The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-06-10
The Acquisition OF Cuba

Is one OF the favorite projects OF the Admins
tration: Reports and movements in various
forms indicate that the subject is occupying
the attention of the Cabinet. Mr.. Soule has
recently been ut Washington in close confer
encc with the President, and it is surmised
that it could be on no other topic than the old
one discussed by the President and the ex-
Minister at Ostend. Mr.. Buchanan isproba-
bly, better informed than any one else in re-
gard to the practicahility of the scheme, and
would not be occupying himself with any
abortive attempts. If the Administration is
seriously occupied with the question, it is
evidence that there is good chance of ac-
complishing it. The most feasible plan is
the purchase, through Belmont and the Roths-
ehilds, whose influence at the Escurial pal
ace is equal, if not more potent, in a season
of empty Golfers, than that of any European
sovereign. Money is the great conqueror of
modern times, and achieves foreign conquest
more securely and cheaply than armies. The
obstacles to the purchase, are Spanish pride
and the jealousy of England and France.
The pressing necessities of the Spanish Gov
eminent may overcome the first, and the
convictions of self-interest turn aside the
last The commercial interests of both Eng
land and France would be promoted by the
transfer of the Island to the United States.
by the vastly increased contributions it would
yield to the commerce of the world-though
their political aseendancy in the affairs of the
nations might be endangered by the accessions
of power it would give to the United States.
With the business classes, who now govern
England, commercial interests are paramount
TO all other considerations-this class are
willing to assent to our purchase of Cuba,
for the benefits to trade that will flow from
it. Lord Palmerston, during the election
canvass, apparently yielded to this popular
sentiment, and declared desire to witness
the extension of American dominion on this
continent, as the best agency for the extern
sion of British commerce. But having Sc
cured large ministerial majority, and feel
ing confident of his power and secure in hi.
place, the old aristocratic preiudices agains
young, growing, rival republic, have re-
turned upon him, and the traditionary policy
of preserving the balance of power among
nations is resumed, and corresponding
change Of tone is manifest in the British
Premier's sentiments. We need pay no re
gard to the opposition of England or Franc
so far rs we are concerned-for neithe
would venture any rupture with the UniteC
States, that would interrupt their supplies o
Bread and Cotton;-but il is their mean
to overawe Spain that we must avert. If GU
government can induce Spain to assent to tn
transfer, the occasion should be improved a
once, to secure the gem, at any REASONABLY
cost.
Its acquisition would render the history o
the present administration the most brillian
of any since the purchase OF Louisiana; an,
IN its consequences the accession would be a
glorious as that ecnsummated by Mr.. Jeffer
son. The entire shores of theTAIexican Gul
tho most bountiful portion of creation
would follow the destiny of Cuba; and tn
Gulf itself become an American Inland Sea
with its whole surface covered with domes
tic commerce as active as that which plough
the currents Of our noble rivers. No states
man or military man casts his eye upon tn
zion for our security. No measure ever pro
pounded would unite SO unanimously til
voice of the people in all sections of the Tn
ion. The South would unanimously supper
it-every district in the Mississippi Vale
from the Alleghanies to the Rocky Mountains
and from the Lake of the Woods to the shore
of the Gulf, would hail it as opening to ther
new outlet for the productions of the
teeming soil, and new career of prosperit
that could never recede; but advancing wit
their growth, could only be limited by the
capacity to prodhee, and to consume the r,
turns of the vast commerce with the tropi,
it would open: Estimate by the amour
which few hundred small sugar planters
Louisiana consume of our products, what Il
vast estates in Cuba will take from us, whe
under the inspirited influences of America
enterprise its entire surface shall be coverC
with the fields of cane and the groves of Il
coffee tree. And looking further still into Il
vista of future years, when noisy and bus
ling American cities shall stud the Gulf fro
the peninsula of Yucatan to that of Florid
and when American furnaces shall glow upC
liquid streams the riches of their miner
ores, and American agricultural industry f
the surrounding plains-who can compri
within the stretch of his Imagination, t
interchanges of commerce that will tai
place between the cereal regions of our Va
lev, and the luxuriant lands that border Il
Gulf? Nature has opened her grandest char
mel of trade between them, and provided f
their intimate intercourse, and designed the
to be possessed by one people, united by t
bonds of mutual dependence and reciproc
benefits. All natural trade is in the exchan
Of the products of the different zones, and
course is North and South. Commerce b
tween people of the same parallels of la
tude-climates Of the same natural produC
must be variable and fluctuating, with t
peculiar and temporary circumstances of {
people between whom it exists; often VIII
one gains the other loses. But with I
North and South there can be no rivalry al
no iealousies-one gives what the other ca
not, by the laws of nature, produce;-it is
perpetual Interchange of blessings, viii
multiply and enrich the more the Intercoui
extends. As the arts of production, and
intercourse of the people in the same zon
of the earth increase, their productions W
assimilate, each viii supply its own wan
and their commercial interchanges will {