New-York daily tribune., 1859-02-14
BBNJAuIN As AN INCENrIABY.

Various cOpjectures have been started as 10 the
motive and object Of President Buchanan in modest
ly proposing to Congress to put thirty millions OF
dollars into his hands, to be employed at his discre
ton in the acquisition Of Cuba, and various cOnec-
lures ALSO as to the use which he intends to make
of the money. The prevailing opinion on this lat
ter point seems 10 BE- that the President intends to
use this money in bribiDg the Spanish Ministers,
perhaps the Queen herself, and in buying up votes
in the Spanish Legislature favorable to any such
treaty as be may negotiate. The speech of Mr.
Benjamin, Senator from Louisiana, would seem,
however, to look 10 q somewhat different employ
ment Of that money. Mr.. Ber amin's speech Is
made up to a considerable extent of bitter denun-
Citations of the tyranncal rule of Spain over Cuba,
and is an evident attempt to excite spiIit OF re-
volt in that island, as one means, we suppose, OF
making Spain the more ready to part with it,
Considering that Mr.. Benjamin represents in the
Senate Of the United States the State OF Louisiana
a State in which the cOlored people considerably
outnumber the whites, By whom they are held in
the most CALLING subectioD and the greater part OF
them in the most abject servtude-it appears to US
not very prudent on bis part to make the oppressive
character Of the Spanish Government in Cuba a
ground for our interference, and still less prudent
to deliver in the Senate Of the United States in
cendisry speech, well calculated, and, to all ap.
pearances, intended, to excite discomfort aud in
surrection among the inhabitants of that island.
Before delivering such speech, Mr.. Benjamin
might have called TO mind some OF his own eXhOrta-
tions TO tie Abolitionists to mind their own busi-
ness, and TO correct some of their own evils at
home instead Of seeking to disturb the peace and
quiet of their reighbors.
With what propriety can Mr. Benjamin object
10 the fIeest discussion and the most vehement
denuncstons of the social system of bis own State
even though such discussion and denuncations may
tend, as he thinks, to slave insurrection, when
he himself turn, a social incendiary, and seeks to
stir up a creole insurrecton in Cuba The Span.
sh government of Cuba is founded upon exactly the
same principles with the slayeholding government
of Louisiana-to wit, tie doctrine of superiority Of
race. 1t is alleged that the white creoles of the trop
les are just about as unfit for self government as the
colored people and the negroes, AID that the as
tendency and moi opoly Of Office in Cuba secured
to SpaDiards born is essential TO the peace, pros
perity ard good order of the island. Nor do
the Spanisrds by any means stand alone
in this opinion SIS to the incapsciy Of the native
whites Of tropical America to take care of them
selves II is, indeed, upon this very ground that so
many of Mr.. Benjamin political friends are anxious
for an intervention on our part in the affairs of Mex
icoand other Spanish States, and the send
ing Of an American army TO Mexico to reestablish
there peace, industry, and social order. How can
Mr. Benjamin and his political friends object to the
protectorate of Spain over Cubs, supported though
it be by standing army of Spanish soldiers, q. the
very time when they are proposing to establish
similar American protectorate over Mexicol OF
course, if we were to establish our proposed pro
tectorate over Mexico, We should expect that
country to pay the cost of the operation, with
some fat pickiDgs also to such Of our citizen, IS
might 60 thither to seek their fortunes.
Between Senator Benjamin incendiary spseches
and the dexterous employment of Thirty Millions
of Dollars by the President Of the United States
il might be possible to excite an insurrection in
Cuba, and such an insurrection might tend TO dis.
pose the Spaniards to part with the island; but We
put it to Mr.. BENJAMIN to ssy whether, in his
opinion, such sort of ncendiary operations are of
good and wholesome example,