The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-05-04
Cuba and the United states.

From all that can gather from The Demo.
cratic press of the South, we are inclined 10 be-.
leve that the Democratic party is unanimously
| IN favor of the mmsdiate seizure of Cuba by The
| Government OF the United States. The patience
OF the most conservative Of people has been
exhausted by reiterated and unprovoked ourages
| upon our flag, commerce, and our people, by
the Spanish Government. Our sympathies have
been aroused by the cruelty, injustice, and op-
| preston, 10 which the native inhabitants of the
island are the daily victims. Our love of liberty
and deestatIon OF tyranny urge US TO aid in The o.
Verthrow OF dominion in sight OF our coast which
is maintained by force and dsregards the rights
o. man, the comfy of nations, and the offices of
good nelghhorhood. Tho GoVernno~". 81 .In II
nited States has exhausted every peaceful means
to preserve friendly relations. Forbearance has
ceased TO be a virue-we must stand by our arms.
And the the blow is struck the better for
all parties concerne6~~ Having obtained pos
session of The island, the United States either
annex it, and thus add another State to the Union,
or hold it until Spain will consent TO respond TO
a! our just demands, and give ample guarantees
against future outrages upon our citizens and Gov
ernment.
We copy from The CousttuionaIist and Rcpnb-
lie the following article. In reply 10 query pro.
pounded by the Journal and Messenger, the edi-
tor says, and but gives expression the views of
the great body of the Southern people of all par
ties
To the question embraced in the last sentence,
we reply promptly and emphatcaIIy, that
sympathies with that class Of Georgia Demo.
cras who prefer the seizure Of the Island Of Cuba
to its purchase at fair price. We cannot speak
for Marcy this point. We are utterly opposed
to the policy of paying any price for Cuba except
the amount it would take TO equip fleet and
my sufficient to take and keep possession Of the
island. After this done, we would be in
good position 10 negotiate a peace with Spain.
Then, If 1t suited the views of policy and magnan-
unity inspiring the Administration to grant u do
ceur in the way Of money to console Spain and
soothe her wounded honor, we would not oppose
treaty embracing that feature. We would con-
slGer the reasons which induced the United States
to give 10 Mexico fifteen millions of dollars for
|Iha part OF her territory which we retained, after
having virtually conquered it all, and it had all of
right become our property, as measpra6ly appll-
cable in this case.
The time was and not many months ago, when
we would have preferred the purchase to the sei-
zure. Now, were the former practicable, we
infinitely prefer its seizure by'force OF arms.
Virtually a state of war already exists between
Spain and this country, though no blood has been
shed. But the oulrages repeatedly perpetrated on
flag the high seas, and against the contin.
ued repetition of which can have assurance,
wholly inconsistent with The idea of peaceful
relations between the two countries. The right
Of visitation and search was claimed by Great
Britain, and the exercise OF it against mer-
chantmen brough. the last war between and
that country.
In the confidential message of President Madi-
son to Congress on the lst Of June, 1912, just
eighteen days before the declaration of war, is The
following significant and truthful language. Al
ter referring TO the frequent violations by Great
Britain the the high seas Of the -sanctity Of our
flag, he says:
"We behold, in fne on the side Of Great Brit
ain, state Of war against The United States, and
on The side OF the United States, state OF peace
towards Great Britain"
The President was rightly enough opposed 20
continuance OF this one sided game. The people
were with him, and declaration Of war was the
immediate consequence.
The same State OF things now exists as regards
Spain. We impatient to see termination of
it, and an.opening oil the which is alike iEev-
liable end proper. War with her is only qucs-
ton OF time, for any mind of common sagucity
must see that nothing short Of war will teac!,
Spain decent respect for our flag. She will
never concede TO Us the peaceful navigation Of the
high seas long the trade of our vast COM
merce in the Gulf of Mexico lies in the vicinity Of
the coasts OF Cuba continues TO be the property
of Spain. The longer we postpone the ssue-the
longer shrink from the vndication Of our in
suited hag-the longer must become the catalogue
OF our wrongs, and The more exemplary most be
the punishment to our insoent foe.-C0lun16uS
Times.