The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-04

With the single exception, perhaps, Of the Papal
States Spain the most miserable power in Europe
Its government cares neither for the welfare of its
citizens at home nor for the national credit abroad
Despite the unequalled advantages presented by its
soil, climate, and positon-despite the prestige of
its former mght-Spain is rapidly sinking beneath
the level Of q third or fourth rate kingdom. Need
we again refer to its treatment of the luckess peo
pie who have been induced to invest their money in
Spanish securitiesl To the Porte st. Marie decree,
and the deliberate reputation by the monarch of
the bonds issued under the authority Of the Cortes
To the unjust, paltry and contemplate" proposal
of 1881, to substitute deferred stock for the unpaid
coupons, and five per cents ? To the ultimatum OF
1851, under which eighteen millions of Spanish
bonds, which cost their owners nearly double that
amount, were converted into onds d'amrtisscment,
and will probably be redeemed by the dishonest
Spanish government for mere song! These mat
tiers are too well known here, to our cost in many
instances, to require any comment from US. The
state Of the Spanish Treasury, and the positive refu
sal of the Cortes to vote away any supplies beyond
the sum actually necessary to carry the govern
ment are no secrets to any one, and few think it
worth while to draw attention to facts so notorious
Taken in connection with the present Cuban move.
ment, however, they are not devoid Of Importance.
In 1874, the island Of Cuba source of five or six
millions of dollars revenue to Spain. At that time,
the slave trade was ourshing, the island was apps
rently tranquil and the people Of this country were
not slamorous for its annexation. A small portion
Of its revenue suced for the support of the local
government; the rest was faithfully transmitted to
Madrid. While such were the relations existing be-
tween the mother country and the colony, Spain
quite justified in refusing good offer to purchase it,
and thus paradng in broad daylight its own strait
ened circumstances. Now, the case is different.
Thanks to the cruisers Of the allied powers the slave
trade cannot be carried on to any extent by the Gu
bans. Spain no longer expect to draw any reve.
nue. from the island. On the contrary, she is put to
vast expense to keep her forts garrsoned and to be
prepared to put down the threatened flbnstero ex-
petition from this country. She has several regi-
ments of men on full pay, host of military
officers, and armed vessels cruising round the csass.
Mr.. Purser Smith must be costing the government
of Spain, at this moment, something like thousand
dollars day. How long is it expected that the
Cortes will continue to supply the Captain General
with so expensive luxury
If that body contains any right. minded men, as
we believe it does, they will resist to the last every
chequer Of Spain. They will have dscernment
enough to discover that Cuba must follow the other
Spanish colonies, and that, from the moment when
il becomes more expensive and more harrassing to
retain than to abandon it, it is both unwise and i'm
polite to perpetuate the colonial tie Great Britain
may pamper her national pride by preserving her
North American posse ssons at vast cost in money,
and for very small return of affection or glory but
nation that is past the verge Of bankruptcy can
Let indulge any similar extravaganza Spain will
give up Cuba, when it will matter little what be.
comes Of the gem Of the Antilles. She is not in
position to dictate terms.
We need not spend time in proving that Cuba
could neither become independent power, nor fall
into the grasp of any European nation. The United
States will spend the last crop of their blood in pre-
venting the establishment Of any foreign power in
America The very superstition is absurd. On
what grounds, then, shall we be told that Cuba
is rot destined to become part of tho United
States Is it possible that there are some people
who believe that Great Britain aud France would
sir hand to prevent it /! They would be as glad
Of the arrangement as we are.
In the frt place, If Cuba is to become ours, it will
be by purchase. Fiibusfero movements are mere
nonsense, and only to amuse gro wn up child
rer and enable sharpers to deude greenhorns out
few dollars. We must buy Cuba, and pay as
many million Of dollars as Spain demands, ard We
can afford to pay. No inconsiderable share Of the
purchase money will 60 towards paying of those
Spanish securities, which, as we have seen, are
alternately repudiated and reduced to mere nomi
nal value By the dsreputable devices of the Spanish
ministers Of finance. The Spanish bond holders in
hn
mercantile men, the thew and sinew of the free
trade party--wil thus gain exactly the difference be.
tween the real AID the nominal value oftheir bonds
by the transfer Of Cuba to the United States.
fusd which at the present day is entirely worthless,
WILL by the operation, pay hundred cents in the
dollar. We will not enlarge on the argument, but
we leave it to those of readers who are acquant
ed with the British character, and who know the
influence exercised the councils OF the nation By
the mercantile community, to say whether the pros
rect Of the Spanish securities being paid of in full
will not induce Great Britain to cooperate cordially
with us in overcoming the scruples of Spain to the
transfer.
Again, no one who reads the newspapers is igns-
rant of the clamcr which is made every year in the
House OF Commons at the enor nous annual outlay
for the suppression Of the slaye trade very large
proportion of the usual appropriation for this purpose
is expended on tho coast OF Cuba, which, as is
known is the nucleus of the .raffs in America At
the present moment, the British and French
vessels which are cruising round the Island
must cost several millions year, and the storm
which lie raised when this portion of the estimate
is under discussion, shows pretty clearly how de.
lighted the ministry would be to get rid Of the for
midable item The simplest solution of the difficulty
presented by the annexation Of Cuba to the United
States. We should put down the slave trade at
orce, and its last stronghold would be ssormed
Great Britain and France would save several mil
lions year, and the phianthropic aim which
prompts their present liberal bu. insufficient. expen
diture, would be obtained without cost or trouble.
We depecate strongly anything like angry Ian
gusge or senseless olanor this topic. 1t is mat
ter which will be settled by the cool heads Of dpo