The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-11
THE NATIONAL ERA.
WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER II, 1851
TBR RELATIONS OF SPAIN WITH FRANCE
AND ENGLAND.

TO England and France, as it regards Cuba. The
IqislhgsacsT says that the Spanish Government
has an express guaranty of aid from France aud
England for the protection Of Cuba, if necessa-
ry" Protection against what-foreign invasion,
or domestic violence or both7 The declaration
Of one Of the Spanish Ministers, quoted by the
Ia,lhgnesr leaves us in doubt:
AN can say to Senior Badia is, that, at the
present time, the naval force Of England and
France and the state of our relations with those
countries offer US the certain means Of preserving
the integrity of our valuable island-beng able
70 assure the Congress that, while the Spanish
Government possesses in the island Of Cuba
brave General and great elements OF internal
strength none can attack our territory with i'm
punityo
The declaration from its terms, and from the
fact that it was made in reply to the suggestion
by Senior Badia, Of the danger Of annexation by
the United States, refers evidently to security
against invasion, not insurrection. We have no
reason 10 believe that the Governments alluded
to have guaranteed Cuba to Spain against the
dangers Of domestic revolution. The declaration
of the Spanish Minister is not even a positive as
sertion that there is a guaranty ogoiaSt mr0s'o".
Il may simply mean that such are the pecuniary
relations of Spain to England and France, that
on an intimation from the Government Of the
former, they would promptly aid it by their ma
val forces in protecting its rights against in
vader This construction is rendered probability
the language Of the Loaioa Times, which says
nothing about positive guaranty, but merely Of
10 obligation, growing out Of pecuniary reasons,
-,e.Nvevent the transfer Of the island to another
Power
=. No asx4yeeg ltosn thsl should ibe GOTerr2eR,
Of the United States attempt to invade and take
possession Of Cuba, Spain would have right to
resist, aud call for aid from whatever European
Powers might be disposed to render it and there
can be no doubt that on such a call, England
aud France would have right to assist her. 1t
would be a question Of policy, for themselves to
decide; and it is question for our Government
to consider, whether it be expedient, by any hos
tile attempt on Cuba, to provoke such q combi-
nation against us. If there be no invasion, we
presume there will he no French or English in
reference But, if we as a nation interfere, can
we deny TO other nations the right of interfer-
ence or complain if their action be antagOnistical
to ours?
But, should the Governments Of England and
France interfere, to aid Spain, not in resisting
invasion, but in putting down a revolution, the
question presented would be a very different one
They could not plead that they were aiding n
weak ally TO repel the aggressions of formidable
neighbor but they would stand in the attitude
of aiding and abetting tyrannical Government
in the work Of resubjugating portion of its cti-
zens to the yoke of a revolving despOtsm. One,
Republic, the other, limited Monarchy, both
recognising the right of People to be represent
ed and to exert a controlling influence in the
Government under which they live, they both
would incur the guilt Of violating their own
principles by assisting in the rGestablishment
Of Government purely despotic and reckessly
oppressive Such conduct could be justified on
no sound principle, could be palliAted by no plea
Of political necessity
And yet this is what the London T,ues pro-
poses, not only as the true policy of England and
T~"Vre t5Psess'aq an ssr;""tTar 1t the Cabinet of
Washington may not be wholly disinclined to
concur with other Governments in endeavoring
to preserve the permanent union of Cuba with
the Crown of Spain"
France may disgrace itself by lending its bayo.
nets to the reestablishment and protection of the
civil and ecclesiastical Accumulation Of Rome
England may dishonorsbly connive at the usurpa.
tons of Neapolitan Tyranny both may manifest
more sympathy for the despots of Russia and
Austria, than for the poor victims Of their infer.
nal ambition but they must not expect the GOV.
eminent Of the United States to concur with them
in this policy, or to assent to any attempt to prac-
tice it in this hemisphere. Our Government does
not intend to invade Cuba; it understands too
well what is due to a friendly Power, what its
own honor and its true interest demand Nor
will it permit its treaty obligations to be violated
by armed expeditions from its shores against
Cuba. But, 10 a contest between the Cuba Peo-
pie and the Despotism that grin1s them to the
earth it will sympathize with the former, because
they will be struggling for principles "in which
it lives and moves aud has its being" twill SYM
pathize with them, as it has done heretofore with
the patriots of South America, and Poland, and
Greece, and France and Rome, and Hungary
and it will insist upon fair play il will claim for
People struggling into political existence that
no foreign Power lift its hand against them; let
the People aud their rulers settle the controver-
sy, without extraneous Interference if Spain be
unable 10 maintain her dominion over Cuba,
without English and French bayonets, she has no
right to dominion there if the Cubans are able
to achieve their independence against all the pow
er of Spain, that is Gods charter for their indie
pendent existence, and no other nation has a
right to say, nay The United States would de-
serve 20 lose their own nationality, could they
degrade themselves by concurriug with or con-
nivng at, any attempt on the part of England
and France to suppress the cause Of revolution In
Cuba and compel it to remain in perpetual vas
sasge to the despOusm Of Spain.
We are opposed to all projects for annexins
Cuba, wah is SLAVERY, to this country but we
desire TO see the Cubans independent II would
be smother triumph over despotism - another
member added to the great Republican family.
The Creoles, constituting onc-haf the population,
would gain priceless benefits, while the colored
race, too, would at least be no worse off What
hope has it from the perpetuation of Spanish
rule Is 1t not more cruelty treated than under
any other Government? How often has it been
provoked to instructions, which have as often
been ruthlessly queed by wholesale hatchery
And is it not notorious that the Captain. eneras
OF Cuba, with single exception, have been al
ways patrons Of the African slave trade, coming
gold out Of the internal traffic. in utter disregard
Of solemn treaties with England
Even, then, should the CreOles triumph, we re-
peat, the colored race would at least be no worse
a and thera Uoull he n ch,o,. g. a. -. 1t,