The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-07-14

L
Among its leaders, carefully put into the by
authority style of annunciation, we have the
following significant outgiving: off the public
rumors which attribute to Great Britain de
sign, in connection with Spain, to convert Cube
into a Government of free blacks, shall prove
to be well founded, the high position taken by
the Executive will be put to severe trial.
II may not be the policy of our Government
to take the initiative in regard to Cuba, al
though the considerations looking to its acqui'
siton inuolue almost necessarily the question o.
our sslfpnsrvation."
So far as "selfpreservation is concerned, il
makes not one jot of difference whether a
Government of free blacks is established in
Cuba by the independent act of Spain, impelled
by her own policy or whether such an act may
be helped by British inducements-not a jot.
The organ is getting ready therefore, to resist
the thing ITSELF and the public is to be enraged,
and the laws of nations evaded, on the false
issue that it must be an interference by Great
Britain, in violation of the Monroe doctrine.
And as to the method and occasion, dit may
not be the policy of our Government to take
the initiative" and then, again, it may
The Washington Republic, also, which, if it
is not quite an organ, is at least second fiddle
to the Administration, is on the same trail. On
the eth ult., it says to the philanthropists and
statesmen of England, Let them beware, lest,
in the mids, of their ingenious Vaccinations to
preserve the Cuba of Spain, they may mad
yertently fire train which shall give separa.
ton and freedom to the Cuba of England, -
(Ireland) And in its leader of the next morn
ing, in which the growing power and threaten
ing attitude of Russia toward the west of Eu-
rope is exaggerated to absurdity, England is
cautioned to behave herself, after this fashion ::
"Great Britain should not negotiate with
Spain a communication Of Cuban Slavery for the
apprentice system, nor prevent the American
acquisition of Cuba by emancipatng the slaves.
She should still less exasperate our people by
her denunciation Of or interference with, the
institution of Slavery. Such diplomacy may
result in the loss of Cuba by Spain, perhaps in
a war between the United States and England
If Eogland be the coastguard of Europe against
Russia, suppose she encounter upon her chosen
element the public and privateer navy of the
United States, she will of course be greatly
crippled in the conflict; and to that extent she
will be unable to combat the common enemy
If there should be war, coincident in it's oc-
currence, between Russia on the one side and
the United States on the other, the Powers of
Europe would be exposed to great embarrsss-
ment if not hazard Of absorption by the auto
cratic Powern
Distinctly enough, notice is hereby given,
that if England does not remove all cause of
offence on the part of the Southern States we
will find cause of quarrel with her, as surely as
she gets involved with Russia in the mainte-
nance of whatever of civil liberty and national
independence Western Europe happens to pos
sess; and while the Cossack is oyerrunning the
free States of the Eastern hemisphere, we will
take the opportunity of recovering Mexico,
Cuba, and the West Indies, for Slavery. There
is nothing less or else in the idea of these
two yoked agitators of the Slavery question
which are now basking in the sunshine Of Gen.
Pierce's patronage, and enjoying his semi-au-
thentic appreciation
Is this what ye call carrying out the Com
promises of 1850? Is this the suppression of
all agitation Is Russia to b. aided and COM
forted in this style Are the million Of Irish
in this country to be set off on the old grudge
against England, by way Of diversion in favor
of Slavery extension in the Gulf? And is the
blind, ineffective, traditionary distrust and dis
like Of American patriotism to be armed for
the like purpose, and on an equally futile pre-
tence?
Well, we will wait for the initiative" Some
day or other, the Administration will have to
take an open, honest responsibility and then,
perhaps the condition of things at home and
abroad may help to open the eyes of the coun-
try, and, possibly, may cross-cut the policy
which you are just now trying to shape to your
own ends If England is ever forced to extremi.
ties, she will do justice to her own subjects
Europe will recover its liberties at blow, and
where will our tyranny be in that dread day o.
general reckoning? The outrage which you
contemplate is too stupendous to be trusted
Lesser villanies are comparatively safe; but
whenever crime becomes gigantic, it takes il
such elements Of greatness that mean inten
ton cannot control it. No great thing can b
wholly made up of falsehoods. You had better
reconsider it. Keep yourselves within thu
proper sphere of man-stealing and man-hunt
ing as a domestic institution. Don't ventur,
upon the magnificent business Of nation crush
ing f.