Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-01-15
For tie Southern STANDARD
The Cuban Question.

This subject is at present exciting universal at
tention throughout the United States-to some ex-
tent, the press in Great Britain, and also certain
portions Of Europe. And it justly deserves the
serious consideration of citizens, in order that
the true course which we should persue in regard
to it, may be clearly ascertained and adopted
And to that end, as private citizen, would re-
spectfully suggest to those who feel deep inter
est in the perpetuity of our institutions, and the
general welfare of citizens, what | conceive to
be the only safe ground for the officers of fed
era compact, and the people TO occupy upon this
question.
The doctrine or custom of the annexation of ter
ritory and the consequent transfer of whole States
and people from political condition to another,
and thus at once ENGRAVING them upon new and,
to them, untred government stock, Is, unquestiOna
bly,, the most impoItic and dangerous course that
could possibly be adopted by Republicans. Our
political institutions originated in, are founded up
on, and must be sustained and perpetuated alone,
by high state of general intelligence. The ever
existing condition of things in Mexico, and the
South American States, and the recent failure of
Repubcansm in France, clearly establish the doc
trine that no nation or community of people,
adopt our form of government, and long enjoy its
advantages, who are not previously prepared by a
high state of general intelligence, to understand
and properly appreciate the nature OF such sys-
gently ascertained to be the true system of gov
eminent for highly civilized men, and conscien-
tiously and voluntarily set up by such, and only
such people, and not merely adopted in imitation
of others. These views take it, will not be doubt
ed by any who has the smallest understand
ing of the nature of our political system. Our
true course, then, in regard to any future changes
that may take place in the political condition of
foreign States, and their dependencies, is, to set
IL IL
stability, and the practical advantages of sys
TEN of government and, as soon as they can re-
deem themselves, respectively, from their existing
want of the required intelligence, and the govern
mental thraldom under which they live, then, and
not till then, publicly recognize them free and
capable of self-government, but leaving them where
we find them, responsible themselves, for their
future conduct and political condition. This l
humbly conceive, is the true, and only true posi-
ton can take upon the subject, Republicans.
The broad doctrine of annexation, even under the
idea and with the truly patriotic desire of meliora-
ting the political and social condition of an OPP
pressed people, is utterly repugnant to the nature
of Republicanlsm except under the state of things
above mentioned, and will lead us directly into the
vortex of political propa gandism, and the unlimited
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the United States Confederacv
And, whenever case like that of Cuba presents
itself, we should invariably ask the question-what
is the state of general intelligence among the peo-
pie of such foreign States ?-and then regulate our
sympathy and our conduct in accordance with the
rule here given. And to apply this rule to the
case under consideration, l would ask,-are the
Cubans sufficiently enlightened to enable them in
telligibly to understand, adopt and maintain our
form of government? Certainly they are not
they are far from being enlightened the French
and are, therefore, wholly incapable of self-oov-
eminent and the question of the annexation of
the Island ought TO be at once and forever dropped
IN the United States. 1t is question alike dan
gerous and ridiculous
We already have more territory than can posi-
bly, hang together for fifteen years Let not the
American Statesman, nor private citizens in our
country, vainly imagine, that Repubcanism. any
more than religion, will, by sort Of magic sus-
tain itself, or continue long amongst US, except bv
strict adherence to its great principles, and the
practice of morality and virtue, by those who es.
tabsh and enjoy its advantages. 1t will soon die
out. here in the United States as christianity
did in some Of the early churches unless cherish
ed and guarded, as a mother watches her infant,
or preserves his life 1t is like good health
in this-we do not fully understand and value it,
until it is gone tits like field seeded with
corn,-that will not yield its natural fruits without
being diligently and properly cultivated The great
est danger to Its permanence here, as every where
else, is the naturally growing and crushing Con-
federated establishments, which we are compelled
to engraft upon the system. Great establishments
are no less dangerouDto Republicanism, than to
true Religion. In BOTH they invariably soon take
t IRA v. DoDsoN.
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What Mrs. Smith Said.