Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-02-02
The Cuba Question.

Mr.. Buchanan snd his Administration
are pressing the passage of the thirty
N lion loan bill Since the late action
of the Spanish Government in reference
to the sale Of Cuba. it Is nantes, tbs
neither thirty. nor fte hundred millions
will purchase it.
The Spanish Minister of State, Cat
pKssor CoLAsrRs. made proclamation
in the Cortes in the debate of the Slst
December as follows:
The Spanish nation. in all the Difficult
ties through which it has been obliged
to pass, in all the contests in which it
has been involved, none of them provok
ed by it. but caused by the emulation
which its power excited. or By the desire
to weaken II, has demonstra ,ed that it
has, above all and to the neglect of ma
terial interests. endeavored to snstain the
good name which its glorious antece.
dents had placed so high. But, how
ever, as We see that in some countries
this idea, to which | have referred, con
tinues to be entertained, and as il is not
possible that the Spanish nation should
resign any territory which constituted a
part of ihe once vast domains of the
Spanish monarchy. the present Govern
ment regards it as a duty to make a
solemn declaration which cannon fail to
esgrave itself on the heart of the Cortes.
and to be transmitted to every Spainsrd
To-day, tomorrow, on whatever occa
sion. prosperous or adverse, whether
fortune smiles. upon us. or. as she has
90 often done, turns her back upon Us,
the Spanish nation will never be insen
sible to its honor, will never dispossess
itself of the least part Of its territory;
and any proposition made with that 80
.ect vii! be con>idered by the Govern
ment as an insult offered 20 The nation
This is explicit enough to settle the
question OF purchase. and it is plain that
Mr.. Buchanan mus, give up the idea of
the acquisition of Cuba, except BY its
~seizurs By force, under the law that
might makes right. So far as Spain
alone is concerned; in Ease of an appeal
10 t'the law of the strongest the result
of contest would be certain, as the
United States is strong, and Spain is
weak. bu' the attempt to seize Cuba by
The Uuited States, will inevitably involve
1s In a war with France and England, as
well as Spain. As in the war between
Russia and Turkey. the attempt to rob
a weak nation will band together the
civilized nations of the old world in de-
fence of the right. Once establish the
precedent that We can at u pleasure,
seize upon one island in the seas ,yorser
ing upon our shores. and Pr island IS
safe. If Mr.. Buchanan want Cuba and
g war, in the smoke OF which the Kansas
qnestios will be obscrrsd and bis pros
pect for a reelection made better, the
next President will want 81. Domingo,
then OF eourse We must have Porto Rico,
Jamaica: Barbados. Antigua. ST.. Thorn
IS. Gnsa.iops, and Marguerite. for if We
can rob. Spain of one we can also rob
France Of the two latter. and Denmark, /
Of 81. Thomas. After these would fol
low all the islands of tbs Caribbean Sea,
no matter 10 what nation they now be-
long.
Is It to to be expected then. that
and England will stand idly by.
and see the policy inaugurated which
in the end. strip them Of a part
Of their possessions. in the same manner
hat Spain would be robbed. noHf The
lime has gone by. when any one nation
van foreibly seize upon the territory of
another and weaker, with which it is on
Terms of amity, for the mere purpose of
'arritorial aggraudisement. and not bring
Down upon itself the opposition of other
nations whose united strength will com 4,
pei the aggressOr to be honest. The
readily will France and England
10 this il this ease. because they know
hat q large majority Of the citizens Of
be United States, themselves hold that
bat our Government would be acting !
With the grossest injustice in attempting {
se;ss Cuba, and tba, it would be roth +
ng more or nor less than robbery and /
and piracy. f.,