Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-10-01

10 purchase Cuba from Spain at any
price for which it can be obtained, not
exceeding the sum offs
The plice here left in blank, as ,p-
pears from the argument which follows,
was $4,000, 900. The Circular then
goes intoau argument to show that Spain
would be benefited by the purchase at
that price. and then concludes as follows
But if Spain, dead to the voice OF her
own interest, and actuated by stubborn
pride and false sense of honor. should
refuse to sell Cuba 10 the United States.
then the question will arise, what ought
to be the course of the American Gov
eminent under such circumstances?
Self preservation is the first law of
nature, with States as well as with indi-
viduals. All Nations have, at different
periods, acted upon this maxim. Al
though it has been made pretext for
committing fragrant injustice, as in the
partition of Poland, and other similar
cases which history records, yet the prin-
cipaI itself, though often abused, has al
ways been recognized.
The United States have never acquired
foot of territory except By fair pur-
chase, or, as to 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 acquisitions from Mexico are
no exception TO this rule, because, al
though We might have claimed them by
the tight of conquest in just war, yet
We purchased them for what was then
considered by both parties full and
ample equivalent.
Our past history forbids that we should
acquire The Island of Cuba without the
consent of Spain, unless justified by the
great law of self preservation. We must
in any event, preserve our own conscious
rectitude and our own selfrespect.
Whilst pursuing this course, we can
efford to disregard the censures of the
world, to which we have been SO often
and so unjusily exposed.
After ,re shall hare offered Spain a price for Gu
ba far beyond its present ralue and this shall hare
been refused il ,riH then be time to consider the
question. Does Cuba. in the possession Of Spain,
seriously endangsr our internal peace and the sr-
istence Of our cherished Union
Should this question be answered ia the g6ir1na-
tire, then by erery Ialc human and diuine ,re shall
be justified in ,rrestng it from Spain if'ce possess
the pO,rr; and this upon the very same prinei-
pie that would justify the individual in
tearing down the burning house of his
neighbor, if there was no other means
of preventing the flames from destroy
ing his own house.
Under such circumstances, we ought
neither TO count the cost nor regard the
odds which Spain might enlist against
US. We forbear to enter into the ques-
tion, whether the present condition of the
island would justify such a measure
We should, however, be recreant to our
duty, be unworthy Of our gallant fore
fathers, and commit base treason against
our posterity, should we permit Cuba
to be Africanized and become second
St. Domingo, with all its attendant hor-
rors to the white race, and suffer the
flames to extend to our own neighboring
shores, seriously to endanger or actually
to consume the fair fabric Of our Union.
We fear that the course and current
of events are rapidly tending towards
such catastrophe. We, however, hope
for the best, though we ought certainly
to be prepared for tho wors:.
We also fOrbear TO investigate the
present condition of the questions at is
sue between the United States and Spain.
A long series of injuries 10 our people
have been committed in Cuba by Span
ish officials, and are unredressed. But
recently most fragrant outrage on the
right of American citizens and on the
flag of the United States was peipetra-
ted in the harbor of Havana under cir
cumstances which, without immediate
redress, would have justified resort to
measures of war in vindication Of nation
al honor. That outrage is not only un-
stoned. but the Sp nish Government has
deliberately sanctioned the acts of its
subordinates, and assumed the response
billy attaching 10 them.
Nothing could more impressively /
teach us the danger to which those
peaceful relations it has ever been The
policy of the United States to cherish
with foreign nations are constantly ex-
posed than the circumstances of that
case. Situated as Spain and the United
States are, the latter have forborne TO
resort to extreme measures.
But this course cannot, with due re-
gard to their own dignity as an indepcn-
dent nation, continue; and our Iecom-
now submitted, are dictated
by the firm belief that the accession of
Cuba to the United States. with stipula-
lions as beneficial to Spain as those sug-
sested, is the only effective mode of set
ling all past differences, and of secur-
ng the two countries against future col
Iisions. Z
We have already witnessed the happy