The New York herald., 1851-10-03
The Insexssrcncs Of European Powere with
the CabA Question.
From the London Times, Sept. l9.l


II Is not from any disposition On our part to uu.
dervalus the relations Of this country with the
United States, or t. treat with levty any thing
which might interrupt those important ties, that We
have expressed deliberate opinion tina. the recent
turers the island of Cuba, and the msnifestston
Of strong popular intention to annex that island
to the United States, events which call for the
direct attention Of her Msjesty's government, since
the success Of that uup,ineiped scheme would G eiu "
our opinion, safely or consistently submit. IL s'
the contrary, with regret fally eqdai to our ap
prehensions, that we aotice the existence IN inc
American democracy OF spirit ~nc9 nag nienW nrs
tences, and which overlooks or thrusts ande tns
most unquestionable rules OF territorial right anu
political comfy towards foreign states. Inc
States of Europe have certainly done nothing
to provoke or excite such acts Of hostility OF
bad faith; they have, on the contrary, one
and all, evinced, ever since the American
Union assumed its independent position am ing the
nations OF the earh strong desire to cultivate the
most amioable relations with nation already
prosperous, powerful, and Free but happily divided
by the ocean from the old political interests OF
Europe In exchange for this amity and good
will all that has been required of American states
men is the recognition Of those public laws and uui-
yersa obligations by which the intercourse Of civz
ed countries is eguated Nothing could be more em-
phstc than the de ,larations OF the lustrous foun
ders of the Ameri ,aR Union, that their sole ambi-
tion was to be left in full and free enjoyment Of
their now ample territories and no precept Of
Washington was more impressiyely given than the
necessity Of abstaining from armed Intervention in
the affairs Of foreign nations. Wars Of aggression,
kindled by popular excitement, il had not entered
into the mind Of the first President to anticipate
bat he gave in 1894 memorable exam pie of sh 1t
could be done, even in such a commonwealth, TO ?
strain popular excitement for war.
On the ground Of principle we are entirely agreed
with sll that is venerable respectable in the past
policy or present administration OF the United
are writers in this country who seem to think that
would be wiser to sacrifice all such considerations
Of principle and policy, rather than incur the re-
motest rick of difference with the United States.
The form Of government in that country renders
the feudal authority extremely eebls in its at.
tempts to resist o barefaced outrage on the obliga
lions of the Union to friendly power, and on the
peace Of the world; therefore, we are told, BY
strange anomaly, that countries having suh ,ent
interest in defending these principles, and having
the power to defend them, are to stand aloof when
they are violated aud to submit to any enormty OF
aggression. The consequences OF such az sressons
are to be thrown, not upon the true authors ,f
them, but on those who resist them and charge
Of Indifference to peace and friendship with the
United States is set up, not against the adventurers
who follow their bent as if such things were OF no
account, but against those who think the condem.
nation Of the whole world is not too strong punish
ment for such crimes
1t is evident. that in the preparation o. such ca
tcrprises this attack on Cuba the risk to be run
is weighed against the chance OF success, and the
main incentive to many of those who embark in it
is the prospect of impunity. Hence the execution
of the prisoners at Havana was q fearful blow to
the promoters Of the expedition 10 the United
States; but a much more important means of re-
gtraint would consbt in the knowledge that the
house marked out to be the scene Of Iapine and
plunder was edectually guarded. War is the "a It
terrible chassement of nations, and to have caused
war is the heaviest responsibility of state men; bat
the dread Of war, especially when its chances are
adverse or equally balanced is still the most salu-
tary and potential check the acts Of violence and
injustice which would other wise be committed in the
world. The fear Of war with Spain is probably
too slight to check the efervescence occasoned by
son il is by no means improbable that the American
government might be DR. aged into collision with
that power, for the express purpose OF despoling
the court Of Madrid Of its remaining colonies If no
ulteiior consequences were likely t, arise out Of
those hostities. But that is not the form in which
we can wish, or even the American cabinet can
wish, to have this momentous question placed be-
fore the American people. And we speak here Of
the ultimate and permanent shape this question
must assume, whatever be the fate Of General
Lopez's expedition. Attacks will continue t. be
directed gainst Cuba as long the ch Of sue
cess Is though: to turn on The accident, Of such
warfare. The essential condition by which alone
we can hope TO see these criminal enterprises re-
strained and their consequences avoided, is that Of
placing the island Of Cuba under the protection Of
principle common to the maritime States
II such principle can be established by
regotiation, it will stand in little need Of
defence by actual force, for IL would have the
support Of an overwhelming superiority Of
poser; and Cuba would no longer be exposed, as
It s, by the suspected dsafecion of one part Of
its population, and by the Comparative weakness Of
the mother country. Whatever the evils Of state
Of hostilites might be to European powers arising
rights, those evils would press with still greater
efec. on the country which should have to defend
such an abuse Of It's position agains: the civilized
world aid If we are to reason from those positive
considerations which usually determine the conduct
Of governments in the last resort, must conclude
that the people Of the United States will take the
Necessary measures to prevent the occurrence OF
such calamity as a war in support of an aggres-
sion which they themselves have so literally CEN
sured. such q demonstration would, therefore, be
the most efectual assistance Il Is in our power to
give to the cause Of peace.
We have a common interest in maintaining the
FIRST principles Of territorial sovereignty against the
pretensions of band of marauders who choose to
fomcnt spurious rebellion, or TO get up joint stock
war. We have n common interest Ia insisting that
every government should be held responsible for
the public action Of IT, subjects, especially IL those
actions are Of such nature that they have been dis
ayoTcd, though not prevented; FOR II is clear that
government which admits Of organized depreciation
from its own ports or frontiers and which pleads ina
biy to prevent such expeditions, IL, for the chief
purpose Of every foreign alliance, no government at
ALL and throws its neighbors back on the mere orig
raj night OF cell defence. But besides these general
interests, which cannot be abandoned With impu-
nifty and may be protected by the collective deter mi
nation Of the interested parties, IL deserves to be
wall considered whether this aggression on Caba Is
not for all parties the point al which stand must
be made. II s the first instance ola direct inva-
sion from the United States Of the American terri
tories Of a European power. Fit prove successful,
can any ono suppose that this invasion viii not be
FOLLOWED by otLtr attacks, as long as there IL a
European dependency beyond the Atlantis The
fn | hi would o..
strictly Speaking, an act Of couqucst-thc conquest
Of dlsI ent people and distinct territory wholly
dissmier from the mere incorporation Of such con-
ugu0us regions az thoEe Of Texas or California,
and intf 'dUcing into the Union an element en-
tiTciy at variance with he AngloSaxon in-
tt;utioIs that now p,rysde Il. The occupa-
tion Of a great IA aritime position, and the inter
nal as well as external defence Of srch a terri.
tory With such population would require IA 7al
and military establishments, with their oonoomi-
tsut exptnses Of which the federal goTerrmtat has
as yet no experience: and II slavery were thus to
be indefinitely prolonged, It could only be by the