Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-08-18
Our Future Destiny.

We believe, with Edward Everett, that we
have destiny to achieve in the world. Some
men, timid, conservative and checking, hold up
both hands and roll their eyes in holy horror
at the very mention of the term manifest desti-
ny, as if it meant any amount of damnable pill
lage and piracy. Now, this is all moonshine.
Our manifest destiny consists in developing
massive republican power over this conti-
nent, which shall balance the tyrannies of the
old world. Our destiny is to extend the An
glO Saxon fire and energy-thrit, enterprise
and force, as fast and as far as we can. Not
by piracy and fraud, but by the expanding
forces Of commerce, negotiation and purchase.
All history shows that weak nations never
long maintain their authority over distant
provinces and possessions. They are compelled
to resist the taxations necessary TO support
home governments, and so rebel, or they are
the natural prey of the more powerful, through
sure to change its rulers. Some other power
than Spain will before long control her desti-
MES.
The instinct and duty Of selfpreservation and
and charging trade with that island, will not
render it difficult TO determine how the Ameri-
can people will act, when action is necessary
The Union was dissolved when Texas was
admitted, and we are prepared TO hear that it
will lie dissolved when Cuba comes in. To
those fasIidious politicians who strain at a
gnat and swallow camel, let us say, that we
have an international interest in Cuba. The
law of international policy practiced by Eng
land, in China and defended by John Quincy
Adams in Congress- and again illustrated in
our Japan expedition, is that nc nation has a
right to impose unjust and absurd restrictions
and block up the fair and natural course of
commerce, and the trade of the world. Spain
does this in Cuba. Witness the insults and
provoking restrictions placed sometimes upon
our steamers. Witness the violation of our
mails after having been placed on board our
ships and in charge Of U. S. officers. And
hear the complaints brought home by the mas
ters of our vessels, who are in the Cuba trade.
Witness too, that system Of exaciion and taxa
ton which impovershes and impairs the in
dustry and growth of one of the most magnif-
cent islands in the world,
The danger of its falling into foreign and
powerful hands-its proximity TO the States
its resources and capacities under decent
management, render it an object of national and
International interest. If Spain will not sell
US Cuba, but will guarantee that it shall fall
into no other hands, will project American
rights and property there, and give us just
commercial advantages, we, as a nation, shall
have no disposition to disturb her possession
Still, history shows that she cannot long retain
it, 1t is part of the retributive destiny Of
Spain, that she should lose what she unjustly
acquired. In the pride of her power, she con-
qnered with savage ferocity and acquired ter
rl'Ory with hungry barbarity. As merciless
10 ner treatment of the savage and half civil
iizeo people of America, as she was unscrupu-
iOus and greedy for their gold, she spared
Del'ner age nor sex, but consigned to torture.
slavery aid death those who refused to submit
70 her power, or be converted at the hands Of
the priests.
And who were these victims of brutal Inst
fierce intolerance, and greed Of gold Were
they not harmless, inoffensive people whose on
ly crime consisted in possessing territory and
treasure What if the law Of retribution.
under whose operation Spain has been melting