Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-01-31
SPEECH OF HON. w. W. B0VCE,
OE SQIITH CAROLINA


some observations on the annexation OF Cuba
l consider it the great question in our foreign
relations.
A feyerish impatence seems to be seizing up.
on our people for territorial extension. In some
quarters the cry is for the Canadas. Upon this
point, we have been Informed by leading men,
Der from Ohio (Mr Campbell that the people
upon the northern frontier look with deep feel
ing to the annexation of The British Provinces of
North America In other quarters the cry is for
the Sandwich Islands some are wishing for an
other partition of Mexico others are looking to
the regions watered by the mighty Amazon
more are bent upon The acquisition Of Cuba, and
some have such inordinate stomachs that they
are willing TO swallow up the entire continent.
These are all but various phases Of the manifest
destiny idea. must confess do not sympa.
thize with this idea. | think our true mission
is conservatism, not indefinite extension.
Why do we desire further ex ension? Do we
need any more territory? On the north We lose
ourselves upon the verge OF eternal SHOWS on
the south we penetrate TO the fierce heat OF The
equator; upon the east and the west We pause
only on the beech of the two great oceans OF the
world If we apply. the Instruments we lind
that the United States are ten times rs large as
Great Britain, Ireland, and France combined !;
three times rs large as the whoie of France,
Great Britain, Ireland, Austria, Prussia, Spain,
Portugal, Belgium, Holland, and Denmark, near
ly equal TO the whole of Europe; as large as the
Roman Empire when lis eagles dominated from
the Euphrates to the pillars of Hercules. If it
be possible for nation 10 have territory enough,
we certainly have it, and whatever else we may
need, we do not need any more space. If any
! one were to propose placing the whole of Eu-
rope, one of the great divisions of the globe,
under single Government, he would be DEEM
ed q madnan, yet we realize territorially this
idea, and still crave more. Strange hallucination
Do we need any more population? Why, our
population is already near thirty millions, and
increasing at velecy so fearful that the boldcst
must trenlble at the future. Our annual increase
is million. If we had the same density of
population over our entire surface MS in Massl-
rhusetts, our population would be four hundred
an twenty millions and if we increase for the
next century in the same ralio We have for the
last sixty years, our population will be within
fraction Of FIVE hundred millions. What pros
pect and how short tiure for what is hun
dred years to nation the Roman Empire en-
listed twelve centuries-there are noble families
in England who dale back The lusire If their
houses four hundred years. century TO a ma
ton is not more than ye r 10 an individual.
When we look beyond the present, and pierce
the fu ure, the increase of on. population pre-
sents great problem. When the vast surface.
of our territory shall be in blaze with the fires
of civilization; when the living tides of human
beings flowing from the shores Of the Atlantic
shall be met by the returning tides from the Pa
cihc when the very gorges of the Alleghanles
and the Rocky noun aius shall be full Of people;
when population shall be pressing upon the
means of subsistence, what will become Of the
Republic, what will be the fate Of liberty itself?
Instead of desiring moro population, we would
be most fortunate if We could remain at what
we are. A nation has sufficient population when
it is able to protect itself from external viocnce
We have already fully reached this point.
A Republic, Federal Republic in particular,
cannot exist without external pressure. IL Is the
fundamental idea upon which the whole theory
rests Take away the pressure from without,
and Confederacy necessarily goes to pieces.
AS long as Carthage stood = rival to be dreaded
by The Roman people, the Republic fourished in
It's greatest vgor; but when Carthage was over.
thrown, the Republic, relieved from external
pressure, became The prey of factions; the Grac-
chi, Sylla, and Marius, Pompey and Cesar, pass
ed over the stage, convulsng The State with their
struggles for power, making it bleed ut every
psre, and trampling under fuut The glory and the
liberty of Rome. he history of our own coun-
try is instructive on this point Before the war
of 1912, while The State WAS in dread of English
power, sectionasm was unknown. We were
one people. Patriotism WAS an American plant,
indigenous TO the soil. 1t grew as well on the
bleak hills of New England as in The swamps of
the South. Great men and great IDEAS made our
history. But after that war had demonstrated
our entire security from external force, sectional
ideas and sectional parties arose. Factions
usurped The stage. Narrow ideas loomed up in
to gigantic proportions The North and the South
became two hostile camps; and the gulf of sepa-
ration has gradually baen widening as we ad-
vancei in our career OF greatness and power.
L, s very clear that. do what else we may. we
have nothing 10 gain by annexing more territory,
to increase our population by = foreign supply.
If We do not need any more territory, or any ex-
traordnary addition of population by acquisition
of territory, then the annexation of Cuba cannot
be urged on other of these grounds. Then upon
what grounds can il be urged! Perhaps tlnay
"a Il military position to protect our commerce.
Yet cannot admit this and, in considering this
point, must assume that it is the settled policy
Of our Government not TO permit Cuba 10 pass
ON Spain into the hands of any of the great
European Powers. Taking this for granted,
say We have nothing to fear from Cuba. We
have strong positions at Key West and Tor,u-
gas, which we are now fortifying, and which can
be rendered impregnablc. Our naval power is
infinitely superior to that of Spain; we can eff
Nd IN Gr1f of
Mexico and the idea of our commerce being in
danger from Cuba, is, think, without the slight
est foundation. Experience is the most concu-
sive argument on this point. Our commerce
never has been disturbed from Cuba; and if we
have not been disturbed in the infancy of our
power, what have We to fear now in its maturity
But go further So fur from the acquisition of
Cuba strengthening us in military point OF
view, think it would be q source OF infinite
weakness. And if the history of the contests
in Europe, between the great Powers, demon
strates any fact, it is that maritime colonies to
nation of secondary naval force are great draw
backs. Where did England strike her great ri
walls, France and Holland? Not in The heart of
their dominions, but in their extremilies, their
colonies. The contest now going on between
the Allies and Russia, is most instructive on this
point. If Russia had isolated maritime posses
sions, the Allies would wound her severely but,
as it is, she has no such vulnerable points she
is compact massy solid, and in vain, with frantic
rage, they dash their proud fleets and we'll APP
pointed armies against her huge bulk.
We are now in the position Of Russia, with
all her advantages; we are the Russia of the
western contnent We have vast territoryj we
are compact and invulnerable, defiant of the
world in AIMS. Shall we weaken our position