The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-27

NalDS' ctice; Commerclai, romeo, ana MISCELLANEOUS
Intellg enceS &c:
The Annexation Of Cuba In Commercial |
ana Religious F0fst OF View.
Twelve months before we acquired Caiifor- !
MIA, it seemed to be fifty years further removed
from us than does Cuba at this moment. So |
rapid and startling are the political and COM
mercial changes of the day, and SO identified Is
Cuba with our interests. that we should not be
surprised in less than FIVE years. to find in that
island electric telegraphs, railroads, palaciai
hotels with free trade free religion, free speech,
and free press, all under the protecting force
of the stars and stripes and the conquering
energy of Yankeedom.
The value of the commerce which now anna
ally passes between the Florida and the Cuban
shores is about s4OO 100000. This will be
vastly augmented by the settlement Of Califor-
MIA Oregon Sonora. and our rapidly increasing
trade with the East. and particularly with
China. In a very few years our silks and
teas and countless articles of small bulk and
large value, borne over the vast Pacific. will
reach us by the Isthmus of Panama or Tehu-
antepec and through the Florida straits
All of this vast commerce is commanded by
the north shores of Cuba. The straits are but
seventy miles wide, and six war steamers may
bridge them across during nine months of the
year. and speak each other every fifteen min
utes. and thus a maritime power, possessing
Cuba, with a superior navy, could render the
Mexican gulf closed sea. We are wisely for
tifying the Tortugas and Key West, but these
points salient and strategic as they are, do not
command the straits, or neutralize the military
| advantages of the shores of Cuba. The fortifi-
cations and harbors of Havana and Key West
are the opposite gate posts of this great high
way of commerce, and the superior naval force
of either must command it. To have clear
road we must have both and with the first gun
which shall ever be fired by us in war with any
maritime nation, will come an ''overruling ne
cessity" for possessing Cuba.
Our first naval battle will be fought near the
shores of the Queen of the Antilles" for the
simple reason that no other sea which our ships
visit offers so constant and so vast field for an
enemy's efforts.
This 'overruling necessity" we believe to be
now near at hand. All men, the most straight
| lieve that Cuba must eventually be ours with
them it is mere question of time but the pro-
gressive, aspiring, onward, soaring spirit of our
country regard the present as the time they
| look merely for the opportunity, and that is Of
| almost daily occurrence, if those occurrences
are taken advantage Of. They believe that her
cruel torturing, bloody protection of the Afri-
i slow tro1 in of cfu
common humanity and her treaty stipulations
her crushing, soul-subduing. japanese politi-
| cal policy-her blghting and deadly grasp up
on the freedom of speech the freedom of prayer
Of worship, and of conscience, cannot possibly
exist much longer. in juxtaposition with the
people of this Republic.
With the acquisition of Cuba, the Afri-
can slave trade will cease; but what
is not of less consequence, the religion of
Christ the language of Shakespeare, and the
laws of our country, will elevate and regene-
rate her people. Some Of the most enlightened
of the Catholic clergy in Cuba admit that her
people are destitute Of all religious sentiment;
and when, some few years ago, permission was
sought BY an English Bishop to establish Pro-
testant Episcopal Church at Havana, it was
advocated by at least one of the purest priests
Of Cuba, upon the sole ground that the people
might, by observing the regular and punctual
devotion Of Professionals, be induced to attend
to their own religious duties, and inform them
selves of the doctrines of the Church The ex-
allied faith Of the American, English, or Irish
Catholic is as unknown to the mass of the peo-
pie of Cuba, as to those Of Hindostan, and
whoever visits the religious houses OF Cuba,
from the grand and imposing Cathedral of
Havana, to the most humble chapel, cannot fail
to remark that they are generally empty,
| and that the few attendants are not of the
wealthy, the industrial. or the working classes
Here then, is field for the ambitious laborer
in the vineyard. Instead Of furnishing every
naked negro baby in Timbuctoo with red fam
mel shirt and hair brush,- wide field for the
philanthropist is here opened at our very doors.
But how are we to get Cuba? That is the
great question. What is to be the modus ope-
randi? Are we to purchase it out and out for
a hundred millions more or less? Are we
adroitly to aid and abet filibusterism in re-
volutionizing it, and stand ready 10 receive her
commissioner and acknowledge her indepen-
dence, upon the slightest pretext of their being
a new government de .facto2 Are we to
openly invade and take it or are we quietly
and patiently to bde our time and await her
coming to US Each Of these means has its
supporters.
The first Of acquisition by purchase
is regarded by many, under present circum-
stances, as cut of the question. No well in
formed man, having the least knowledge of
the political and commercial condition of
Spain, it is asserted entertains it for q
moment. The trade of Cuba has built up her
merchant marine and opened the best market in
the world for her -four wines, oil, fruits spirits,
and manufactures Of cotton, linen &c, &c
Cuban official patronage opens a hirh road to