Washington sentinel., 1855-03-08

become centre Of attraction for the travelling
world and secure permanent and prohtabie
market for her various productions. Her telds,
under the stimulus given to industry by remu-
nerating prices, would teen with cereal grain,
and her vineyards would bring forth vastly
quantity Of choice wines. Spain
would speedily become what bountiiul Provi-
dence intended she should be--one Of the first
nations Of Continental Europe, rich, powerful,
and contented.
Whilst twothirds of the price of the Island
would be ample for the completion of her most
important public improvements, she might,
with the remaining forty (million) thousand,
satisfy the demands now pressing so heavily
upon her credit, and create sinking fund,
which would gradually relieve her from the
overwhelming debt now paralyzing her energies.
Such is her present wretched financial con-
dtion, that her best bonds are sold upon her
own Bourse at about one-third OF their par
value, whilst another class on which she pays
no interest have but u nominal value, and are
quoted at about one-sixth Of the amount Tor
which they were issued.
Besides, these latter are held principally by
British creditors who may, from day to day, OBJ
tain the effective interposition of their own
government, for the purpose Of coercing pay
ment. lntimations to that effect have been
already thrown out from high quarters, and,
unless some new source of revenue shall en-
able Spain to provide for such exigencies, 1t is
not improbable that they may be realized.
Should Spain reject the present golden op
portunity for developing her resources, and re-
moving her financial embarrassments, it may
never again return.
Cuba in its palmiest days never yielded her
Exchequer, after deductingthe expenses OF its
government clear annual iucome of more
than million and half Of dollars. These
expenses have increased to such degree as to
leave deficit chargable on the Treasury Of
Spain to the amount Of six hundred thousand
dollars.
In pecuniary point Of view, therefore, the
Island is an incumberance, instead of a source
OF profit, to the mother country.
Under no probable circumstances can Cuba
ever yield to Spain one per cent. onihe large
amount which the United States are willing to
pay for its acquisition.
But Spain is in Imminent danger Of losing
without remuneration.
Extreme oppression, it is now universally
admitted, justiies any people in endeavoring
to relieve themselves from the yoke of their
oppressors.
AHC ouuSIinke WHICH VIC cOITuptt uIUitIdiy,
and unrelenting local administration necessa-
rily entails upon the inhabitants Of Cuba, can
not fail to stimulate and keep alive that spirit
of resistance and revolution against Spain
which has OF late years been so often mani
tested. In this condition Of affairs, it is vain
to expect that the sympathies Of the people of
the United States will not be warmly enlisted
in favor Of their oppressed neighbors.
Wa Rp0uu that tho prao;dopt 10 ,poflu ipAoy-
bic in his determination to execute the neu-
trality laws, but should the Cubano themselves
rise in revolt against the oppression which
they suffer, no human power could prevent
citizens of the United States and liberalmind-
ed men, Of other countries, from rushing to their
assistance.
Besides, the present is an age Of adventure,
in which restless and daring spirits abound in
every portion Of the world. 1t is not improba.
BILE, therefore, that Cuba may be wrested from
Spain by successful revolution, and in that
event she will not only lose the island, but the
price which we are now willing to pay for it
a price far beyond what was ever paid by one
people to another for any province.
1t may also be remarked that the settlement
OF this vexed question by the cession of Cuba
to the United States would forever prevent the
dangerous complications between nations to
which it may otherwise give birth.
ID is certain that should the Cubans them
selves organize an insurrection against the
Spanish government, and should other inde-
pendent nations come to the aid of Spain in the
contest, no human power could, in our opinion,
prevent the people and government of the Uni
ted States from taking part in such civil war,
in support of their neighbors and friends.
But if Spain, deaf to the voice Of her own in
terest, and actuated by stubborn pride and
false sense Of honor, should refuse to sell Cuba
to the United States, then the question will
arise, what ought to be the course Of the Amer
lean government under such circumstances
Selfpreservation is the first law of nature
with States as well as individuals All nations
have at different periods acted upon this maxim
Although it has been made the pretext for COM
hitting fragrant injustice, as in the partition of
Poland Gnd other similar cases which history
records, yet the principle itself, though often
abused, has always been recognized.
The United States have never acquired a
foot of territory except by fair purchase, or, as
in the case of Texas, upon the free and volun-
lary application Of the people Of that indepen-
lent State, who desired to blend their destinies
with our own.
Even our acquisitions from Mexico are no
exception TO the rule, because although we
might have claimed them BY right Of conquest,
n just way, yet we purchased them for what
was then considered by both parties full and
ample equivalent.
Our past history forbids that we should ac-
luire the Island Of Cuba without the consent
If Spain, unless justified by the great law OF
We must, in any event, pre-
erye our own conscious rectitude and our own
elf respect.
Whilst pursuing this course, we can afford
o disregard the censures Of the world TO which
We have been so often and so unjustly ex.
,osed.
After we shall have offered Spain q price for
,uba far beyond its present value, and this
hall have been refused, il will then be time to
consider the question, does Cuba in the posses
ion Of Spain seriously endanger our internal
'eace and the existence OF our cherished
Jnion?
Should this question be answered in the af.
rmative, then by every law, human and divine,
re shall be justified in wrestling it from Spain,
we possess the power. And this upon the