail it under the Spanish flag.
We now repeat the warning. We say that Spain
has many for desiring, and none for dread
ing, a war with the Unied States. Looking for
ward TO the eventual loss of Cuba, either by con-
quest or by The anarchy and war OF races that
would ensue from the emancipation OF the negroes,
Spain has the alternative OF mourning the losb
without any indemnity, of seeking Indemnity
in the plunder of our commerce. 1t will not sud.
denly emancipate the negroes without pressing ne
cessity. But if American conquest must come,
Spain at least render the conquest worthless to
the conquerors by such emancipation And what
injury, beyond such conquest, which Spain breads,
whether in peace or war, could we intilct on our
Mversaryl Spain has no commerce Tor our navy
and priyaeers, and our invasion OF Spanish soil
would be preposterous in the last degree. If the
conquest Of Spain were worth making, zoe could not
conquer il.
A country which deiied the whole power of Ma
poleon, and in which Charge armies will starve,
and small armies will be beaten,' is entirely be-
yond the reach of any force that zoe could or tpod
send across the Atlantic. Our attempt would ex-
coed the utmost absurdties Of SPANS own Don
Quixotte, and would be met by windmills more
formidable than any which knocked him over.
Therefore with all our boastiDg, which exceeds
that Of any people, the English always excepted,
we should be, in war with Spain, another Gulll
yer with his limbs tied, the prey of Lllputians.
Why then should Spain dread contest IN which
all the advantages would be on her side, and when
would unite her parties, indemnify her Tor the oes
of her colony, which VIC are threatening TO take
without a war, and replenish her empty treasury?
The Spanish nation must have some self-denal 10
resist such temptation. How are our merchants
and ship-owners pleased with the prospect what
say our planters and farmers who raise produce
for foreign markets? Will they incur all this for
few floating adventures, few spectators III
Cuba stockS2
But how can the Spanlsn natloH DC aPPeaS0u,
and the grievous calamity of Spanish war be
averted? Not by mere disavopais of the Federal
Government 1t must do something more than
expressing its dsapprobation And; If 1T Gays that
it is powerless without the cooperation OF the peo-
pile, what will the people, who are to suffer by a
Spanish war; do TO avert it, Will the Executive
order district attorneys to prosecute! This Will
avail nothing, unless grand juries indict, and petit
juries convict. The grand Jury OF New YORK
would not indict those concerned in the expedl.
ton against Cardenas, though it might have found
abundant evidence. Petit juries in New Orleans
would not convict those tried for the same attempt,
though the evidence much stronger than that
upon which hundreds have been hanged. And
what proceedings have been instituted against
those concerned in the recent attempt Have Fed
eral district attorneys made complaints against
any of the officers and soldiers returned for vio-
lating our own laws2 Have any grand juries in
quired into that Cuban stock? Have any persons
been indicted in New Orleans for outrages against
the Spanish consul and Spanish residents? Have
any steps been taken to indemnify the sufferers
for the destruction of their property? The Span
ish government will remember all these things,
and tell that, to avoid war, we must punish
the crimes of the past well as give security for
the future.