Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-21


sufficient to Gclay thc acquisition y.
The ostsntatious publicity which has unfortu.
natey been given 10 diplomatic documents
bearing on thiSquestion, and the loose, vague,
dcyi!nay-cs,r tenc Of undetermined rashness
and rnd"incd purpose which has marked Con.
sres,ional discussions on the same subject,
have already served TO awaken and irritate the
selfish apprehensions OF England and France,
10 call into exercise all their resources Of di.
plomatic management and powerful influence at
III" court OF Madrid 10 arouse in Spain. if not in
Cuba, all the opposition OF national jealousy
Weha'e lost much ground. both As regards
'nc ani international confidence, by inoppor.
time movements for the acquisition Of Cuba
1t present, at abstinence from all public
demonstration, II aot an entire mastery in.
activity, is what j, necde,l To riprn this fruit
Of territorial agsandiAemenL
There are more reasons than one u Justify
such conservative course. and to require its
.dopt;on. In order u succeed in any one Of
the great o;jccls "f domestic or home policy,
we must rctrench not only the present rates Of
expenditure. bui also the cXtrayagant list OF
magnificent schemes wl,ich has received the
sanction Of The Executive. TO accomplish
anything at all, sc rl,isi refrain from attempt.
in- u" much. The great Napoleon, himself.
with al the resources OF az empire at bis sole
command. never :cntured the simultaneous ac-
rornpshrnent Of ~ many daring projects. Tn.
acquisition Of Cuba, 1t a minimum expense Of
Siup"0", 6"l, tie construction Of Pacific rail
road. al pcrhnp, double the figure Mexican
protcctoratc. International prepondcrancc in
Central america, in spite Of AL the Powers Of
Europe; the submission Of distant South Ame-
rcan state; the rcpulse Of unwarrantable de.
niaads, in whic! the selfish British policy OF
foreign cncroacmaert is deeply interested; the
enlargement of the navy; n largely increased
standing army; vital re-actiOnary change in the
aIJde ri collecting revenue directly opposed 10
The culrcn. VI free trade sentiment which is
now drawing into il, channel all the nations Of
the earth: gigantic financial rcy olution, which
""ntempl;IteS 4 transfer OF all the power over
banking and industrial corporations from the
hands Of the States to those Of the Federal
Government. involving monopoly Of inoneta-
ry command At the centres Of trsde;-what
GovcrHincut Oh earth could possibly meet all
the cAscnc;cs oi such food Of innovations.
Whnt ,reasury couli siior' The drain required
To- supply il:
M this ,o,t oi thing is out o! the question.
Til, .'i.a>!ug AFTER multitude Of objects,
will Inevitably lose IL, everything OF solid bene.
Ia. ucsidcs invoking lis in complicated embar-
,as.incnt,, winch the wisdom of Il subsequent
century @ii hardly be sufficient To unrayel
W want :. Napoleon in the field. We want
some man who can concentrate all the energies
and resources. governmental and national, on
soln- great pcir, oi reform or advancement.
Abundant promises, magnificent and various,
although mutually destructive, may indeed win
for an Administration, al agglomeraton Of tol-
crancc ,.oi 81 r"rD"rt, from conflicting interests
and interested contestants. But the Admins
tra,ion which aims 10 secure for itself, or for
the patty which it represents. the confidence
and the earnest cooperation Of popular support.
~ which aims still higher at the speedy accom-.
rli,Inn,n, 81 great and beneficial public mea-
srr.~. Snrh an Administration must be chary OF
promises and mus, resort 10 n concentration Of
purpo:,, and providen, consolidation Of pub.
liz resources.
We must st oncc take bold or the first point
Of policy, the comparative Importance and pre-
sent urgency OF which command the most i'm
mediate attention.
In rhc domain ., foreign policy Virginia
Representative. the Ijor s. g. Jenkins, seems
. 20 have recognised the cine 10 the disentangle-
m,nt ct our international complications. Be
fore ". can calculate the cxpedency Of any
further step. thu ahrosation of the Bulwer-
CLAYTON treaty must be effected.