Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-17
COMMUNICATIONS.
THE ACQUISITION OF CUBA.
WASHINGTON, APRIL II. /


which does great injustice to the Democracy Of Arkansas
as represented by its leading paper in that State.
Speaking Of that portion Of the Democracy of the Union
which is pleased to style Young America" it says:
some of this fast party in Arkansas says: With
Douglas and Cuba inscribed upon party flag (as in
" 1874 we had Polk, Dallas, and Texas, we cannot be
mistaken in anticipating that not success merely but
" triumph alike brilliant and valuable in all that give
value to party triumph will reward our exertions"
1t then proceeds to characterize this suggestion
dicatng the purpose of acquiring additional territory,
under the head of ''spois, piratica aggressions
neghbsring nations and, further, stgmatizes this
sentiment OF the Arkansas Democracy thieying
motto
should hardly have noticed this article had it appear
ed only in the Ledger but it appears in your columns
under nprmatu which adds greatly its circulation
and still to its consideration; and have
found you unwilling to allow justice to be done to poiti-
cal opponent ask place in your columns that much,
and no more, may be done in this instance.
1t is not my intention my wish to discuss either
Judge DouGLAss claims to the Presidency, the ques
ton Of Cuban acquisition now, in your paper. only
ask place that portion of the Democracy which
resides in Arkansas before the readers the Inegen-
in their true position upon the latter question only
adding here that those who characterize the proposition
to acquire Cuba libustering," class it with "pi-
rtIca aggrcssons neghboriag nations and then cast
1T as reproach at the Democratic party should look well
to the character and objects of the naval expedition
Japan about to sail under the orders of Whg Admins
tration.
The paper from which the Ledger quoted and You
pied the paragraph in question is the 4ransds Gazette
and Democrat of Little Rock. 1t is edited by Messrs
w. E. and A. NJ WOODRUFF father and son. and is, as
have stated, the leading paper of the State.
The article from which the particular paragraph
selected leading editorial of March 10Th As that
paragraph but small part of the whole article it is
but fair that the whole shall be read in connexon with it
the subject alluded to- in other way can it be
fully understood
The following the other portions of the article bear
ing upon this point:
We aude to the acquisition of the island of CUBA
We do think mistake the indication of popular
sentiment which confess be in accordance with
opinions and wshes) that this is already favore
and is fast becoming, repeat the paramount
of the country. Whether characterize the sentiment
which fayors this the esprit of acquisition
(which has by the nconsderate those of opposing
terests, been made reproach countrymen
cognse in it enlarged and wise of nation
al advantage, there is no conceang the fact of its exist
in opinion it possible to its rapid
development. The in question is of that pecu-
liar character of which have had three examples in
the history OF our countryside purchases of Louisiana
and Florida and the annexation of Texas) which has
enough OF nationality in it to make it least acceptable
to the majority in every quarter of the Unon
time appeals with irresistible force the particular
terests OF different and upon points, opposing
tons To the and of the East and
North such home market Cuba would afford must |
prove irresistble while to the South it requires to
determine its necessity in ways than For these
i to that the potency Of Texas
ton scarcely greater in 1874 in determining the issue
of the Presidency than Cuban acquisition win be in 81
milar issue in 1852.
And with this measure Douglas has from the first
been thoroughly and favorably dentifed- indeed he
may be considered its originator This well known
have been favorite with the late President
Polk and there is good reason to believe that it owed
much of its favor with him to the counsel and concurrence
In view of our general commercial and manufactur-
ing interests and in especial regard Of the peculiar nte
rests of the South glance at the map will satisfy any
of the ncalculable advantage of such acqui
sition And looking step further, President Polk is
said have deghte to do, the acquisition of YucA-
TAN, which in time must and will follow it is found that
the Gulf of Mexico becomes closed seoof more
value single nation than the Mediterranean
all the nations together which border that only in
all the relations Of trade, but pre-emnently so in mill
tary point Of view.
Now any who viii read these passages which
tain all that the paper containing them has, up this
time said the subject and go far any portion of
the Democracy Of Arkansas have gone the drec
ton win find in them indications Of the spirit Of "f
clustering" purpose of piratcal aggressions on
neighborng nations" The idea of adding Cuba the
United States is one, is well known you
and every Of information in the country has long
been vore idea with Of the most eminent states
Of the Union. Whether the idea be good or bad
ter upon here 1t openly clearly and substan
lively enunciated by the Arkansas Democrat and the
wish is expressed that may be made Of the issues
in the Presidential If in this connection that pa
per has done wrong the front Of its offending hath this
extent, no more"
The general idea Of acquiring Cuba is set forth the
considerations which make it desirable, and the advan
tages which it would naturally and necessarily
suit romit are in general terms pointed Nothing is
said directly about the mode in which this leading idea is
to be realized Of the be used for its reaza
ton But that other mode than the in accord
ance with the laws Of nations and Of morals that
other means than those which every recognised
fair honorable and just are either limited at or in
tended, is not only not nerribe from single line word
syllable Of the article ITSELF but fatty contradicted
and concusvey dsproved by the references given to the
former Of our Government in the purchases of
Lousiand and Flodo and the annexation Of Tros Were
those acquisitions made in ibusternp spirit or nv
"pratcal aggressons neighboring nations - If so.
then higher merit is claimed for the now proposed nc
QUESTION Of Cuba II in those acquisitions the United
States were " hibusters" and guilty Of "pratica az
gressons" then who advocate this for similar reasons
and by similar in the category Of polit-
cal dcnquens and would be guilty Of the same crimes
No other more, no less.
tits well known that upon the occasion OF each Of the
instances Of territorial acquisition alluded to there