The Nevada journal., 1852-01-08
ENGLAND AND CUBA

N0OlGu dS llOui SOuiNNS tlitltANN W WI
fidence, express the opinion that the
project of selling Cuba and Porto Rico
to Great Britain has many friends in
Spain. These are not, however, with
the Cortes or the military. Cuba is a
rich field for the reward of partizans
1t has fat appointments for which the
aspiring and the greedy thirst, and
these will not willingly forego their
opportunities of promotion or gain for
any mere inducement of prospective
advantage to the nation, in the extin-
guishment of her debt, the consolida-
ton of her power, or the improvement
of her institutions. That all these OBJ
jects would be advanced by selling the
Spanish possessions in the Vest In
dies is apparent to all observers, yet
it is equally evident that there are in
terests and prejudices, and feelings of
national pride, and the characteristic
Spanish love of dominion, that will
prove strong obstacles to any PROPOSE
ton for parting with the island at all,
Time, however, is multiplying SO ma
ny arguments of necessity. so clearly
developing the elements of disturbance
within the island, and the accumula-
ting perils which its geographical po-
sition offers TO permanent Spanish as
cendancy, that it would not be surpri-
sing to find some day, and under some
sudden pressure, a resolution taken to
get rid Of troublesome possession on
the most profitable terms.
Great Britain has a longing eye to
the possession of Cuba. 1t would serve
the commercial purposes which are
the ruling considerations of her foreign
policy, giving her the command of the
Gulf of Mexico, and the key of the
channels of communication, by whom
soever made, across the Isthmus be-
tween the two oceans. No Governs
ment is more sensitive upon such
points, or more prompt to seize every
opportunity to advance these objects,
or less scrupulous in the means en-
ployed in improving or in making OPP
portunities and pretences for extend
ing her power and influence. We
have no faith in her moderation, and
no doubt of the strong desire she has
for the possession of Cuba as the pivot
of commercial policy which, main-
tanned by her fleets, would embrace in
its scope the control of the trade of
half of this continent, and the great
marts of Asia and the South Seas.
Yet we are by no means convinced
that Great Britain would venture to
purchase Cuba, under existing cir
cumstances, while a chance remains
for its being otherwise kept from pas
sing into the hands of the United
States. Her policy is eminently that
of peace; particularly with the United
States Her statesmen, of whatever
party, know how essential to her pros
perity at home, to the employment Of
an immense amount of her capital, and
the consequent subsistence of many
thousand of her operatives, is uninter-
rupted commerce with the United
States. The same causes which make
Cuba an uneasy possession to Spain
its contiguity to the United States, the
sympathy between large class of its
inhabitants and those of the neighbor-
ing republics, and the growing desires
on both sides for a closer political con-
nection--would deter prudent nation
from seeking to succeed TO the embar-
easements Of Spain; much more from
/ paying largely for all the hazards and
expenses of a precarious dominion
To England, the possession would
bring further embarrassments, which
Spain does not feel. The abolition of
African slavery is settled principle
of British Government; but we should
think the boldest of her statesmen
might shrink from the responsibility of
| paying uuuulCQ anu M tuiillOiis,
for the sake Of trying the Jamaica ex-
pertinent over again, with tie halt
million of slaves in Cuba. She could
not retain them as slaves, without a
convulsion among her philanthropists
at home and she could not carry oui
her emancipation schemes, without
hazards and costs, the prospect oi
which might well startle her into cau
ton how she NEEDLES with such dan
gerous affairs.
If Spain were willing to sell, which
she is not, at least yet, Great Britain
is hardly ready to buy. Her policy
is that Spain should be maintained IN
possession-that all changes of Gov
ernment over the Island should be
discountenanced, and things be kept
as they are, as loog as possible She
will lend money, assist Madrid finan-