The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-15
Cuba and Amazonia.

We publish below two articles, one from
the Dayton Empire, the other from the
Ohio Statesman, as giving the views Of
those papers relative to Cuba and Anna.
zonia. Such extracts are valuable as
part of the current history of the times.
and as shadowing forth the views Of lead
ing papers on an important subject:
Cuba must belong to the United States.
II will not be diplomacy that will secure it
for its destiny is already recorded as the
inevitable result Of causes now operating.
Nature, which originally separated it by
a resistless current OF the ocean, from an
unpopulateds and savage continent, now
DEGREES its virtual restoration, through in
stumentalities not less resis,less, which
new age and new necessities have brought
into existence. Mexico must, in obedience
to the same inevitable tendency, ultimate
ly form part Of the North American Con-
federation. The people Of that country
must either be regenerated by All infusion
Of the progressive spirit which character
ICES the people Of the United States, in
arts, science, navigation, n internal improve
ments, manufactures and commerce, or
their nationality must be extinguished.
This regenerating republican influence
must also prevail throughout Central A.
merica. 1t is the only means by which
the amazing natural resources ofthose pro-
life regions can be developed. Already,
too, the magnificent Basin Of the Amazon
is beginning to command the attention of
the scientific and philosophic minds of this
country. Ii has been not inappropriately
termed the India Of the new world. It's
natural riches are incalculable and almost
exhe ustless. 1t is only through the appli-
cation Of those principles of free CONNER
cial intercourse, which is a part OF our
political system, that those untold riches
which now perish ungathered on her broad
bosom, can be appropriated by human in
dustry to ansrer the increasing wants oi
mankind. The predomin ating influence
therefore,-upon the American Continent
at least-must be that of the United States
1t is true, all our ideas, all the peculiari.
ties of our civilization, are not adapted as
yet to the various peoples and races which
exist in America; nor can this adaptation
be enacted by human laws; it is being en-
acted. however, by the slower, perhaps
but much more certain operation of the
laws of fNature.-Day,om Empire.
We would add, that we believe that oul
ideas and misunderstanding TO that pc
culiar refinement, which gives the States
complete jurisdiction over their local af
fairs, yet limits strictly the general govern
ment TO its own proper sphere-are adapt
ed to all races and nations, who have sens'
enough to know the difference betwee,
meum and tuum.
Ii we annex State, we do not run ava,
with il. We make it more itself. by Civ
ing it greater freedom to enact for itself
all laws which il may think proper for it
t own welfare. We may lniuse our Amer
icanism into Cuba. Central America o
Amazonia. as we have in Santa Fe or Cal
ifornia; make each an integral part of ou
: Union: yet our polity does not take ava
: the right to develop her own resources
5 and care for her own prosperity. Our an
nexation thus differs from that of the Eng
lish. The latter takes away all that is val
liable and would leave but desolation t
( crafty the lust of conquest. Ours add
6 TO, by developing and aggrandizing tn
country annexed.
i Those who abuse the word "conserva
] tive" by its application to their own polio
mistake radically, in contending that an
nexation degrades the State SO added.
elevates and gives her larger measur
ofindividuality and Independence. 1t i've
greatness more distinct and Distinguishing
than any American power can possess OF
J of the Union. Would Ohio, could she b
D as great, separately considered, out Of thi
G Union, ss now? Or Louisiana. or Flor
r, da, or Texas? Annexation is the yer
creation life and salvation OF such coun
tries as Cuba, Nicaragua, Canada, an
Sonora, as distinct powers. Each Stat
of this Union has its own peculiar charac
0 ter and standing before the world. Ii
n position as power on earth is the grea
y er, for its confederate relations.-Stales
man.