The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-19


usually Illogical and confused. If we want to
buy Cuba it thinks we should not let any Que
know, lest tie seller find it out, asserts that the
island is not for sale. but shat we shall purchase
it shy and by that we should not prepare to
buy it, because in so doing we insult Spain, but
that we ought to be ready to buy it, though it
does not think Mr. Buchanan is the man to
manage the trade. The Express finds the
scheme "monstrous," then twaddles about
Slidell & Co. getting us into war with call
the world and the rest Of mankind and winds
up by pitching into poor Senator Mason, who
does not favor the scheme at all.
With the exception of the Tribune, all of
these journals utterly mistake the point at issue
in the proposition about to be brought before
Congress They take the question as though it
were an attempt to make bargain by the
agreement Of one of the parties only, when the
true point of il is to ascertain whether we want
Cuba or not. This question has never been
decided it has never been presented to Con-
gress nor formally to the people A
few filibusters and fre-eaters only have
dealt with it. 1t has received nothing
more than the expression Of favorable opinion
by Mr.. Polk. Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Everett,
an unfavorable one by Mr.. Fillmore and Mr..
Marcy, and both opinions by poor Pierce, who
evidently like the Times did not know which
side he was on, and so wished to be on both.
The question has now come formally before
Congress: sis the acquisition of Cuba desirable
to this great confederacy?" Should Congress
rot resolve it in accordance with the popular
wish, then it will come before the people, and
there will be greater breaking up and reforma-
ton of parties than has ever before been seen in
this republic. All those statesmen who have
been left stranded by the disintegration of par
ties all those who have refused to follow in the
wake of an insane abolition or proslavery agi-
taton, all those who have held aloof from the
reckless counsels of democratic demagogues,
will be found again in the field battling for the
right on an issue of truly national Importance.
The voices of such men as William G. Rives of
Virginia, Edward Everett and Rufus Choate of
Massachusetts, and hundreds of others, now rest
ing from their labors, will be again heard at the
national council fires and in the halls of the
nation.
The discussion of such a question as this,
which involves many of the most profound pro-
blems of our material interests, our social pro.
gress and our political status, is not and cannot
be an insult to Spain, or to any other
nation. And the discussion of it on the high
grounds of political necessity and social deve-
lopement not only will do it no injury, but will
give it a great impulse in the public mind of
Europe. 1t is not question Of enhancing the
power of some kingly court, or of establishing
some family dynasty. 1t is question of social
science, to which political combinations must be
subordinate. The ruling motive now of en-
lightened nations and cabinets is the elevation of
the masses through the advancement of their ma
terial interests. The Development of human
knowledge is inseparable from the progress of
industry and Of national wealth. Whatever
stimulates these is for the common advantage of
| all, and whatever depresses them is the common
evil of ALL If political combinations stand in the
| path of social science they must give way to it.
| IF they have stood for three hundred years I'M
changed, that is no argument for their perpetuity
rather will it be admitted by the world at
this day that that is an evidence of the necessity
of change.
And in the case of Cuba this necessity has ex-
listed for long years, and has on many points
prevailed. For two centuries that island was
close monopoly to all but few interests in
SPAIN The necessity of following the enlighten-
ment of the world and of cabinets caused it first
to be opened to an intercourse with the
whole of SPAIN then toward the close of the last
century, to limited intercourse with other
countries this was still further enlarged in 1918,
and has gone on opening wider and wider ever
since, until to-day it has commerce exceeding
immeasurably the ratio of that of the mother
country. And not only Spain herself, but the
colonial government, is forced to advance in the
| pathway of material progress, clearing away the
antagonisms of political considerations. In 1850
| the government Censor prohibited the press of
Cuba from even suggesting the idea Of sub
marine telegraphic cable between that island
and the United States; in 1857 that same govern
ment granted privilege and subsidy to par
| ties to construct one. All experience tells us
that these ripening events inevitably result in
the separation Of distant colonies from the parent
olcAA' 1AithSibO ehio ocpuiuuo udo UCCh U VIZ
lent one, disturbing the peace Of the world and
vexing the commerce of all nations No coun-
try has suffered more than Spain from it. In
discussing the establishment of peaceable mode
Of doing what has hitherto been done by force,
and what all knowledge tells us is inevitable, we
do no insult to Spain, nor to Europe, nor to the
world. Rather is such discussion recogni-
ton Of maintaining the peace of the world for
| the good of all.
Some of the obscure journals, instigated by
| petty malice and partizan envy, have attacked
the President and impugned bis motives for re-
commencing the discussion Of this question in
Congress. But in pursuing this course he has
shown himself to be an able and upright states
man, an honest man and bold politician. He
I seeks not to hide his motives and his WAYS IN the