The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1855-03-29
From the Washington Senti,sexs
Cuba and our Relations with Spain.


We have laid before our readers the
saR0st, important papers thus fur made pub.
nc, Touching our entanglemcnts with Spaiih
We have considered those papers attentive
y, and we have cndcavored to understand
the cotenporaneous events. AS the resul,
of our efforts in that behalf. we have arriv-
ed at that conclusion thatthe citizens of the
United States must make up their minds to
submit to great notifications, or to witness
actual open war within the next eighteen
months. &
The position Of Cuba makes it most
desirable acquisition. The manner in which
it is governed makes it most annoying to
us. The probabilities Of its future dcstines
make its ownership by us a matter of prime
necessity. Cuba is within sight of our
shores, and its people are borne down by
the most unrclenting dcspotism. These
things, however. would give us no right to
demand its cession to the United States
But when we consider that much of our
Commerce passes along the coasts of that
ls:and-that tho despotie principles which
prevail there frequently assail our citizens,
and that distant and unfriendly monarchies
have established = dangerous influence there,
no cool, calculating man can fail TO admit
that vital interests demand that we should
take the most vigoraus measures to obtain
the Queen of the Antilles.
Thisis no new thing. 1t has been ap-
P'Heus years o-rr'.o;--z,. : er q.
istration discountcnanced all idea ofs,lic &C.
,qnisiticn of Cuba in any manner or in any
form. But .hs progressive'iieas rromulga,
ted i'll the Inaugural Address of the prese1t
Chief Magistrate, created the belief mall
quarters Of the country, that every essslion
would be made to bring Cuba within the
jurisdiction Of the United States Since
that. Inaugural Address was delivered the
necessity Of the acquisition of5tll6. island
has become more apparent than it ever
was. Our commerce has been moro vim.
dictively haras,cd blythe Spanish officials,
whilst less disposition has been" shown to
make atonement for the wrongs and in.
iuries which those officials have Inflicted.
The gradual Authorization of the island has
become more apparent every day, and scarce
Is. month has passed without some decree
which affects usmost seriously. And above
Eanss beyond ell this, we see more distinctly,
the longer we look, the full designs Of Eng
Etand and France, which have their base Of
- Itiions-as Envana.
F. We are sorry, thcretoas, lassstrl;.c admin
istration ever relaxed dter even appeared to
relax, from the determination to require full
indemnify for all the injuries which Cuban
officials have inflicted upon ia, and to de-
.mand satisfactory security that those injuries
would not be repeated, III the shape ola re-
modelling Of the government of the Island
and an abnegation of English and French
control. If.thcse things had not been done,
then the administration could have present
ed its utinatum-a purchase Of the Island
Mt n liberal price, and, falling that, war and
conqucst-war in selfdefence, and conquest
in sclfdefence.
AS it is, we have done all that we could
do to irritate tho pr!de Of spain-and then
we have stopped sllort. We have embit.
tered an enemy by our demands, and we
have given courage to that enemy by shrink
ing from enforcing those demands. Had the
recommendations Of the OStend conference
been sustained--fully and cordially sustain
ed-all mightlave been calm and smooth.
But the principles Of that conference were
not Sustained and the fact that the confer
ence originated where it did, rankles as a
thoriSin the side Of Spain, and, the puLlica-
tons connectedgwith it are sas gall and
yormwood to e palate Of spanish<authori-
ty, at the ssaa6Es simss mastsan eertaaas|y
there is no IN 81 that M 4S,cs s'sd and gIu.
ton which woIId countetact these hosals
influences. ~ aS
It is not difficult, we think, to prophecy
the result. Spain will not only refuse iAll
detnntty for former: aggrcssions. bYtIEill
commit aggressions in future ina er
and more offensi:e spirit. Demands Tor
redress will be met by moro naughty and
insulting replies; so that after nine months
are waste'i in useless negotiations, Congress
will meet in Deesmberencx. with peace or
war with Spain pressing upon it forsinme
ai,te decision. We see no hope of pur-
chasingEuba now. We see no opemng for
a peaceful adjustment osem difficulties with
spsSG We see 70 prospe-t'of mitigating
any of the evis Which are likely to flow
fp6m the neatsneighborhood of Cuba.> On
tlSs other hand, we seethat Spain will annoy
us. .HHore than ever under the belief that Ne
wifshrink from her power and FROM the
powefaf her allies, and that sbswilt refuse,
drmer tlian,etsst slIu "a Cnbs-.-thus max.