The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-07

thst The disability assumed by ourselves far less Sc
nous than that which we asked them 10 assume.
The opinions OF American statesmen. at different times
and under varying circumstances, have differed as to the
deeirableness OF The acquisition OF Cubs by the United
States Tenoriay ard commercially il would, in our
hands be an mey valuable POSSESSION. Under GER
lain contingencies II night be almost essential 10
safety Sill, for domestic reasons, on which, in
muncaion OF this kind il might not be proper 10 dwell
the President thinks that The Incorporation of the island
into the Union at the present time although effected with
the consent OF Spain, would be hazardous measure
and he would consider its acquisition by force except in
just with SPAIN Should an event greatly 10 be
deprecated take place. disgrace TO the civilization OF
the age
The President has given ample proof OF the sincerity
with which he holds these views. He has thrown The
whole force OF his constitutional power against all lIe
gal attacks upon the island twoud have been perfectly
easy for him without any seeming neglect OF duty TO al
low projects OF formidable character 10 gather strength
by connivance. No amount OF oboquy al home, no EN-
caused by the ndsce,ions OF the colonial
government OF Cuba, have moved him from the path OF
duty in this respect, The esptangeneral OF that sland
an officer apparently OF upright and concatory chaac
ter but probably more used to military command than
The management OF civil affairs, has punctilo in
reference 10 the purser OF a private steamship, (who
seems to have been entirely innocent OF the matters laid
10 his charge refused TO How passengers and the mails
OF the United States 10 be landed from vessel having
him on board. This certainly is very extraordinary
mode of anmadveriing upon supposed abuse OF the
liberty of the press by the subject OF foreign govern
men in his native country. The caplaigeneral is not
permitted BY his government. three thousand Gus miles ot TO
He is subject in degree To the direction OF the Span
ish minister at Washington and the President has 10
choose between resort to orce to compel the abandon.
ment of this grauilous interruption OF commercial inter-
course, (Which would result in war; and delay OF
weeks and months, necessary Tor negotiation with
Madrid, with all the chances OF The most denorable
occurrences in the inervaland all Tor trife. that
ought to have admitted settlement by an exchange
Of notes between Washington and the Havana The
President has. however, patiently submitted to these
evils. and has continued faithfully to give TO Cuba
the advantages of those principles of the public law
under the shelter OF which. she has departed, in
this case from the comfy Of nations all, But the Incl
among many others which point decisivey 70 the expe
diency OF change in the relations OF Cuba and
the President thinks that the influence o. FRANCE and
her so to modify the administration OF Inc government
Of Cuba as 10 afford the means OF some prompt rem
edy for evils Of the kind alluded TO- which have done
much to increase the spirit OF unlawful ente PRISE
against the island. -,
That convention such as is proposed would be
taneitory arrangement sure TO be swept away by the
irresistible tide OF affairs in country, is, TO the ap
prehenson of the President, 100 obvious to require la
bored argument The project rests on principles appl-
cable, if at ALL to Europe, where International relations
are in their basis, OF great antiquity slowly modified
for the most part in the progress OF time and events
and applicable to America which but lately waste
raj principles these territorial relations which, the first
discovery OF the continent were in good degree fortui
tous
even for single century, shows this In 1852, France.
England and Spain not materially different in their
political position in Europe from what they now are.
They ancient, NATURE consolidated States, esab-
lshed in their relations with each other and the rest OF
the world--the leading powers of western and south
ern Europe Totally different was the state OF things in
America The United States had no existence as peo-
pie q line OF English colonies, not numbering much
million OF inhabitants. stretched along the coast
France extended from the bay OF ST. Lawrence 10 The
Gulf OF Mexico, and from the Aeghanes 10 the Misss
spp; beyond which, westward, the continent was
wilderness occupied by wandering savages. and subject
to conflicting and nominal claim on the part OF France
and Spain. Everything in Europe was comparatively
fxed-everything in America provisional incplent, and
temporary, except the law of progress, which as or
ganic and vital in the youth of States as of individual
men struggle between the provincial authorities OF
France and England for the possession Of petty sockade
at the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny
kinded the sevenyears war; at the close OF winch The
great European powers, not materially affected 10 their
relations al home. had undergone astonishing changes on
this continent France had disappeared from the map of
America, whose Utmost recesses had been penetrated by
her Jealous and her esolute and gallant adj
venture England had added the Canadas TO her trans
Atlantic dominons Spain had become the mistress OF
louisiana so that, in the language OF the archbishop OF
Mexico, in ITO, she claimed Siberia the northern
boundary OF New Spain.
Twelve years only from the treaty OF Paris elapsed and
another great change took place. fruitful OF still greater
changes to The American revolution broke out.
involved France. England. and Spain in tremendous
struggle; and its close the United States OF America
had taken their place IN the family Of nations In Europe
former Equilibrium but new element, OF incacuiable
Importance in reference territorial arrangements, is
benceforth TO be recognised in America.
just twenty years from the close OF the war OF the
American revolution, France, by treaty with Spain-
OF which the provisions have been discosedPos-
sessed herself OF louisiana but did only 10 cede II to
the United States and in the same year Lewis and Clark
started on their expedition plant The flag OF the United
States the shores of the Pacific In 1919 Florida was
sold by Spain the United States whose territorial pos
sessions in this way had been increased in hall
century. This last acquisition was so much matter OF
that had been distinctly foeseen by the Count
Amanda, then Prime Minister OF Spain, as long ago as
1888 e s
But even these momentous events are but the lore
runners OF new territorial revolutions still more stipend
Gus. dynaslic struggle between the Emperor Napo-
leon and Spain. commencing in is0S, convnsed the Pe
ninsula The vast possessions OF the Spanish crown on
this COMMUNICATIVE. royaies and captain generalships,
after another asserted their independence No friendly
power in Europe a, that time able, if able was
wiling to Spain, aid her 10 prop the crum-
bling bnttresses OF her colonial empire SO lar iron H.
when France, in 1923, threw an army OF one hundred
thousand inio Spain to control her domestic politics,
England thought it necessary to counteract the move
met by recognising the Independence OF the Spanish
provinces in America In the remarkable language OF
The minister OF the day. in order to redress
the balance OF power in Europe he called into existence
New World in the west-somewbat ovsrraung,. pei
haps, the extent OF the arrangement in the Old World,
and not doing full Justice the position OF the United
States in America, their influence on the fortunes OF
their sister republics on this continent.
Thus in sixty years IRON the close OF the seven years
war; SPAIN like France, had ost the last remains OF her
imperial possessions on this continent The Unlied
States, meantime were, by the arts oil peace ana Inc
heahul progress OF things rapidly enlargng their d.