The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-09
The Cusnn auestion In Earncst.

Whatever be the exact position of the nego-
tiations between the Spanish government and
our Minister at Madrid, it is quite obvious that
the vexod question of the dominion of Cuba is
approaching point from which final solution
may not be far distant. 1t is possible that the
administration may lack the courage to avail
themselves Of the opportunity which the pre-
sent conuncure affords; and Mr. Soule may
contrivc. by some act of his. to complicate
matter which under ordinary circumstances
might be very spec lily settled. But we doubt
whether either the one or tie other will exer-
else much Influence in retardng the natural
progress of events for any length Of time. The
Cuban question has been too long before the
public for ii TO bopossible to delay its solution
by temporary eypedients or diplomatic shifts.
The bulk of the American people, whether
rightly or wrongly, have come to consider it a
settled thing that Cuba must sooner or later be
come Incorporated into the Union; and while
they have never wavered in their hostility to
.flibusterism, they have constantly nurtured in
their own breasts quiet conviction that when
the time came for its acquisition. the United
States would rot let il slip II is in the highest
degree futile and impractical 30 meet this con
viction with arguments based either on the i'm
morality Of seeking to acquire Cuba, or on the
danger OF admitting il to the confederacy. These
are points which have been argued, weighed
discussed, and decided. theoretically. ofcourse
the popular decision cannot add to or take
away from their abstract truth or falsehooi
hut practically, it renders it quite absurd to
raise them again and again. or to tell rs, at the
present day, that We ought not to acquire Cuba
If we can. We have made mp our minds that
We ought; if we are wrong. the wrong be
upon our own heads. The wisest thing that
professors OF morality and opponents of wing
conservatism can now do is to exert their in
luence to render the acquisition peaceable and
speedy. The Seward party are wasting their
time when they try to convince US in May,
1854, that ii would be bad thing for the
United States to plant the stars and stripes OF
tie Moro Castle 1t is very shocking, no doubt,
as Carlyle says, that the opinion Of thousand
ordinary men should outweigh that of one mal
Of genius; but in this worlds economy. no
better way Of ordering matters has yet been
devised, and as the thousand men il this conn.
try have decided in favor of acquiring Cuba
fact which Mr. Seward will hardly venture to
deny-the minority, however wise they may
be, have no choice but to yield.
Whether the present be or be not the proper
time for carrying this popular determination
into effect, is another question. All things col-
sidered, we think the chances are strongly Ia
favor of the present imbroglio leading to in
execution. The grievances Of " ich we have
to complain are neither imaginary nor
isolated cases Our commercial inter
course with the largest island on our coasts
has been repeatedly interrupted by tn
malice the ignorance, and the absolute
perversity of its c lonial ulers We have time
after time expostulated, hut invariably find
ourselves referred to government thousand
of miles away. Some explanation has occa
sionally followed our appeals; ut even thi.
has been so dlatory as to be worthless to us
aud entirely without effect on the authorities O.
III Island. Upon this state Of things, we re-
quest tie government Of Spain to empower her
colonial governors to settle cases of dispute