The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-15

exchange the drudgery Of The desk for the excite
meut Of the Aed which prompts the Houthsrn or the
Northern militia-man to draw his sword, there are
special indictments TO these annexation schemes
schemers and Of the objects at which they aim. The
steady Rhode Islanders look wstfuly at the fisheries
of Nova Scotia; the slavebreeders Of Virginia long
for the slavemarkets Of Mexico and Cuba; the Cali
the Sandwich Islands, for Pacific station; above
all the slave States threatened by the growth Of the
busy North, threatened still by the progress of
humanity and justice, which makes the free States
hope TO rob from their weaker neighbors the means
for matching for yet little while the power which
is the result Of industry which they cannot initiate
These influences may well explain the aggressive
tendencies OF the Americans and indeed, we
dwell on these influences alone, and remember at
the came time the immense resources of men, money
and energy at command, we wonder not that there
have been, but that there have ever ceased to be,
Texas anncxations and Cuban expeditions.yU COun-
teracting, however, every one Of these indictments
to aggression we shall find some inducement to
peace and moderation, SO that the danger to it's
weakened by the frequent fluctuations in it's own
feeling and policy TIE restless, resolute produc.
settlers anxious to annex any country in which they
wealth be not the main principle Of society; but
this same discrimination 70 Allow no obstacles to
check the dollar hunt makes another class fully a.
powerful % that which furnishes the immigrants,
leaiousiy sensitive Of the slightest approach to war;
The merchants, the bankers, the canal and railway
specuAtors-in word, oil the borrowers directly or
indirectly from Europe land the field for the en-
the greatest borrowers in the worldly ell the immense
multitude whose plans and hopes are based upon
credit will oppose to the utmost, not Internationally
on the PLATFORM but steadily in the ballot box any
England or France. And loud as are the vaunts Of
their power and prowess, and difficult as it would
DO to overrate their latent resources, there
are ndoa few Of our shrewd cousins who are well
aware, that any aggression, which might bring them
into collision with great naval power, would be at
first attended with fearful cost With everyfacility
for forming magnificent navy, provided they could
protect their dockyardsi but without such navy at
present (the skin Of their officers and bravery Of
their sailors not compromising for their scany mum.
bers), the feesimpe Of Cuba, or the wealth Of all
the mines Of Mexico, would be lost by one years
damage to their widely extended commerce, even
their seaboard The inhabitants Of New York or
Boston do not altogether forget this nor much as
he may seem to disregard it, does the negro grower
tempt to find market for his stock might suddenly
convert that stock into the allies of an invading
army. Then again, that same rough and coarse but
sturdy and ardent patriotism which makes the
citizens Of the great modern republic emulate
the republicans Of Greece and Rome in contempt Of
their neighbors and disregard OF their rights tends
also to make them morbdIy jealous Of the admission
Of those races whom they despise to participation
raj Scott during his canvass for the Presdentship,
cur0usy illustrating this feeling OF race. He stated
that towards the close Of his successful campaign in
cans for the annexation of their whole country, be-
cause he would not make so many millions of mon
gres between Spaniards and Indians his fellow cit
zens. Above all, our study Of society in America
would indeed have been fruitess, did It not give
most firm conviction that there are in it not only
reckless adventurers and demagogues as dangerous
to other countries to their own, but also as many
found any IN nation. The bessttng sin Of demo
cracies is the temptation OF the wise and the good to
allow the prizes Of politics to be grasped by the mob
servers and the place seekers; STILL at the time Of
real danger, the former rarely fail to show them
selves, and would that we could be sure that in
this crisis of her career England had as many
citizens possessed Of political conscience as
has American Lastly, the desire of the South
for annexation, in order to preserve its power in
Congress, in far it expresses itself, tends to
create it's own c0unteraction, by causing the free
North every year to become more fearful OF increase
Of slavery.
In no case shall we find the conflict Of these op-
posing tendencies more evident than in that one
which now most attracts attention this side OF the
Atlantic, viz, in the relation Of the republic to
who takes stock Of the prospects and position Of the
Americans as though he was valuing them for SALE
well sums up the motives to Cuban annexation.
The people Of s he ssy "a1s tatsd
at the incompetency Of the Cuban government;
they know the value Of the soil, which, in the hands
Of the present owners is almost entirely neglected;
and lastly the slaychoIding States desire to increase
their power to balance the Increasing power Of the
North, and to counteract the effects which would re-
suit from any defalcation among the Northern slave
States, where the employment Of slave labor is now
nymqus author Of "Gan Eden" in his high
toned and picturesque description Of this
island, more briefly, but quite. as truly writes:
Spain is tyrsnnical, Cuba is rich" Che might add
ravenousy republican" Nevertheless, the English
political economist and the poetical New Highlander,
though looking at Cuba annexation from very differ
ent point. Of view agree IN GO considering It anagS
vantage to the interests Of the North needs no re-
iteration and less evident is the danger to that
which, to many in both North and South, 10 their
Union-of the SHAREHOLDERS obtaining majority Of
the Senate, which by giving them the apparent
power. would make them rampant while the actual
prepOnderance in population aud wealth. and, there
States; but there also circumstances in the
dition Of Cuba itself, which might make even the
Slave States pause in their efforts to seize it.
In 1861, according to statistics given us BY
YVES about sos 600; Of free colored people,
about 205 900; aud of slaves 442 900. There
are great discrepancies In the accounts given
by travellers of the treatment of these slaves One
ly, more as though they were men and women, than
in the States; another, that they are overworked
with the utmost cruelty and severity. Both state
mcnts are correct, the explanation being that in
Cuba there is less pride Of color, and therefore
general humanity, while, in certain especial employ
ments, there is more temptation to over driving.
Perhaps the Spanish pride is monopolized by the
mobiles, and in their eyes white plebeian may be
little above slave; or, perhaps, the republican in
sss the more upon the color because he has not the
caste distinction At any rate we find this distinc
ton less ealously guarded by either law or custom
The laws of many Of the States make emancipation
a crime; the laws Of Cuba make it under certain
conditions compulsory. II New Orleans slave be
clever artisan, his master only values him the
higher, and thanks fortune which has given his
"chattel' brains as well muscles; but in Havana,
this same artizan would buy himself with his
earnings. IAN authoritative arbitration may set
tie his value on his own appeal, and SO soon
as he shall accumulate ffty dollars, his master is
obliged TO accept that sum as an instalment.
The Cuban law, too, forbds the infection Of more
thav4N x.easx t,x.n Iaaho -. -