The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-15


when Spain shall find herself in a condition to
extend these roads through her northern prov
lnces, to Madrid, Seville, Cadiz, Malaga, and the
frontier of Portugal
This object once accomplished, Spain would
become centre Of attraction for the travelling
world, aud secure a permanent and profitable
market for her various productions. Her fields,
under the stimulus given to industry by remu-
nerating prices, would TEEN with cereal grain,
and her vineyards would bring forth vastly in-
creased quantity of choice wines. Spain would
speedily become what bountiful Providence
intended she should be-one of the first nations
of Confidential Europe, rich, powerful and con-
tented.
Whilst two-thirds 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 a sinking fund, which would
gradually relieve her from the overwhelming
debt now paralyzing her energies.
| Such is her present wretched financial con-
| dition, that her best bonds are sold upon her
| own Bourse at about one-thrd of their par val
| ne, whilst another class, on which she paws no
interest, have but nominal value, and are quo
ted at about one-sixth Of the amount for which
| they were issued.
Besides, these latter are held principally by
| British creditors, who may, from day to day. OBJ
tain the effective interpositon of their own Gov
| eminent for the purpose of coercing payment.
| limitations 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 improba-
| bic they may be realized
1 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 deducting the expenses of its
Government, clear annual income of more
than million and half of dollars. These ex-
penses have increased to such degree as to
leave deficit chargeable on the treasury of
| Spain to the amount Of six hundred thousand
| dollars.
In pecuniary point of view, therefore, the
island is an encumbrance, instead OF source OF
| profit, to the mother country.
| Under no probable circumstances can Cuba
| ever Weld to Spain one per cent on the large
amount which the United States willing to
| pay for its acquisition.
But Spain is in imminent danger of losing
| Cuba without remuneration.
Extreme oppression, 1t is now universally ad
mtted, justities any people in endeavoring to
relieve themselves from the yoke of their CD.
pressors.
The sufferings which the corrupt, arbitrary,
and unrelenting 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
has of late years been so often manifested. In
this condition of affairs, it is vain to expect that
the sympathies fthe people ofthe United States
ha otaJ IN G Al -
pressed neighbors.
We know that the President is Justly infex
bic in his determination to execute the neutral
ity laws, but should the Cubans themselves rise
in revolt against the oppression which they suffer-
no human power could prevent citizens of the
United States, and liberal-minded men of other
countries, from rushing to their assistance
Besides, the present is age of adventure
in which restless and daring spirits abound in
every portion OF the world 1t is not improbable
therefore, that Cuba may be wrested from Spain
by a successful revolution, and in that event
she will not only lose the island, but the price
which We are now willing to pay for ia 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 neghbors 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 Amer
lean Government under such circumstances?
Selfpreservation is the first law of Nature
with States, as we'll as with individuals All
nations have at different periods acted upon
this 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, vet the principle ITSELF
| though often abused, has always been recog.
| Missed.
| The United States have never acquired
foot ofterritory, except by fair purchase or, as
In the case of Texas, upon the free and volun-
tary application Of the people of that independ-
ent State who desired to blend their destinies
with our own.
|
| 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
full and ample equivalent.
Our past history forbids that we should ac-
| quire the Island of Cuba without the consent
OF Spain, unless justified by the great law of
selfpreservation. We must in any event, pre-
serve our own conscious rectitude and our own
self-respect
Whilst pursuing this course we can afford
| to disregard the censures of the world, 10
which we have been so often and so unjusty
exposed
After we shall have offered Spain price for
| Cuba far beyond its present value, and this shall
have been refused, it will then be time to con.
slider the question, does Cuba, in the possession
of Spain, seriously endanger our internal peace
and the existence of our cherished Union?
Should this question be answered in the af
frmatiye, then by every law, human and divine
we shall be justified in wrestling it from Spain
II we possess the power And this upon the
very same principle that would Justify an indi
vidual in tearing down the burning house OF
his neighbor, if there were no other means o.
preventing the flames from destroying his OWL
home. Under such circumstances we ought
neither to count the cost or regard the odds which
Spain might enlist against US.
We forbear to enter into the question whether
the present condition of the island would iusti
fy such a measure. We should, however. be
recreant to our duty, be unworthy of our gallant
forefathers, and commit base treason against
our posterity, should We permit Cuba to become
Africanized, and become a second st. Domingo
with all its attendant horrors to the white race
and suffer the flames to extend to our neighbor
ing shores, seriously to endanger or actually te
consume the fair fabric of our Union.