Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-05


fit does thrive, an old adage viii become use
less hereafter. w
THE WESTERN QUESTION AND THE
MADRID CORRESPONDENCE OF THE
LONDON TIMES. sAh tsA as44elie
The Madrid correspondent Of the London
n Times, in recent latter, bearing date Septem
Der, 4th, gives vent to his honest indignation al
the character and course of the government Of
the UnitedStates. We are told by this learned
and able correspondent that the inordinate sell
conceit Of the Americans blinds them to the
future, and that they viii yet learn, by Q pain,
full experience, that the allied powers Of Europe
after humbling the Colossus Of the north, will
!. turn their warlike attention to soestern ques-
ton, and check the growing insolence Of their
Transatlantic neighbors ssg
The cause Of these indignant threats is the
great expense to which Spain has been put for
the protection Of Cuba. Nearly the entire
Spanish navy, and at least one-fourth Of the
whole effective force of the Spanish army are
called into requisition to guard this treasured
dependence of Spain from the profane clutches
of imaginary fllibusters. If it is certainly
hard" as alleged by the Madrid correspondent,
that Spain should incur this constant and heavy
expense, it is certainly harder that the United
States should incur such mighty displeasure
for an enterprise which its government has
never countenanced, and which exists only in
the affrighted Imagination of Spanish politi-
! clans. MISC r.
1t is subject Of complaint that the organi-
| cation of our government is such that its laws
and proclamations cannot be enforced that
despite Of law, right, or the wishes Of the gov
eminent an unprincipled minority--a band of
pirates still pursue their lawless designs upon
a dependence of friendly power. 1t would
be well, before SO grave charge was made, if
some reliance were placed upon the facts of the
case. 1t is strange that this correspondent
should be SO thoroughly posted in regard to
the movements of lawless adventurers in the
United States, when the government has never
been cognizant Of the fact, and when prominent
citizens, in both Mississippi and Louisiana are
assured that no such enterprise is now contem-
plated, and that no such organized force Of
adventures exists. The Madrid correspond
emit and those for whom II claims to speak must
excuse the government Of the United States, If,
with all its power and all its peaceful intentions
it should fail to dissipate the shadows which the
fears Of Spain have exaggerated into real
dangers.
But even should such danger exist in reality,
the complaint comes strangely from Madrid,
whose recent revolution has clearly proved the
utter incapacity of government there to check
the instruction of its own citizens. When the
Spanish government has indicated its power
and secured Its ascendancy over maddened
mob, 1t will be time enough for the complaint
that the government of the United States is
inadequate to prevent piratical expeditions by
few reckless adventures. When government
lends Its countenance to such an enterprise, OF
when il even winks at those engaged in it.
then there will be just cause for condemnation.
But we would be glad if the accomplished
statesman who thus speaks for France, Eng
land, and Spain, three of the first powers Of
Europe, would suggest the course which should
be pursued by our government in checking or
preventing an enterprise whose authors are
unknown, and which, in all probability, has no
existence. We suppose that nothing less than
q strong naval force on the coast Of Cuba
would relieve his approximations and satisfy his
demands.
The very facts stated by the Madrid CORE
spondent that so large a force is required for
the protection of Cuba, that the revenue drawn
from the island, by the mother country, is enor-
mously diminished by the expenses Of war
like preparations, and that trade is injured by
a state Of anxiety and doubtful security-all
these facts establish conclusvely that the
wisest policy Of Spain is peaceably 70 dispose
Of a colonial dependence which can never, as
such, be either safely or pro6tably held In
saying this, We do not pretend to justify any
piratical or illibusteriug expedition against
the island. Far from III we would unite with
the Madrid correspondentandw with the Spanish
government in deprecating such an enterprise
We only state the facts as they are stated by
this reliable authority; and from those facts we
argue that, whether the apprehensions Of Spain
be well founded OF not it is still unwise and
impolitic to retain possession Of an island
which becomes burden instead of a source of
profit to the mother country. i Hai NJ
- L ~ . y.
As TO the hectoring gasconade ihat charac-
terizes the remarks Of this writer, they are
scarcely worthy Of attention. We refer our
readers to the following language Of the CORE
spondence: sb go
"What is now passing in eastern and north
ern Europe, NIGH, one would think, make them
reflect on the great changes that have occurred
during the last forty years. The single word
steam should suffice to remind them that the
same fleets and armies which now check, and
probably soon will humble the Colossus OF the
North, might with equal facility, be transported
across the Atlantic. IL would be deeply 70 be
deplored that such an expedition should ever