Butte record., 1854-07-15

SPAIN AND THE UNITED STATES
The Madrid correspondent Of the Lon
don Times, in his letter Of April q.
writes as follows:
M Soule is reported to have said that
the settlement Of the dispute with the
United States would be greatly facilitat
ed by the dismissal of the present Min
lstry; and although l bv no means
vouch for the truth Of this report, and
although such a suggestion from foI
eign envoy, would be pretty sure, with
50 naughty and jealous a people as the
Spaniards, to defeat its own object. vet
should the dispute in question, unfor-
iuoateiy lead 10 serious difficulties be.
tween the two countries, the early down
fall Of the Cabinet might be one Of its
earliest resuls. Last night, in the saloon
of an ex-Mnister, an idle report, which
obtained no credit, of hostilities being
imminent between Spain and the United
States, brought on a discussion as to the
probable consequences Of such a strug-
gle, especially as regards the island Of
Cuba. Its garrison OF upward of 20,0 600
men, and the Improvements that have
been made in is Notifications since the
attack Of the FilibIsteros, afford, in the
opinion of Spaniards, a sufficient guar
antee for the safety of that possession
in the event of war with the United
States.
The troops there, are now armed with
MIME rifles, instead of the wretched flint
muskets, upwards Of twenty years old,
which We're their weapons at the time of
the piratical attempt above referred to.
There are also PaixhAn guns in the bat
terles OF the island, and there is no rea-
son to doubt that stout defence would
be made. But I incline TO think that
the Spaniards, although they may pos
sib,y not overrate their own military
value and means Of defence, underrate
the prowess Of .:.eir anticipated enemies
Thy justly enough observe, that the
success o. the Americans in their wars
With the degenerate and undisciplined
Mexicans, a not to be taken az an ar
gument that they would be equally sue
cessful IN an att ok on Cuba. At the
same time, they hardly take sufficiently
inio consideration the tenacious valor Of
the Angl II Saxon race-the expert rife
P actice of he Americans, aud their
abundance Of wealth, that great elcmen mt
Of success IN war. t. any but Span
iards, there can scracelv be a shadow of
doubt as TO the fate of Cuba, in case Of
a war between Spin and the States :;
supposing, of course, non-interterence
on the part Of any powerful ally of the
former country At the same time,
America would not escape undamaged
in a contest with this comparatively
feeble country.
The ocean would be quickly covered
with privateers under Spanish colors,
and American commerce would suffer
greatly. And at the Last moment, when
all hope was lnst, fully believe that
Spain would emancipate the slaves and
abandon the island tn them sooner than
see It's darling possession the "Queen of
the Antilles" fall an easy prev and a
fiaurishing possession into the hands of
the ambitious and eucroaching Republic,
which gives it so much uneasi ness. |
infer this at least from the tenor of con-
versation here, and doubt not the Span
Iards, their ingenuity stimulated by
their defeat and sPoilation, would 6nd
means 10 leave the island in such a state
as would give the Americans vast deal
Of trouble even after the last European
had Quilted It's shores. The more sensi-
bic men in this country, admit that
Cuba must sooner or ltter, pass into the
possession Of the United States; but
they admit it with feeling Of infinite
bitterness, and with a stubborn resolu-
ton that the change Of owners shall
occur as late as possible and the prize
be dearly bought by the eonquerors.
IA i