The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-17
TAMMANY HAIL AND CUBA

him on this point His foundations are not broad
enough for any national action on the subject. We
have no right and, in our judgment, there isno justi-
tcation for such a policy. It is the very soul of parti-
sanship. IL is wanting in the true elements of states
manship. II sinks the subject away down beneath
all industry. 1t takes from it its economical character.
We are tired and sick of thrusting slavery into every
dish. If il is good seasoning for soup, is that any
reason why it should be s~prinkled over fish, Is it
like garlic in Spain, to be rubbed on the plates,
cooked with the meats, eaten with the dessert, boil
ed with the cofeer Is slavery first to be consider
ed, its intcvests promoted, its dominion extended?
We apprehend Senator Brown is a little near
sighted. With good intentions and strong demo
cratic instincts, his ardor has got the better of his
Judgment We want Cuba not because it will ex-
tend slavery for il will in our hands effect no such
end. Ii will limit and circumscribe slavery. 1t will
cut off an important branch of the foreign slave
trade. Slavery exists in the island and if its climate,
soil, and productions should draw slaves from the
continent and employ them there, that will not ex-
tend slavery in any just sense. 1t is no extension
of slavery to transfer them from Virginia and Ken
tucky to L Louisiana. We want Cuba because it is
situated at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico, because
it is within our own waters, because its possession
by us viii confer vast benefits upon our people and
the people of the world. We want it because it
is an American island, and should constitute a part
of our general system of industry. We want it, be-
cause in the hands of Spain it can be of no service
TO that government or its people. We want it,
above all consideration, because, from whatever
cause, il is destined to be a perpetual bone of CON
tention so long as il remains under its present politi-
cal rule. A long intercourse with the island has in
Voived us in continual controversy with its govern
ment. Enough has been seen in this way to show
that there is somewhere an essential and irreconci-
liable antagonism between its politics and ours. We
believe that we are right, and that they are wrong.
That is the judgment of the whole American peo-
Pile. All this, we grant, without involving actual
difficulties, gives us no right to seize the island.
We have many causes for quarrel with its author
tiles. Many wrongs have been inflicted upon our
people by them which not only remain unredressed,
but which promise to be entailed as permanent sub
iects of controversy. But we have not yet thought
proper to proceed to extremes. We have not re-
sorted to tho power we possos0 TO exaot justice. We
have simply proposed to the Madrid government
that we will purchase Cuba, and pay a high price
for it. This proposition has produced a great
amount of counterfeit or diplomatic indignation.
The offer, however, is not the less generous. Though
made with no such design, it is after all an honorable
step forward to the end of acquisition. Gov. Brown
was clearly right when he said, CUBA must and
shall be ours 1t is strong language but it is
after all nothing more than what time will prove to
be prophetic. The possession Of Cuba by Spain
r ~ :
continent is impossible. Her institutions are
atterly antagonistic to our own, and her in
dustry, il IL is not entirely hemmed INN
communicated, as the Spaniards say-will become
80 identified with the industry of this country as to
demand homogeneous laws for it's protection and
government. The process of amalgaIaation, in other
words, is going on, and it will advance a step every
year, and in the end become powerful enough to
burst the restraints of colonial or political bondage,
and bring the island within the range of the federal
Union. This is what is strongly expressed by omani-
fest destiny" 1T is simply giving effect to strength,
putting manhood TO proper labor, and endowing it
with its own natural government. Mr.. Brown, in
this respect, uttered the truth.
We hold it to be the clearest thing in the world
that tho United States are destined to exert a con-
trolling inRuence over the affairs of this continent.
The possessioIs of Spain are not likely to be exempt
from this control. There is nothing in the past his
tory of the Madrid government jn connection with
its home or colonial policy to lead us to conclude
that Cuba is to constitute any exception to this rule.
Nobody can with truth say that the people of that
island desire to remain under the government of
Madrid. The authority that is exerted over them ia
purely foreign and political precisely that kind Of
authority which has been prescribed by our people
and by the people of this entire continent. II is
simply prescription and prescriptive government,
though sufficiently powerful and permanent in Eu-
rope, is not to be enforced many years more on this
side of the water.
The history of this country is fall of testimony
showing the overriding power of its industry even
with reference to our domestic politics. i. is only a
few years ago itst we set apart all the country lying
- west Of the Mississippi for the permanent occu-
patton Of the Indian tribes. 1t was the settled policy
of the government that this compromise should
be made. with the natives a policy stamped by
the seal and soemnized by the warrant of the
executive government Of the Union-the President
aud the Senate. We need not undertake to prove
that this policy could not be enforced. 1t did not
bear even the merit Of o temporary arrangement.
New States have been admitted, and more are pre-
Dayine for admission, from the country which was