The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-09-16


famous traffic remains an irresistible tempta-
ton and source of immense profit to needy
| and avaricious officials, who, to attain theil
ends, scruple not to traynple the most sa-
! cred principles under foot.
The Spanish government at home may
be well disposed, but experience has proved
that it cannot control these remote deposi-
taries of its power.
Besides, the commercial nations of the
world cannot fail to perceive and appreciate
the great advantage which would result to
their people from dissolution of the fore
ed and unnatural connexion between Spain
and Cuba. and the annexation of the latter
| to the United States. The trade of Eng
land and France with Cuba would, in that
! event, assume at once an important and
profitable character, and rapidly extend
with the increasing population and pros
/ perity of the island.
.. But if the United States and every
commercial nation would be benefited by
this transfer, the interests of Spain would
also be greatly and essentially promoted.
She cannot but see what such sum of
| money as we are willing to pay for the is
land would effect in the development of her
vast natural resources.
Two-thirds of this sum, if employed in
the construction of a system of railroads,
would ultimately prove source of greater
wealth to the Spanish people than that open
ed to their vision by Cortez. Their pros
perity would date from the ratification of
the treaty of cession.
France has already constructed continu-
Gus lines of railways from Havre, Marseilles,
Vallencennes and Stransburg, via Paris, to
the Spanish frontier, and anxiously awaits
the day when Spain shall find herself in a
condition to extend these roads through her
northern provinces to Madrid, Seville, Ca
diz, Malaga and the frontiers of Portugal.
The object once accomplished, Spain
would become a centre of attraction for the
travelling world, and secure permanent
and profitable market for her various pro-
duction. Her fields, under the stimulus
given to industry by remunerating prices,
would teen with cereal grain, and her vine
yards would bring forth vastly increased
quantity of choice wines. Spain would
speedily become, what a bountiful Province
intended she should be, one of the first ma
tions of Continental Europe-rich, powerful
and contented.
Whilst two thirds of the price of the is
land would be ample for the completion of
her most important public improvements,
she might, with the remaining forty millions,
satisfy the demands now pressing so heavi
ly 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
condition that her best bonds are sold up
on her own Bourse at about one-third of
their par value; whilst another class, on
which she pays no interest, have but NOM
inal value, and are quoted about one-sixth
of the amount for which they were issued.
Besides, these little are held principally by
British creditors who may from day to day,
obtain the effective interposition of their
own government for the purpose of coerc-
ing payment. Intimations to that effect
have been already thrown out from high
quarters, and unless some new source of
revenue to enable Spain to provide for such
exigencies, it is not improbable that they
may be realized.
Should Spain reject the present golden
opportunity for developing her resources,
and removing 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 Il million and half of dollars
These expenses have increased to such a
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 incumbrance, instead of a
source of profit, to the mother country.
Under no probable circumstances can
Cuba ever yield to Spain one per cent on
the large amount which the United States
are willing to pay for its acquisition. But
Spain is in imminent danger of losing Cuba,
without remuneration.
Extreme oppression, it is now universally
admitted, justifes any people in endeavor-
ing to relieve themselves from the yoke of
their oppressors. 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
resolution against Spain, which has, of late
yea1s, been so often manifested. In this
condition of affairs It is vain to expect that
the sympathies of the people of the United
States will not be warmly enlisted in favor
of their oppressed neighhors.
We know that the President is justly in
flexible in his determination to execute the
neutrality laws; but should the Cubans
themselves rise in revolt against the oppres-
sion which they suffer, no human power