Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-14

the interests of Spain would also be greatly
and essentially promoted. She cannot but
see what such sum of money as we are will
ing to pay for the island would effect IN the
Development of her vast natural resources.
Two thirds of this sum, if employed IN
system of Railroads, would ultimately prove
source of great wealth to the Spanish people
than that opened TO their vision by OorteZ.
Their property would date from the rati6ca-
ton of the treaty of cesson. France has 81
ready constructed continuous lines of railroads
from Havre, Marseilles, Valenciennes, and
Strasburg via Paris to the Spanish frontier,
and anxously awaits the day when Spain
shall find herself 10 a condition to extend these
roads through her northern provinces, to Ma
drid, Seville, Cadiz, Malaga, and the frontier Of
Portugal.
This object once accomplished, Spain would
become a centre of attraction for the travel
ling world, and secure a permanent and prof.
table market for her various productions. Her
fields, under the stimulus given to industry by
renumerating prices, would TEEN with cereal
grain, and her vineyards would bring forth a
vastly increased quantity of choice wines.
Spain would speedily become what bounti-
ful Providence intended she should be,-one
of the first nations of continental Europe, rich,
powerful and contented.
Whilst two thirds of the price of the island
would be ample for the completion of her most
important public improvements, she might,
with the remaining forty (nlillions) thousand,
satisfy the demands now pressing so heavily
upon her credit aud create a sinking fund
which would gradually relieve her from the
overwhelming debt now paralyZing her en-
ergies.
Such is her present wretched financial COM
dition that her best bonds are sold upon her
own Bourse at about third OF their par
value, whilst another class on which she pays
no interest, have but nominal value, and
are quoted at about One-siXth of the amount for
which they were issued.
Besides these latter are held principally by
British creditors who may, from day to day,
obtain the effective interposition of their own
government for the purpose of coercing pay
ment. Intimations to that effect have been
already thrown out from high quarters, and
unless some new source of revenue shall ena-
able Spain 10 provide for such exegencies it is
not Improbable that they may be realized.
Should Spain reject the present golden Cp
portunty for developing her resources and re-
moving her financial endorsements it may
never again return.
Cuba in its palmiest days never yielded her
exchequer after deducting the expenses of its
Government, a clear annual income of more
than one million and half of dollars These
expenses have increased to such degree rs to
leave deficient On .rgeable on the treasury
of Spain to the amount of six hundred thou
sand dollars.
In pecnniary point of view, therefore, the
island is an inCunbrance, instead of source
of profit, to the mother country.
Under no probable circumstances can Cuba
yield TO Spain, one per cent, on the large
amount which the Uunitcd States are willing
to pay for its acquisition.
But SPAN is in imminent danger of losing
CUBA without remuneration.
Extreme oppression, it is now universally,
admitted, justifies any people IN endeavoring
to relieve themselves from the yoke of their
oppressors.
The sulferngs 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 resis-
lance and revolution against Spain which has of
late years been so often manifested. In this con-
ditiOn 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 op-
pressed neighbOrs.
We know that the President is justly inleXi-
bic in his determination to execute the neutrali-
ty laws, but should the Cubans themselves rise
in revolt against the oppression which they suf-
fer, no human power could prevent citizens of
the United States and liberal-minded men of
other countries from rushing to their assistance.
Besides, the present is an age OF adventure, IN
which restless and daring spirits abound in
every portion Of the world. 1t is not imprOba-
BILE, therefore, that Cuba may be wrested from
Spain by a successful revolution, and in that
event she will not only lose the island, but the
Il. for
price far beyond what was ever paid by one peo-
pie TO another for any province.
1t may also be remarked that the settlement Of
this veXed question by the cessiOn of Cuba to the
United States would forever prevent the danger
GUS complications between nations to which it
may otherwise give birth.
1t is certain that should the Cubans themselves
organize an instruction against the Spanish
Government and should other independent ma
tons come to the aid of Spain in the contest no
human power could in our opinion prevent the
people of the Government of the United States
from taking part in such civil war, in support of
their neighbors and friends.
But if SPAIN deaf to the voice Of her own in
terest, and actuated by stubborn pride and a
false sense of honor, should refuse to sell Cuba
to the United States, then the question will arise,
what ought to be the course of the American
Government under such circumstances?
Selfpreservaton is the first law Of nature
with States as well as with individuals All ma
tons have at different periods acted upon this
maxim. Although it has been made the preteXt
for committing fragrant injustice, as in the par
tition of Poland aud other similar cases which
history records. yet the principle itself, though
often abused, has always been recognized.
The United States have never acquired foot
Of territory except by fair purchase, or, as in the
case of Texas, upon the free and voluntary APP
plication Of the people Of that Independent
State. who desired to blend their destinies with
their own.
Even our acquisitions from Mexico are no eX-
ception to the rule, because although we might
have claimed them by the right Of conquest, in
a Just way we purchased them for what was then
by both parties full and ample
equivalent
Our past history forbids that we should &C
1uire 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 self
respect.
Whilst pursuing this course, we can afford to
disregard the censures of the world to which we
have been so often and so unjustly exposed.
After we shall have offered Spain price for
CuEa far beyond its present value and this shall
have been refused, it will thea be time to con-
slider the question, does Cuba in the possession
Of Spain seriously endanger our internal peace
ana the eAlsIcuCe OF our CneIlsutu JulOus
Should this question be answered in the af
irmative then by every law, human and divine,
we shall be justified in wrestling it from Spain If
we posses the power. And this upon the very
same principle that would justify an individual
IA tearing down the burning house of his neigh |
Dor if there were no other means of preventing
he flames from destroying his own home
Under such circumstances we ought neither TO /
count the cost nor regret the odds which Spain /
might enlist against us We forbear to enter
INTO the question whether the present condition
IF the Island would justify such a measure. We |
should. however, be recreant to our duty, be I'M
worthy of our gallant foreiathers and commit |