Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-07-29


sion OF the island and the withdrawal of that proteo
ton while ii encourages discomfort and rebellion at
home viii invite invasion from abroad. 1t requires
all the revenues Of the Island even nov, to maintain
the Spanish dominion in Cuba, without the assist
Ance of Great Britain, a large military and naval
force would be necessaryto quell domestic asubor-
dination and resist foreign invasion The possession
of Cuba, instead of being profitable to Spain, will
thus become an actual source Of expense to Spain,
and in the exhausted state Of her treasury necessity
viii compel her to sell the island to the United
States.
We invite particular attention to the following
extract from the TImfs:
q The time has arrived when We are called upon
to review our policy in this matter We will not fol-
low the example, the idle braggarts at Madrid, and
prsttle about visionary invasions. Why even if we
had the will should we be at the trouble of apply
ing direct pressure to Spain This much is clear
that, il Lord Malmesbury were this day to give Mr..
Dallas the faintest hint that England would stand
neutral in the matter, Cuba, three months time,
4OOuId be q State Of the North American Union Let
us look this question boldly in the face. What
interest has England in the integrity of the colonial
dominions of Spain What is it to US if Cuba be
tomorrow an American in place Of 8 Spanish POS
session orr only interest it the question for long
time past has been moral not a material one Nay,
our material iatsrssts haze been in direct opposition
that line Of policy aOe We haze pursued the gTouads
Of humanity. Cuba, in the hands Of American eitt-
zsns, would be q much more productive market than
ct present Our manufacturers and merchants
could buy and sell more with Americans than
with Spanish Cuba. If it is to remain a slave i'm
L 1s,P IL Il
should pass into American hands Patience and for
besranCe have been tired out, and the time has fairly
arrived 0hsn may consider if should not be play
iEg game sgissly By standing still aghIs
the Cabinet at Washington carried out the long cher
ished designs Of the american people upon the Island
Of Cuba.
"What is Spain to us that we should interfere fur
Their to protect her colonial possessions? The only
arguments which we are disposed to consider, after
the treatment we have met with from successive
Cabinets at Madrid, are those which sppy to our
own interest and well being Looking at the ques-
ton from this point Of view, two arguments might
be urged, but there is probably great weight in
either. 1t might be said in the first place, that it
would be shOrt-sghted policy in to stimulate the
progress Of the United States in wealth and power,
for the time may come when they may prove formi-
dsble antagonists to ourselves. This is but paltry
policy after all; tor aghatsUT may do, tte rast
Confederation on the other SIDE Of the Atlantic gH 90
Increasing in strength and czteH; Of dominion. We
do not look gruagiHgIy This progress; the contrary
1t is the best thing that be a0shsi for this country
thH the States should be prosperous and grolring
POUa. If the statesmen who guide the destinies of
the Confederation have but the forbearance to alb
stain from violating public law and the canOns of
public morality, God speed their work! But to US,
in any case, what can it signify whether they con-
quer province from the Desert, or from the Gulf
of Mexico? As long as We retain our naval power
they will not interfere with US; and that gone,
the presence absence of Cuba in the scale would
signify but little indeed. It might be said, in the
second place. that it would be unwise for us to
stand still, as lockers on, while Spain weakened
by the loss of her colonial possessions, from
siderations Of European policy. The Pyrenees are
not higher than they were in the days Of LOUIS
XIV, and of Napoleon BOnaparte. Here, again.
the sTgumest does not appear to have any oonside-
rable weight Spain derives no substantial strength
from her colonies, which would help her to resist
invader; and if she did, what is that to usi We
know the sacrifices we made for the preservation of
the Spanish Monarchy in the first years Of the
present century, and what has been reward!
What advantage to the extent of shilling, Of
the faintest element Of power, have derived from
the Spanish alliance? We can point to a long list
of unsatisfed claims Of unpaid debt, of obligations
disregarded, and of violated faith; but Of help
when we needed help, or of common gratitude for
services Of the most vital importance, there has not
been one TITLE Let at length consider This question
on its osCn merits Is it possible that, with reference
to English views and feelings, Cuba could be in
worse hands than it is at present."
These are Just and liberal sentiments and we have
every reason believe that they reflect the views Of
the English Government. That the administration
will all proper and legitimate means to obtain
possession of Cuba We cannot doubt for moment.
Mr. BUCHANAN was one of the earliest advocates Of
Cuban annexation, and throughout his whole pOti-
cal career has used every effort in his power to pro-
mote that measure. We quote portion of a speech
delivered by him in 1926, showing the Importance
of that acquisition to this country. The Osend
Manifesto, in which his views this subject are
more fully set FORTH is familiar to all of our readers
In 1926 (see Gales and SeatOn's Register, page
2I79) Mr.. BUCHANAN said:
The vast importance of the Island Of Cuba to the
people of the United States, may not be generally
known. The commerce Of this Island is Of immense
value particularly 70 the agricultural and navigat
ing interests of the country. It's Importance has
been rapidly increasing for a number of years. To
the Middle, or grain growing States, this commerce
is almost dEpenssble The aggregate value Of
goods wares and merchandise, the growth, produce,
and manufacture, Of the United States, exported
nually TO that island, now exceeds three millions
and half Of dollars. Of this amount more than
the onethird consists Of the two articles Of pork and
-four The chief of the other products Of domestij :
origin are fish, fish oil, spermaceti candles, timber,
beef, butter and cheese, rice, tallow candles and
soap. Our principal imports from that island are
coffee, sugar, and molasses, articles which may
almost be considered necessares Of life. The whole
amount of our exports TO il, foreign and domestic,
is nearly six millions, and imports nearly eight
millions Of dollars The articles which constitute
the medium Of this commerce, are both bulky and
ponderous, and their transportation employs a large
portion Of our foreign tonnage. More Than the
seventh Of the whole tonnage, engaged in foreign |
trade which entered the ports CT the United States
duTiog the year ending the last day Of September,
1924 came from Cuba; and but little less than that
proportion of the tonnage employed in export 1
trade, sailed for that Island LIS commerce is, at
present, more valuable to the United States, than
that Of all the Southern Republics united.
Important as this island may be TO US in q COM
mercia it lie still important in political view
From its position, it commands the entrance Of the /