Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-07-25
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

TIE APPRENTICE sYsrEN.-We beg the
Stars readers not to become weary Of this SUD-
ject as, in common with all others whose inter-
ests are bound up with the general prosperity
of the country, they are directly interested 10
ward of the consequences of its success upon
the general interests of all. We care notwhero
the reader NAV be located, or what may be his
employment or condition in life, if his interest
is to be affected disastrously by the general de-
cav of our national prosperity that must grow
out of successful rivalry to our Southern States
in the production (by other natiOnsl Of cotton,
rice and tobacco, he is Immediately and deeply
interested in the defeat of the triumph Of this
scheme. .s..- ...
induce the planters Of Cuba to become adve-
Gates for the change. Wehad no space at COM
mand, then, in which further to illustrate that
fact, evident not only in the arguments used in
the London Times, but in the columns Of the
journals published on the Island Of Cuba, over
all of which British influence is we'll nigh as
paramount as the stringent law of the mother
country regulating what shall and what shall
not be published in them.
We have private advIces of a very late date
from Havana, saying that the authorities of the
island as we'll as the home government are
prepared to accede to England purposes in
this matter, and are now secretly striving to
prepare the planters to give up checrfully the
system of slavery as at present regulated there
by law, and adopt the new one. To our mind
this combination between England and Spain,
backed as it is by France, has also the purpose
in view of rendering the island of Cuba unde-
sirable to the United States and thus lessen
ing the chances that Spain will, in the end, be
compelled by the force Of circumstances to dis
pose of it to us. Such consideration alone
could induce Spain, proverbally slow to change,
to consent to barter her Cuban bird in the hand,
for one in the bush. We submit that the CON-
bination, no less than its purpose, clearly EN-
brace a contingency laid down in the "Ostend
Manifesto" as affording sufficient ground for
prompt and positive repulsion on the part Of
this Government Of their policy Or, in other
words, for decided measures on the part Of the
United States to repel outside European inter
ference in the domestic Affairs Of Cuba, which,
under the received theory concerning its future
held by ninety in every hundred Americans,
cannot be permitted to change IT'S political status
in any way, unless to become ours. We need
net rehearse the doctrines laid down in that
important paper-tbe OsteAd Manifestation all
are aware that it affirmed the duty and right
of the United States to protect themselves from
the consequences of any political change of the
status Of the island of Cuba adverse to our in
terests. None in the United States failed to
endorse the soxndness of this position; which
- ~ - Al
festo that met with opposition in this country.
If it was sound doctrine then, Of which we en-
terrain no doubt whatever, it is as sound now
that the moment rapidly approaches when it
will become the duty of the United States, them
selves, to vindicate its supremacy at all hazards
and any cost.
The Stars readers know that we have for
years steadily defended the rights Of Spain in
connection with Cuba with earnestness and zeal
and will credit us therefore for being neither a
lih9nisf ~ nor an enemy of Spain
well that there must be substantial grounds TOY Sr
our act in thus raising a warning cry against
the purposes of the three governments that are
in this disgraceful and Ito our future) dangerous
conspiracy. We have taken pains to explain
the other reasons, in previous articles upon this
subject, and now ask whether it can be possible
that the American people will fail to demand of
their government that it shall promptly prevent
Cuba from being transferred practically 10 Eng.
land s Jurisdiction, by and through the proposed
modification of its institution, which modifica-
ton cannot fail to have as the basis of its sue
cess some stipulation according to England the
right and duty of regulating the polce-the do
nestle affairs Of the island, far more efectually
than she does at present, though all thoroughly
posted concerning the islands affairs must be
aware that she has for the last quarter of a
century been gradually coming to regulate the
relative rights, duties and status of master and
slave throughout Cuba. Ever since she aboI
lShed slavery in her own West India Islands
such has been her steady aim, and gradually
she has been acquiring moro practical power so
to do. Her consuls and commissioners on the
island are now almost al-powerful i'm deter
mining the judgment of its courts and the action
OF Its authorities on all slavery questions; and
II the proposed apprentice system be carried
out, the authority of her functionaries there
upon such points or subjects will be as strong
as ever written law could make it,
Under such circumstances, we regard the cur
rent efforts to change the slavery system of the
ISland-to compass the adjustment of the pres
ent system and the substitution of another en-
bracing most reprehensible features, az a virtual
transfer of jurisdiction over the island to Eng
land, in order that she may, at her leisure, re-
alize her schemes to cripple the prosperity of
the United States, which purpose has been at
the bottom of all she has done in the matter of
slavery since abolishing slavery in her own
West India possessions
TIE THREATENED WAR BETWEEN SPAIN AND
MExIco-"e are no believer that this expect
ed rupture can possibly occur, notwithstanding
the probable pledges Of England and France
that they will regard and treat all efforts of the
latter to land forces on the Island of Cuba, COM
posed in part Of American volunteers in her