Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-05-18
THE QUARREL WITH SPAIN.

4 THE QUARREL WITH SPAIN.
There are two papers in the city of New York
the two ablest, perhaps, in the country that
have been doing, the past winter, noble service
in the cause of Freedom Ncto York Ere
ming Post and the Ne,0 York Tritane, In an
other column we give an article from the Ir-
bune, on the new attempt to pass the Nebraska
Bill. Below we give one from the Post, on the
dastardly and outrageous plot now going on by
the Slavery propaganding and doubly-distilled
Federal Administration, to involve the country
in causeless war with Spain, for the unblush-
ingly avowed object of plundering that country
of her fairst heritage for the purpose of extend
ing the black dominion of American Slavery.
This article also contains the burning language
of truth, spoken with power and iearlessness
which would make the couspiritors, if they were
not wholly lost to all shame, tremble in their
high places,
"That Spain is not disposed to part with the
island of Cuba at present, seems pretty clear ;
and it is no less clear that there is determine
ton in certain quarters to hurry the country
into measures which shall end in wrestling it i'm
mediately from her. To this end, all that we
hear lately about eutrages committed and repa.
ration refused, evidently points. A pretext fer
the forcbie seizure of Cuba is to be made, If one
does not present iteeJf. We have been watching
with great anxiety the progress of things in this
direction. Whether we possess Cuba or not, is
not matter Of SO much consequence az that eur
Government should pursue noble, just and
magnanimous course towards ether nations. We
shall remain great empire without Cuba--per-
thaps the permancnce Of our Unien is more GER
tain without the possession of that island than
with it--but the reputation of eur country wall
be blackened with disgrace to all time, if, upon
any pretext, we take up the sword against Spain
with the real motive of stripping her of her
possessions. If for the sake of making Cuba %
dependency of the United States We wage war
which we should otherwise have been careful to
avoid, we shall deserve to take the same place
among nations which the burglar and the high
wayman take aEiong the members of civilized
society
The dishonor will be still greater if, Boosting
us we do Of the possession of freedom, we seize
upon Cuba for the sake of perpetuating Slavery
in that island THAT this is the object which
most of those who clamor for the possession of
Cuba have in view is not concealed it is openly
ayowed in their journals and in the speeches Of
their orators. YET in regard to the black pop
ulation of the island, what has Spain done of
which we have right to complain She has
directed the slaves to beregistered; allowing no
human being to be held in bondage whose name
is not IN the registry; measure which will
check the slave trade, by making the inporta-
tons from Africa werthles to the trader. She
has taken measures to promote the employment
OF white domestics en- the island, to induce free
laborers to settle there, and to raise the moral
condition OF the blacks by encouraging marriage.
These measures are honorable to her they are
as wise as they are humane. and form one of the
fairest pages in her legislation. We thank God
that she was able to see in this case that hui
mainly and true policy were the same. Shall
we go to war with her because she has adopted
measures so philanthropic and so we'll suited to
their purpose-the suppression of the traffic in
human beings! IF we do, we shall deserve to
find that Providence, which holds in its hands
the issue OF battles, on the side Of our enemies.
Any pretence for going to war with Spain ap-
pears to be welcome to these agtators. The
newest is this that it does not become our
country to negotiate with the government at
Madrid in regard to difference, the cause of
which happened in place nearer to Washing
ton. We must 60 to war because of the dis
lance at which Madrid lies from Cuba. The
Washington Union of yesterday says
The period for dplomatizing at dtsaace of four hous-
and miles for redress for unprovoked fragrant insults and
ures sustained by country the hands of the nsoen
aud so far Concerned, irresponsible authorities
Havana has at length passsdby Duty ourselves requires
are perperaed the offences to Our honor and rights
1t is thus that certain class among us bus-
ter when we have an occasion of differences with
aweak government. In our transactions with
stronger and more formidable governments
with France, with Great Britain, with Russia
we take quieter tone; we do not think oil
requiring that the settlement should be made
where the controversy arises. We have had
frequent difficulties on the Canada frontier
We settle them with the home government at
London. We had the the Mcleod case, which
kindled vehement excitement In the northern
part OF the United States, and was followed by
"a protractod and difficult negotiation Nobody
ever thought of complaining that we could moi
settle the question with the Governor Genera
OF the Canadas. A controversy between the
citizens OF our own country and France takes
place at Guadaloup, we adjust it at Paris-be
tween Americans and Russians on the north
western coast. We accommodate the difference al
st. Petersburgh. The proudest Of the European
powers, if they had any difference with HOLLAND
in the ports Of her East Indian possessions, have
never thought of carrying their complaint else
where than to Amsterdam.
But in this dispute with Spain pretext fol
war is wanted, and if it cannot be found it il
to be made. If no other will answer, the dis
lance from Havana to Madrid NUT be made tt
serve.