The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-16
Annexation or Cuba.

The time has come that The fate Of Cuba must BE-
determined There is period IN chs history Of all
nations whom the interest Of the world at large
quires that their political status shall be definitely
fixed When that period came for Mexi,, and South
Amorica, they fell into the grasp of spain-when
that power struck for India, Great Britain planted
her standard on every hill-when that day da1ned
for Algiers, 1t became province of Franee-when
that M ment arrived for Poland Russia, Austria and
Prusaia, divided its diseneumbered fragments Th0t
time has now come for Cuba, AMI its fate must be
decided We have had enough Of pointlcss argu-
ment, unincipled buccai eerirg, useless sympathy,
and chivalrons but i'll judged enterprise. We want
sometbipg more substantial now The time hes
come when We must know exactly what is to be the
nature of our future relations with Cuba-whethsr
the vast commercial Of that splendid island
is to remain in tho idle hands Of spaniardswhc.her
the Creolcs are to be forever Holotswhethor inso-
lent officials ut Havana to continue to insult our
flag with immunity, whether Cuba is to falfl her
natural destiny, By becoming part and parcel Of tho
United States There cannot be n moments doubt
on tho point. Cuba must be 0urs and at once.
Every day which elapses adds fresh difficulties 70
the solution ofthe problem.
We do not enter upon the consideration Of this
topic with angry or even excited feelings lis from
calm, common sense view of the matter, in all its
bearings commercial political, and social, that
Advocate in doing so we are merely the expo
nents of public opinion-ahe immediate annexation
Of Cuba. Of the advantages which the States
would derive from the possession Of that ialand We
noed .ot Rptak here Merchant, politician, and SOL
der, alike deem it indispensable to our future
greatness We require it, as we required California
and Oregon Nor is it necessary to Us than our
government is to tho Creolcs Any change which
would hbe,ate them from the iron rule Of Spain
and tho hateful despo.ism Of the Captain Gen.
eral would be gladly hailed by the coonists 1t is
utterly impossible that the present reign Of terror
con last--the wholesale imprisonments-the garrote
the military executions-are symptoms Of an
cphemeral, transition state precursors Of radi-
cal and sweeping change No change is possible but
annex ton to the States. This must be the culmi-
mating point OF Spanish oppression and Cuban ser
vitude. It would be as difficult for Cuba to govern
herself it would be to conquer her Independence.
Wrthe che must under the letters Of Spain Until the
United States lend 81 mpathising hand The longer
VIC retard its prefer, the more wrotohcd becomes
the condition Of tho Creolcs and the loss valuable
will the island prove when it falls into possession
Every year which VIC allow to roll over without
ceptng what is offered III, and what we must even
tualy obtain deteriorates the value ofthe gift, aud
sggravates the sufferipgs offs people who are eni-
tied to our pity and regard.
These considerations have no claim to novelty.
They have been in every ones mouth for months
almost for years The neces ity Of annexing Cuba,
on political as well humane grounds. has been
denied by none; nm opportunity Of ehe,ting the
charge without leaving stain On the national
character, has alone been wanting That opportu-
nifty now presents itself An American vessel--.ho
Cornelia--with the American flag flying, has been
boarded, ia neutral waters by tho Spanish author-
ties, forced to bring to, searched and the captain
ard two of the passengers carried ashore prison
ers. Another American vessel-the C-esce at City
which called in Der ueual from this port for
Havana, bas been pcremptorily expelled from that
port, without being allowed to land her mails or
passengers. No reparation or apology has been
rendered for these outrages en- our citizens and in
suits to our flag. Here is ample provocation--
abundant cause for severe punishment. We shall
pass, in tho eyes Of tho world for the most sprtless
people Of the ago, if We permit suoh unprovoked
ou'rsges to pass unnotced or if, failing q repara-
ton proportioDa.e TO the injury, lack decision
promptude in preventing the possibility Of its re-
cur cpce.
There never was tire when this country could
better afford to invade Cuba The treasury is over
flowing with money; we shall have surplus eX-
ceeding twenty millions, by the end Of the year.
The cost Of the expedition could not exceed 6f5y
millions. The Creoles nov pay to Spain about
eight millions year They could we'll afford, II
they were annexed (and they would be but too
happy to purchase freedom at the price)-to pay US
twelve or fifteen millions ayesr to reimburse our
expenses England, which looks At our position to-
wards Cuba with jealous eye, and, totally forget
full Of the pretexts which she obtained posse
of Gibraltar, Malta, and fifty other colonies ex-
claims ut what British editors pleased to call
the greed of the States would doubtless raise ter
iible clamor at the news Of our landing. Ba. her
cifzens-the mercantile community appreciate
too keenly their own interests to adventure upon
aD open rupture with us, even if it were Canada,
snstead of Cuba. that we wanted John Bull viii
buster, 10 doubt; but he cannot do without our
trade; aid when we take Cuba,
Although it gri-ve him sore
The lack II pence full we'll he knows.
Would trouble him much more.
He will be content to abuse us in q gentlemanly
way. At bottom, Epgshmen will be well pleased
that Cuba has fallen into the bands Of people who
can work her resources efficiently, and thus iodi-
rectly extend the trade Of Britain. France, too,
would be furious, and the most indignant remon-
STANCES would be probably made by NJ de Sartigos
But, without inquiring what weight ought TO DO at
ached to tho opinions of France either way Prince
Louis Napoleon has his hands full at home and can
not afford time 20 quarrel with US He knows that
tho first "spsck Of war; with the States, which was
detected in the horizon at Paris would be the sgoal
for a rally both Of iegtimsts and of rouges. Until
-, /. ~ 4
will venture to trouble his neishbors.
1t s. therefore in view Of this extraordinary CON-
bination OF favorable circumstances that the Ameri-
can people bavo resolved to bring the question to
final settlement thorough agitation throughout
tha Il hal