The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-01-06
Cuba.

Cuba.
We publish, on our first page, this morn
ing, a memorial, or rather protest, of the cit
liens of Cuba against the transfer of that
Island to the United States, addressed to the
Queen of Spain. This protest, taken IN
connection with several other circumstances,
puts quotas to the assertion that the sCu-
bans are anxious for revolution and an
nexation to this Government.
President Buchanan's message has &C
complished good in bringing out an ex-
preston of opinion on this subject, notwith-
standing the irritation caused by the views
therein set forth. The Cubans, while their
pride is hurt at the idea of being bought in
a mass, feel grim satisfaction for the Presi-
dent of the United States toproclaim aloud,
in terms unmistakable and precise, that
Cuba may threaten, not the peace and pros
perity only, but the very existence of our Re-
public. The message has given them new
insight into their position and Importance.
II was not very shrewd idea on the part of
the President to magnify the Importance of
sR<abiect be wished "a rurchase.-tsy of
our business mca would have had more in
genuity than that.
The Spaniard, however poor he may be
in this world goods, is, nevertheless, always
rich in pride. Spain would sacrifice her
very existence as nation, rather than lose
possession of Cuba. It is bound to her by
a thousand ties. Of all the mighty posses
sicns she once held on the Western contin-
ent, Cuba alone remains. The gem of the
Antillea 10 tho Last zalio Of han departed
greatness. She ought to---she will-cling
to it as memento of better days and it is
silly to talk of buying it. One would have
supposed that the summary and contemptu-
Gus rejection of Mr.. Folks offer would have
deferred any future President from making
a similar proposition. From that day, the
wisest Of Southern statesmen despaircd of
acquiring the island. They even now con-
denim all the projects of the President in that
direction. Besides, Mr.. Buchanan's propo-
sal savors somewhat of one of old, wherein a
distinguished parsonage offered another all
the Kingdoms of the Earth if he would fall
down and worship him; when, the truth
was, he did not own a solitary kingdom to
give. Mr.. Buchanan wishes to buy Cuba
when he hasn't cent wherewith to pay.
But supposing that Spain was anxious to
sell, that we were able to buy, and that the
CHbans were willing to be transferred, there
still would remain insuperable- difficulties
The Cubans are emphatically bad citizens
Physically, morally, intellectually, and so
cially, they are incompetent for self-govern-
ment. This is not altogether their fault.-
:" The Cubans have ever been treated at bes
only as useful servants. They know nj
municipal Institutions; they have no con
stitutional law. Officers sent out from Spain
and willing to remain in the island onl,
until their purses shall be filled, hold then
forever in leading strings They are no
true to their protested faith. Merely nom
inal members of Il church, no common faitl
binds them together. Unable, or at leas
snaccustomed, TO govern themselves, com
mon obligations and privileges have neve
taught them to look upon themselves a
members of the same great Commonwealth
The mixtures of race and color would b
another objection. We're they admitted in
to the Union, under our laws, who coul
count the drops of white blood in the vein
of men and women, and pronounce one t
be free and the other slave? If by sin
gle stroke of the pen they were all made free
how will the inequality of our Constitution
which would deprive the citizens of on
State from the rights and privileges of Gil
izen of all the States, be disposed Of? TIL
fruit is not sufficiently ripe for the pluckin
at present. Let us possess our souls il
patience until it is so.