The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-03-03

were portrayed in the darkest colors, and Eu-
rope was called upon to interpose some check
to the territorial aggrandizement of the great
republic Wrong in their apathy, they were
reused from it only to involve themselves still
more deeply in error by their action. From
newspaper articles they progressed to diplomat
ic notes and now, rs we have been informed
by the President France and England have made
a formal proposition to the United States, that
the three powers should unite in assuring to the
Crown Of Spain undsturbed possession OF the
island of Cuba through all coming time
Now Air. President, am willing to go with
the senator from Michigan, and to sly that this
proposition meant something. l am willing to
say that il did not mean what it imported on its
face, that it WAS known it must be rejected,
and the idle form of making the offer would
have been dispensed with but for Interior OBJ
iects Let it be conceded that it was intended
to ntimidate the United States, to give US notice
that France and England were watching Cuba,
and were determined to resist any efforts upon
our part to acquire its possession. But, sir,
while conceding all this, L do not agree with
that senator as to the mode in which it is to be
met l 90 not think it is the part of wisdom,
or sound policy, TO permit ourselves to be hur-
red into Incorporate action because France and
England have made u foolish parade OF their fu-
ture purposes To redeem "a threat from
tempt it is necessary that the party making 1t
should poss the power of carrying 1t into et-
y
senses. a thousand Cubas could not induce them
10 declare war against the United States
withhold the exports of our cotton for one year.
and her starving millions viii be in open rebel
lion. We have heard not long since IN n time
of profound peace, Of banners borne by her
peasantry with the fearful Inscription. blood or
breai" Who doubts that cry would he re AVA
kened and who doubts that blood would furnish
the first. the second, and the third of
the banquet TO which she would be invited at
home ? Add to this the certainty Of seeing
hundred thousand American bayOnets glittering
IN the sunlight of Canda, and thousand Amer
can vessels cutting up her commerce on every
sea. and you have amount of danger and
suffering no nation will willingly braTe
member of this body not long ago declared that
England had given bond and security to keep
the peace towards the United States. Yes, sir,
and that security is her hfe's blood, her very
existence not merely her provinces aui depen-
denotes, though | fancy she would consider.
ii n poor exchange to secure Cuba to Spain,
and lose Canada herself :; but she has something
more ut stake, and l regard any threats from
that quarter the veriest gasconade in which
any government ever permitted Itself to Indulge.
France is in scarcely better condition. She
has recently erected an imperial throne above
the crater of Volcano and he who occupies
that seat must watch by day and by night or
an eruption will soon come to bury him and his
fortunes beneath a burning food. Even if the
great Emperor nlmSei1 now DSlu the TcltlS, Il
war with America would be destruction to France
To land an army OH our shores would be to devote
it to the sword and the ocean Is not an element
on which any great portion Of French glory mas
been acquired. / not unaware that upon
paper the naval power of France seems to be
immensely superior to ours but those who cal
culate lose sight of great truth guns and
vessels do not constitute a navy If every ves-
sci on our naval register were Tomorrow burn
ed TO the waters edge, France would more
be capable of coutending with the United States
upon the ocean than the oak of the forest Is ca
pable of resisting the thunderbolt of Heaven
1t is seamen vino make navy and wherever
they are found vessels will not long be wanting.
In this the main element of success,
far in advance of every European power. Onr
fisheries turn out annually body of hardy ma
riners. unequalled for Skill for energy, and for
during. 1t must be remembered, too, that our
tonnage greatly exceeds that Of any power
And as long as these advantages remain to u.s.
the crumbling dynasties of the Old World may
build war-steainers without number but when
ever a contest comes. the best of them will soon
be found sailing under Yankee colors. Vessels
of-war, manned by peasautry, are feeble foes.
Mr.. President, have referred to these things
with no view of encouraging spirit of aggres
sion. but the reverse. TIE proposition of Eng
land and of France has been seized hold of to
infame the popular mind, and had some ap-
rrehensions that the Indignation and resentment
excited bv it might lead to offensive acts, which
could have hut one termination. 1t is this which
| wish to avoid. | wish to show that can af-
ford to laugh to scorn the implied threat hang
ing over us and that this is better policy than
Welding to the dictates of n hasty resentment.
Cuba will be ours whenever it is right and need
full for us to take it. Whenever the might of
this republic is put forth i'll Just cause there
is no human power which can resist 1t. Under
such circumstances well afford to wait
until the pear has ripened. have no sympa-
thy with those who are so impatient to grasp
the territory of our neighbors nor do my
opinions at all accord with those who tell us,
with such a confidence and sef-satished air,
that it is time this government had IA foreign
policy | believe we have always had foreign
policy nay more, the very best that II was pos
sible to adopt-the policy of attending to our
own business, without attempting To assume
sort of general guardianship over all mankind.
| said, Mr.. President, in the outset, that we
were approaching period of trial and OF dam
ger-but that danger does not threaten US from
abroad. In that quarter the skies are clear ana
bright 1t is mt home that the SYMPTOMS of an
approachng hurricane manifest. These
symtoms are everywhere about US ana around
us They may be found in the restless and dis
turbed state of the pubic mind, III the speeches
of dinner orators, dignifying war with the name
of progress and clothing wholesale robbery
with the mantle of patriotism. They might have
been seen in the phrensied enthusiasm which fol
lowed the footsteps of that sturdy heggar. Louis
Kossuth in the wild and reckless attempts OF
American citizens To take possession of the isl
aud OF Cuba. Sir, L deplore their fate as mueh
rs any man can. ami condemns strongly tie
crupl and hnrharous conduet of the Spanish