Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-12
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONs-CUBA
THE ADMINISTRATION


ment, were our foreign relations more compli-
Gated and serious than at present. Though
preserving q commendable neutrality in the
fierce war Of the five great powers of Europe,
the interests and sympathies Of our Govern
ment are yet most singularly interviewer with it.
We have so often attempted to show that
these sympathes were naturally with Russia,
that we do not propose either to reiterate our
previously expressed views or to enlarge upon
this branch of the subject.
1t is to another point we intend to address
ourselves to-day--a point peculiarly interesting
to us at this time, because we feel that, through
out the whole country, there is an ill-suppress-
ed dissatisfaction at the confused condition of
things with respect to Cuba. Strange as i:
may seem, this little island is the cause of all
our troubles with foreign powers, and is the
principal, il not the only reason, why we have
this incidental interest in the great contest in
the Crimea- The success or the allied armies
would at once give time and means to turn the
attention of the English and French Govern
ments TO the prevention Of any mode Of ac-
curing Cuba by the United States. Their
disposition TO do so, We have never doubted.
| This, then, is our interest in the war-this, one
of our causes Of sympathy with Russia. What
ever may be right or wrong for us do in the
premises, in one thing we are perfectly clear
that the present state of things cannot long
exist without stern demand, in honor and in
interest, of hostile resistance to the almost
daily outrages that are committed by the au-
thorities of Cuba upon our ndtuvalized citizens,
and our commercial and governmental com.
munications with the other quarters of our oaon
continent! To be plain, and to be frank ALSO ace
must hare Cuba, not by iillbustering,n but
under the flag of the country, or we must sub
NIT in addition to our already accumulated
wrongs, to its Authorization, or protectorate
of England and France, or both. Thus it win
be seen that political not less than personal
considerations of safety TO our institutions and
our honor as nation, demand prompt and
vigorous action from our Government.
: Can the American mind be divided upon
such an issue2 Can we live comfortably, hon
orably, under such humiliating state Of
things, (attempted to be justified only by an
assumed technical claim upon International
etiquette) Can we, in ctec of the very scene
Of our wrongs, from one Of our own sovereign
States, submit longer to the repetition and ae-
emulation of those wrongs? We hold that,
in contest with nations as with individuals,
the oceTf act is not always required to establish
Just cause Of offence or to justify proper re-
sentiment. An enemy in ambush is always
more to be feared than the direct and open foe.
| Assassination is the same, whether overt or
covert, and should be guarded against with
equal vigilance and spirit. If then, Cuba is
to continue to be the instrument of such ag-
gression under its direct allegiance to, and
governmentby Spain, or under the olIcous in.
reference Of England and France, or either or
both of them, causeless injury and interruption
to our national vessels and commercial marine,
and danger TO our institutions, then we repeat,
weighing well its import and value, the Ian
guage fthe chart Of our principles: "our foreign
policy should, indeed, be detcnsirc; but, to be
properly defa,sirc, il must sometimes be appa-
rc1atly aggreSSice. The Administration should
be yigilant active, and energetic. The world
Is full Of important movements, commercial
and political, deeply affecting american trade
and American potoer 1t is time we had an
| american policy. We must have itlr Such was
the language we held in the beginning. With.
out claiming the gift Of prophecy, or being the
son Of n prophet, We think we may say that these
sentiments we're written under the darkest fore
bodings Of the very evil which is at hand But
for the temporizing policy Of the Administra-
ton, (if We can judge that policy correctly
from the tone Of Us o,oH orgdn0 we should
have avoided the severe alternative which seems
now TO be all that is left ms. When we saw
upon the eastern portico OF The United States
Capitol, Franklin Pierce standing before the
American people, and heard his assurances
Of patriotic fervor, giving The hope to that i'm
mense concourse, that the foreign policy Of this
! Administration, should be in consonance with
the views and spirit Of our advancing age, our
own voice went up with whole nation in
proud acclaim What has been the fulfill.
ment? Here we have whole people earnest,
anxious, smarting under insult and outrage to
The flag Of the country, and TO their own pro-
perry clamoring for some decisive step to be
taken. Who can doubt that bnt in Difference
to this hope-(a hope 50 long deferred that it
maketh the heart sick) that the Admbaist,a.
fion would do something, that the American
people would long ago have taken the interests
OF the country into their own hands, and re-
CARELESS Of consequences, avenged their own
wrongs. Thus while the Administration with
slcepless vigilance is suppressing all "fllibus.
tering upon the part Of its o,cn citi.
Gems, the neglect giees 10 he Just cause for them
is encouraging them far more than fit gave
them means and munitions Of oar.
The whole foreign policy OF the Administra-
ton is tame beyond endurance. Hy the union Of
exhausted diplomacy and inerhdustibic duplicity,