Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-03-17

would be ample for the completion of her most
important public Improvements, she might, with
the remaining forty (milGonsl 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 condi-
ton, that her best bonds are sold upon her
own Dourse at about one-thlrd Of their par
value whilst another class on which she pays
no interest have but a nominal value, and are
quoted at about one-siXth of the amonnt for
which they were issued
Besides, these latter are held principally by
British creditors who may from day to day,
obtain the effective interposition Of their own
Government for the purpose OF coercing pay
ment. Intmations to that effect have been
already thrown out from high quarters, and,
unless some new source of revenue shall enable
Spain to provide for such exigencies it is not
improbable that they may be realized.
Should Spain reject the present golden OPP
portunity for developing her resources, and re-
moving her financial embarrassment, it NAV
never again return.
Cuba, in its palmiest days, never yielded her
Eychequer, after deducting the expenses of its
government a clear annual income Of more
than million and half of dollars These
expenses have increased to such degree as to
leave a deficit chargeable on the treasury of
Spain to the amount of $G00,000
In a pecuniary point Of view, therefore, tie
Island is an incumbrance, instead of source of
profit, to the mother country.
Under no probable circumstance can Cuba
ever yield to Spain one per cent on the large
amount which the United States are willing to
pay for its acquisition.
But Spain is in imminent danger Of losing
Cuba without remuneration.
Extreme oppression, it is now universally
admitted iustliies any people in endeaForing
to relieve themselves from the yoke of their
oppreSSors.
The sulferings which the corrupt, arbitrary
and unreenting local administration necessarily
entails upon the inhabitants of Cuba, cannot
fail to stimulate and keep alive that spirit of
resistance and revolution against Spain which
of late years been so often manifested. In
this condition Of affairs, it is vain to expect
that the SympathieS of the people of the United
States will be warmly enlisted il favor Of their
oppressed neighbors.
We know that the President is Justly in
flexible in his determination to execute the
neutrality laws, but should the Cubans them
selves rise in revolt against the oppression
which they suffer, no human power could
prevent citizens Of the United States, and
Iberal-minded 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-
bic, therefore, that Cuba may be wrested from
Spain by q successful revolution, and in that
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,
1t is certain that should the Cubans them
selves organize an insurrection against the
Spanish Government, and should other indie
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
United 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
interest 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
American Gogcrnmcnt nnder such eireum-
stances? - --..... --. -..s, --. - ~.
Sclfpraservation is the first law ofnature with
States as we'll as with individuals. All nations
have at different periods acted upon the maxim
Although it has been made the pretext for
committing fragrant injustice, as in the partition
Of Poland and 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
voluntary application of the people Of that
independent State, who desired to blend their
destinies with our own.
Even our acquisition from Mexico are no
exception to the rule, because although we
might have claimed them by the right of con
quest, in Just way, yet We purchased them
for what was then considered by both parties
a full and ample equivalent.
Our past history forbds that We should
acquire the Island of Cuba without the consent
Of Spain, aneSS justified by the great law Of
fpreserratinn.. We must in any event, pre-
serve our own conscious fectitude and our own
sclf-rcspcct.
Whilst pursuing this course, we can afford
to disregard the ccnsuces Of the world, to
which we have been so often and unustly ex-
posed
After we shall have offered Spain a price
for Cuba far beyond its present value, and this
shall have been refused, it will then be time to
consider the question, does Cuba in the pos
session OF Spain seriously endanger our internal
peace and the existence of our cherished Union
Should this question be answered in the
affirmative, then by every law, human and
divine, VIC shall be justiGed in wrestling it from
Spain, if we possess the power And this snpon
the very same principle that would justify an
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