The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-01
Aminadab Sleek on tho Acquisltion Of Cuba
IL 1t a National Question or Party Issues

Aminadab Sleek on tho Acqufsitt0n OF CuDa-
Is 1t National Question or a Party Issues
Our shallow pated and jesuitical contemporary,
the Journal Of Commerce, has at last discovered
that the public mind is occupied to an unusual
degree with the proposition to place at the dis
posal of the President of the United States ex-
traordinary means to enable him to negotiate
for the acquisition of Cuba;' and in a long
article, which we reprint in another column,
after exhibiting it's want of knowledge in the
question, and its palpable desire to be on both
sides of it, it, either through ignorance or malice,
accuses the President Of having brought the sub
ject forward as a party issue, for the purpose of
favoring his aspirations to reelection.
Had this accusation been made by one Of the
partisan prints Of the day, following, as they
have done in making this scandalous charge
against the President, the attacks Of the black
republican leaders, we should have passed it
over as unworthy of notice. But, coming as it
does from our sleekfaced and puritanical cotem-
porary of Wall street, who not only assumes to
be a reflex of the opinion Of our commercial
community, but to be specially the friend
of the administration, and in virtue thereof is
constantly claiming some of the butternuts of
the mint, it is the more worthy of attention. We
do not know, nor are we disposed to inquire,
from whom the Aminadab Sleek of our city
press has received its hint in the present instance
and we shall deal only with the facts involved in
its ridiculous statements.
In regard to the feeling among the commercial
community in New York, on the question of au-
thorizing the President to attempt the peaceable
acquisition Of Cuba, and Of placing the means of
doing so with advantage at his disposal, we have
the best reasons for stating that very large ma
jority Of our merchants are decidedly in favor of
it. 1t is not alone those who carry on the large
and valuable commerce we now have with that
island-for we may say that these are nearly, if
not quite, unanimous in its favor; but very
large proportion of the general trade Of the me-
tropolis, looking at the state of affairs with q
more comprehensive view than that open to the
retail notions Of our shallow pated contempora-
ry, recognise the necessity Of giving to the in
dustrial mind Of the country stronger stimulus
than can be found in the slow returns of COM
MERGE. In this respect our Aminadab has mis-
interpreted OF wilfully misrepresented the views
of the New York merchants.
Its accusation against the President is gra-
tuitous and heartless invention. Mr.. Buchanan
is not only pledged by his own acknowledge
ments of honorable considerations to his friends
and his party not to seek re-electisn-and he
means to respect them-but, even if he were 30
unwise as to seek denomination, he is too skill
full politician not to be well aware that such o
course as his doublefaced supporter In Wall
street accuses him Of pursuing would be the
short-sighted and treacherous fools as our
-Aminadab Sleek that can entertain the SUPPOSE
ton that the President has brought forward this
great measure for the purpose of seeking re-
election. Mr.. Buchanan has presented the Cuba
question to Congress as national question, and
not as a party ISSUE He has contemplated it
with statesmans ken, and has seen that the ac-
QUESTION of that island is a step in the progress
Of our national Developments and destiny, and
that it will be beneficial, directly or indirectly,
to the interests Of every man in the country
Recognizing the great progress of the ripening Of
tue ButiOHdl AHtciSsto VI tHt CuOu unQ VI
Cuba, he wishes to secure their fruits
to all the parties concerned, without resorting to
the destructive arbitration of war between any
of them.
All are agreed that in its highest sense 1t is a
national question. Even Mr.. Seward acknow-
lodges that Cuba gravitates to the Continent.
If it gravitates to us now, it will continue to do
so with constantly increasing force. With
every increase of our material development,
with every augmentation Of Cuban production,
it will continue to gravitate more aud more.
Every succeeding year will see it a stronger ma
tional question than it was in the preceding one;
and for this reason we should meet it now, and
meet it purely as national question. But II
can be made o party issue If the opposition in
Congress choose to accept II now as such. They