The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-17

and in our foreign relations generally has acted
! very poor, pitiful, undgnifed and even criminal
part calculated To degrade the nation and impair t
| permanent interests.
Now, nothing is so well calculated to encourage
the spirit of fllibusterism, . weak and imbecie
administration which permits our flag to be insulted;
vessels to be fired into and captured the high
seas; citizens to be executed without trial;
commerce to be wantonly and insultingly inter
rupted; and which, in fine, does not pro-
tect the honor of the country or represent
the feelings of the people-and which holds
up the shield, which the eagle on our c0atof-arms
carries for the protection Of tyranny and points the
spears at the breasts of the friends of freedom -Four
years more OF the Fillmore administration, one like
it, would make the whole country illibusterize.
Again, the question in relation to Cuba is not now
what it was ten, or even five years ago. That island
always Of Importance has risen vastly in public est
nation both here and in Europe, within the last few
years, and within that time the extremely feeble
tenure by which Spain holds it has been demonstrated
To us it is of vital importance; Its possession Is
political necessity justified by the law and practice
of nations-t is nuisance which must be abated.
To the commercial North the destiny Of Cuba is
now OF much more importance than to the South.
The blockade of the mouth Of the Mississippi has
been talked about; it win never be done. Blockade
cotton No. War who may, cotton must go for
ward. But suppose it was done; the Southern plant
ers are out OF debt they have plenty to live on, and
their produce is not lost by delay.
But gold can be blockaded on the Pacific, and if it
AS 1t wOuld-evaded the blockade there, its transit
from the Pacific to the Gulf and thence to New
York, would be entirely cut of by Jamaica, Hayt
and Cuba.
But, with Cuba in our possession, there are vari
GUS ways in which gold could be forwarded if it can
escape blockade on the Pacific coast
| Now it is appalling to think what would be the
effect on the vastly expended operations of the
North, OF even temporary cessation OF the supply
of gold from California
In the face of these things, it will not do for Sena
tors to become top-lottcal about our determination
not to let any other nation have Cuba-and OH
Cuba will have" and then taper off with "when
we get it with the consent Of Spain, or the Gu
bans themselves acquire their independence and de-
sire annexation" Two contingencies, neither OF
which will ever happen.
When we consider the stubbornness of the Spanish
characterts tenacity Of territory the great anxiety
with which Spain clings to Cuba-the last of all her
unbounded realms discovered by Columbus not
least the publication Of the abortion correspondence
under President Polk for the purchase of the island
we must be satisfied that there is not the least hope
| OF our making a successful negotiation with SPAIN
| 1t will deceive many if negotiation can ever be
opened. But if Spain should consent, will France
and England consent !! We will get that answer
should recollect that the English navy, now at Ha-
| vana, and policing the entrance to the Gulf Of
Mexico, can hoist the English flag the Moro Cas-
| tie in six hours. And it would not be the least
strange or at variance with the practice OF England
if it was done.
Why was the proposition made to our government
ior trpartte treaty. It was simply to gain apre-
is now that it would be rejected-that President
dare entertain such proposition.
They know some things in Europe, and, among
others, that wish the possession of Cuba, and will
have it. or that we fools if we don't.
We play the game Of politics at great disadvantage
with the European powers they see our cards
and, if they did not foolish malignant President
would show them-and at the same time they con-
ceal theirs
| Now, in spite Of all this gas, how do we
stand The answer to refusal to entertain the
trpartite treaty was, that England surrounded Cuba
4 unfyv 60 xIa~
pressing the slave trade, and France occupied Sa-
mana under pretence suppose, that she wanted to
do 80. Suppose that tomorrow news should arrive
that England had taken possession Of Cuba and
that with all possible parade and buster, Mr.. Fill
| more and his whole cabinet, and his recent allies,
should call the British minister for explana-
tom what would be the cool reply? why, gentle
men, We wanted Cuba, you wanted Cuba; but We to
it, this you refused and felt at liberty to exercise
our national right and take it, thing you would
have done If you had sense enough"
Can the people Of Cuba unaided, achieve their in
dependence The thirteen colonies which founded
this great nation could not have done so; and they
were not disarmed people; every important point
was not garTlsOned; free communication not pro-
hibited; they had the press and the town meeting,
and the assembly; and their industry not taxed
very slightly so; and, in fine, they did not groan
under one milonth part the tyranny and oppression
| which poor Cuba suffers
But it is said that the colonies struck for freedom
and then it was glorious to aid them.
| This will not dot would appear that these old
fogies are so old that they have forgotten their
school lessons and the first pages OF the history of
their own country
they will look into the matter they will find that
before the revolutionary war commenced that glori
old fbustre, Ben Franklin, and others, were
guilty OF ilibusterism in France, Holland Prussia
and you may say, all over Europe, preparing mater
ia aid for the day they knew would come; and when
the war begun, individual communities, and even ma
tons at peace with England, fllibustered, and thus
the colonies obtained arms, ammunition, clothing,
men, and officers to discipline their battalions.
According to these modern doctrines, all this was
rascaliy piece OF business but SUCH submit has not
been the judgment OF history.
But let us examine this proposition according to
the standard of political morality If people are
oppressed to certain extent, which leaves them
control enough OF their energies and means to make
resistance, and they do So then it is glorious to aid
them. But if the screws of tyranny and oppression
are frightened down upon them so that they cannot
resist then it is Infamous and dishonorable assist
them, even to rise to the point where their own
energies and means might save them. If man in
the hands of robbers has his limbs free, and fights to
himself then it is noble to rescue him. but if he
is chained and bound so that he cannot move his legs
or his arms then it is most monstrous outrage TO
lend him file or TO cut the cords which bind him.
To say the least this moral arithmetic does not suit
our day Not less untenable is the effort under Fill
mores proclamation to cast odium on the exed
Cubans who have sought refuge amongst us, and who
have not yet given up the hopes of achieving the in
dependence OF their native land Exed by tyrants,
tHty are driven lnto oDscuTlty, ana compelled al
most to hide themselves from tyranny here; for poor
fellows they do not know what little weight weak
and unpopular President has in this country when he
outrages public sentiment and the generous i'm
pulses of the people.
Let us take short paragraph of history. When
the aristocracy overthrow the democracy Of Thebes
they garrisoned the citadel oppressed and slew the
people, and drove many into exile. A part of the
Theban youth sought refuge in Athens; there they
fllibusteriZed and enlisted the aid of the Athenian
youth. They marched in the night by devious paths,
and, by an ingenious manGuvre seized one Of the
gates Of Thebes. They rushed to the market place
raised the shout of liberty called the people to arms
stormed the citadel and freed their country from in
toerable bondage. And further, Thebes rose to a
higher pitch OF prosperity and renown under
these same libusters than she ever attained before
or after: and the name Of that noble ilibuster
Epaminondas stands second to that oil Washington
Mhat has Leen the inLnrnnnt r.o.torit,, ON thia