The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-11-13
Spanish view of the Cuban Question.

The following article, from the Heraldo Of the
l4th of September, has excited considerable at
tention in Madrid, and may be said to express the
prevailing opinion in Spain with regard to Cuba
and The United States. 1t is thoroughly Spanish,
and probably many Of our readers will not agree
with all the conclusions the writer Of it comes to:
1.-The conduct Of the United States Goverp-
merit relative to the recent invasion Of the lsIand
Of Cuba, the demonstrations ut New Orleans in
favor Of the pirates who fell into the power Of our
troops, the insult to our flag, in the person Of our
consul, show US one thing which ough. no longer
to be concealed, namely, that a war with the
United States Is inevitable. We will not fix upon
the period it may commence h, because that dc.
pends upon thousand contns nor will we
affirm it threatens Us closely, for il is to be pre-
surned that the satisfaction Of the government at
Washington will postpone it. But what we can
prognOscate with certainty 10, that the United
States Government, weak at home through its or
ganization, will be compelled to cede voluntarily
or by force, to the almost revolutionary claor Of
the more reckless portion Of the Southern States,
und, IN assuming an attitude contrary TO what the
rights Of every country demand, will force ms 70
resort to hostile demonstrations, instead Of useless
reciamatons. But the prospect of a war does
not intimidate us; nor why should it, when we
can gain much by losing no'hing' Nor do we fear
that the provocation will come from Us; because
we have to do with country which will risk
every,hing-its prosperity, its future being.
perhaps its very existence at the first shot fred.
All We desire in raising the alarm is, tha, the
! Spanish Government may prepare for the contest.
IL ought TO augment our feet, especially the steam
ing part of ii, expedite the construction of vessels
carrying heavy metal, and reinforce the garrison
Of Cuba, If necessary.
''These IRE what our preparations should be.
1t might be that even then we should not possess
a navy equal in strength to that Of the United
States; but we are not gcing 10 fight general
tons; no, the war will be waged by privateers,
and the services Of our nen-of-war will be con-
fined 10 protecting them, watching ous coasts, and
co-opera,ng in military expeditions occasionally.
In this description Of warfare we should bzvs m
immense advantage over the United States; for
by offering letters Of marque to all corners, which
are letters Of credit upon fortune payable at sight,
we should find privaisers not only among tho
Catalonians and Ma Iorcens, who are the best 10
the world. but also in England and the Philippine
Islands, our last expedition against Zolo, having
deprived its inhabionts Of the profession Of pira
cy they previously exercised. We should even
End them in the States of tho Union. through the
rivalries Of commerce, aud because avarics Is =
bad adviser, and often makes people forget their
duty when its opposed 10 their Interests.
! 'Whai would the Government Of the United
I, States do then: What would become Of the COM
merce Of that country' Its vessels would be in
!, danger everywhere. even upon the coast OF ths
Union; trude would be parayzed, and the inter
. ests of commerce would rise against un ust and
sterile war. And what could be opposed to thin
il plan Of operations Nothing; absoIutely nothing
:, They might ,:y the system Of conveys; but would
there be sufficient men-of- war, considering al
$ things' Certainly not. But this is not the only
j. harm we could the United States. II our priva.
d teers from them the trade Of the Indies. we
likewise, who hold the key of the Mediterranean
A could prevent the passage Of their vessels by on,
siaiionlng in the waters Of Cadiz and Ceuta fev
n steamers. In fine, the United States would suffe
- blockade, and only escape ruin by submission.