The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-09-29
THE CUBA QUESTION.
INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT LETTER.
mr.. EveFest,s Reply % Lord John
RUSSELL
THE TRIPAKTITE TREATY.
ATTITUDE OF EUROPE TOWARDS The U. ..
(coNrfNUEp.l

States in the condition of Cuba you say-
"Great Britain is in possession by treaty Of the
Island Of Trinidad, which in the last century
was Colony of Spain. France was in pos
session ut the CONNIE ncemeDt Of this century
Of Louisiana BY voluntary cession of SPAIN -
II is true that Spun was compelled by France
to cede Trinidad to Great Britain by the Trca-
ty of a micns. IF while this cession was in
agitation-as it was for some.ime-the United
States and any other neutral power (if there
was any other) had exerted themselves to de-.
feat it, aud had invited you and France to
bind yourselves by perpetual compact nev :
er TO acquire il, the interference, apprehend,
would have been regarded as worse than era.
tuitous. cannot see why we have not as
good right to obtain, FIVE can from Spain
the voluntary cession Of Cuba, AZ you had to
which is by position and strength the Cuba
of the Southeastern Antilles.
France was, as you say. at the beginning OF
this century, in possession Of Louisiana, BY the
voluntary cession Of Spain. This possession
haxsyel 0emiRal At best did net tske place
isiana to the Uuited States for eighty millions
Of francs, and it lasted only from the 3Olh OF
November, to the goth Of December, 1903.
The object of France in acquiring Louisiana,
was to re-establsh herself in the interior OF
this country-an object, I need not saw, as
menacing to your North A merican posse ssio n
as to the Unred States. IL it possible you
can think such possession of Louisiana, for
such purpose, sufficient ground on the part
of France 70 interfering with our relations
with Cuba May she, European power, with.
out con ulting us, obtain from Spain, i'm 1900,
cession ct half the hsbitable portion o:
North Americas cession which threw, her
Tor fifteen hundred miles on our western from
tier, and not only shut US out from the Pacific,
but enable her to close the Mississippi; and 10
It SO very unreasonable in Us to decline her
invitation to bind ourselves for eli time, not
to accept the cession d, our coast! Does she
even derive her rights thus to control our re.
lstion which Cuba in 1853, from her twenty
days possession Of Louisiana in 1903, What
eau be clearer, than that whatever right ac-
crued to her from that three weeks possession
(Which was mere cerea onial affair to give
form to the province to the United States y
must have passed to 10 by that transfer, fol.
lowed by our actual possession aud occupa-
ton for halt a century!
You observe that "Lord Malmesburv and
NJ. Turget put forward as reason for en-.
tering into the proposed compact, the attacks
which had been made on the Island of Cuba
by lawless bands Of adventures from the
United States, End with the svowed design Of
taking possession of that island" and to hi.
reason you add Mr.. Everett replies IN these
terms:" "The Pres dent is convinced that
the conclusion of such streaty, instead
OF putting stop to these lawiess proceed
lnge' w1uld give new and powerful imr ulse
10 them," and this argument you call "uot
only unfounded bit disquieting."
After acknowledging, rather coIdly I think
the conduct ofthe late President i'm d,savow.
ing and disc ouraging the lawless enterprises
referred to, you reproachfulIy pronounce nv
remark Just cited "a melancholy ayowal for
the Chief Ola free Staie;" and you seem to
,ntimate' without expressly saying 90,
mat" implies on the part Of the people
OF the United States, an insensibiIity "to
the value OF the eternal laws Of right and
wrong OF peace and friendship, and of duty to
our neignoor, which ought to guide eve,y
CHRISTIAN Nation" You also take occasion,
IN reference to the same remark, to impress
upon tne people OF the United States "the
utility Of those ru.es for the 0bst rysnce of in.
transitional relations which for centuries have
been known to Europe by the name of the
law OF nations. Among the commentators: Ca
that law" you continue, "some Of the most
distinguished American citizens have earned
On envisble reputation, and il 10 difficult to
suppose the United States would set the ex.
ampl. OF sbraga'ing. its most sacred provis.
! suppose no one in Europe or America
VIII think the intended force Of this rebuke
mitigesed BY the diplomatic reservations con-
tAis:a 70 the last two lines. Let 20, then
esquire for amonest il il 10 well deserved.
Inc expeditions to which you slluds @ col.
euiated TO excite tho "reprobation of svery
civilissd state" were diseountsns need by the