Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-05-29
The Acquisition Of Cuba.


correspondent Of the Richmond Enquirer wri-
eps,lc appears in the Enquirer of Saturday, is most
numerically severe on the Richmond Why
He opens his communication as follows;
"The Richmond whig with its native Instincts seems
determined to oppose every OF the adminstra
tion, matter how saluary may be in its effects to
tain the honor and dignity of the nation So eager is it
In Its opposition 1t has taken time by the orelock in op
posing with SPAIN before has been declared
official information has ben received to the plan OF
negotiations. Il has issued its sweeping denunciations
against Minister the Court Of Madrid when every
act Of his in the whole transaction Is under special in
srnetions from his government IL has used every effort
in its TO prejudice the Spanish nation against him
and his country thus obructng and retardng the pro-
gress of negotiations IL It natural suppose that
our just demands should meet with violent opposition at
the Spanish Court when they the taken by the
press In this country9 BY doing, they hasten
iog and concentrating the very events they
iy oppose"
We are not at all surprised at such criticisms from
certain class of our political opponents. We know
that there set of blind bgoted politicians who
have more beraity than to believe that every thing
the a Wing says is wrong We have sometimes
thought that if We could manage for while to seem
to advocate Democratic, and oppose Wing doctrine,
their blind prejudices would be thereby sufficiently
aroused to convert them into the supporters of good
Wing doctrine. The game, however, would not be
completely sold to party that in their opinion the Adj
ministraton do no wrong, and whether from want
of judgment to discern the right from the wrong or
Predetermined purpose to stand by the Administra-
ton right wrong, it so happens that they always
turn up on the Administration side. They doubtless
take the Brigaders Administration their political
guide and predetermined to stand by it at every
hazard, and to the last extreme. From such we OK
haiti thor ,Lo H.
on that "the Richmond Wing seems determined to
oppose every measure of the Administration, no mat
ter how salutary it may be in its effects to sustain the
honor and dignity of the nation" nor do we expect
anything else from them than support OF every act
of the Administration, whether it sustains the honor
and dignity OF the nation or not.
AS to the charge of the Enguirer's correspondent
that we have taken time by the oreock in opposing
war with Spain before war was declared, or any
official information has been received as to the plan oil
negotiations" we have simply to say that we have
done no such thing We have opposed the suspension
Of the neutrality laws by Congress- orwhat is consd
cred equivalent to placing in the hands OF the Pres
den the authority to involve us in foreign war at any
moment upon just such pretext may be assumed by
aweak and mbecile Administration Wehappen not
to be a,nn" i" chat position There are those of the
Democratic party occupying high and influential posi-
tons who ale with us in the views have express
ed on this subject. Are we to understand that this
is taking time by the forclock in opposing war
with Spain?" Ii the privilege of getting up war
with Spain on its own hook entirely is what the Ad.
ministraton is AFTER think it high time to oppose
this move The country has had experience enough
in so highanded move that of the President tax.
ing the responsibility of transferring the power to
make war out of the hands Of Congress into his own
in defiance Of the express stpulaons of the Const>
tuition.
We are as much in favor of the acquisition of Gu
ba the correspondent of the Enquirer can be- and
have frequently expressed ourselves to that effect
We have only taken ground against the getting up
war with Spain for the sole purpose of wrestling the
Island of Cuba from her possession. If we are to
get possession Of Cuba, let obtain it by fair and
honorable means-not seek to pick quarrel with
Spain-go to with that nation and after triumph
ing, we most assurcdy would do demand the sur.
render Of Cuba as Indemnity for the past and secu-
rity for the future" 1t is to any such unrghteous
mode OF proceeding that we are opposed We had
better pay fair price for the acquisition than to be
guilty OF act to gain it, which must disgrace us in
the estimation of the world. Cuba will be ours we
confidently believe, in the Of time. Our coun
try has only TO wait patiently for the natural current
of events to obtain it on honorable terms. Rather
than obtain it any other terms, our citizens will
excuse the Administration Of Gen. Pierce for not
browning itself with the glory Of the annexation Of
Cuba
We will give that Administration the credit Of hav.
ing ambition enough to want to do something to re-
deem itself and cover its disgraceful failure If
by some means, lair or foul, it could divert public at
tenton from its contemplate career the opportunity
would be gladly seized upon. 1t is, pc rhaps, silly
enough to look upon war with Spain or some other
foreign power, as god.send at this time in accom-.
plshing that end. But in that game it will find
itself mistaken. The American people view the
question Of in different light, and whether for
the acquisition of Cuba any other purpose, they
want TO have right and justice on their side before
embarking in IT,