Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-02-16

the SaIety, nonor, anu WeliaTc oi tue couh'is
demand in regard to the political organiza-
tion and government of the Island of Cuba,
If 1t shall be required.
Sir, have always received as political
maxim the declarations made by our prede-
cessors in regard to the acquisition of Cuba.
Every rock and every grain of sand in that is
land were drifted and washed out from Amer
ican soil by the floods of the Mississippi, and
the estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico. The is
land has seemed to me, just as our predeces-
sors have said, to grayitate back again to the
parent continent from which 1t sprung.
have supposed that political necessities would
determine that ultimate conclusion; and
know that to political necessities all actions Of
governments must bend and all sentiments OF
nations must accommodate themselves. L
have nevertheless, been taught with the same
maxim this other rule, that the acquisition of
Cuba was question of time, of necessity, and
of opportunity. 1t was just as clear sixty years
age, o,when acquired Louisiana, as it is now,
that Cuba, in the language of John quincy
Adams, gravitates to the United States, as the
apple yet hanging on its native trunk gravl-
tates TO the earth which SustalnS 1t. L Ell IL
certainly is true that Cuba was not then ac-
quired, nor attempted by extraordinary means
to be acquired and the reason was that, the
time, necessity, and opportunity, had not then
presented themselves. In fact, the time is de-
termined by the coincidence of necessity and
opportunity and that coincidence is the re-
suit Of a decline of European power on this
continent, and of a developement of the growth
of American power on the same continent.
Our fourfathers said, all our predecessors have
said that when the juncture shall arise that
there should be just and necessary decline OF
the political European power on the continent,
and just that development of American pow
er here, which makes Spain unable to keep.
and ourselves able freely to obtain the island,
then it would be hopeless and idle TO refuse to
receive Cnba If 1t undesirable.
! They have said more, and l subscribe to it,
that we may safely hold our souls in patience
so long as Spain can keep il, and no other and
| stronger European Power can, or dare, take 1t
from her. What have to say now is, that the
| time and opportunity do not now serve, in my
| Judgment, any more than they have served for
] the last sixty years. We may be nearer, as,
| indeed, doubt not we are, TO the acquisition
| of Cuba but We have not arrived at that point
at which the acquisition must necessarily be
made, can be made, consistently with the
conditions of peace, prudence, justice, and
| the national honor.
Ten years ago the President of the United
| States declared that Cuba was to be acquired
| only by treaty, by purchase, and not by war.
| The present President OF the United States
re-affirms that proposition now; so that the
| only question to be considered Is, whether 1t
t can be purchased netr. Well, ten years ago.
| the President of the United States offered
S100, ,000, 900 for it, and the answer to the pro-
| position was conceived in terms so decided,
| so unequivocal, so utterly forbidding all hope,
| that it was never afterward reserved; and 81
| lence has been observed about it ever since, in
| order to preserve the good understanding and
| the good nature of the parties. The Message
| of the President sent here on Friday last,
| shows US that, down to this hour, the PROPOSE
tion has not been mentioned in Spain for Pc
riod of ten years. The same Message assures
us even that it will not now be mentioned to
Spain, unless some peculiar and extraordinary
measures are adopted te require him TO bring
| it again to her attention.
| Spain holds the Island now more tenacious
| ly-with a stronger and safer grasp than that
with which she has held it any time within
the last fifty years. 1t is now period of re-
pose in Europe, and in the Western World.
| Spain having gone through the crisis of sur
| rendering up her territorial empire in its lar
/ gest proportions, has entered upon new ca
reer of material progress and improvement.
| Her agriculture, her manufactures, her Army
| and her Navy, are in fourishing, prosperous
and improving condition. Heretofore, Spain
! has held the Island of Cuba in the midst OF
conflicts between the two great Powers OF
| Western Europe, England and France, liable
| to lose it to one or the other belligerents at
any moment. To-day, England and nance
are not only allies, but they are united IN the
policy of maintaining Spain in the enjoyment
| of the Islands of Cuba and Porto Rico, the
Spain exhibits, more decidedly than ever with
in the last twenty years, the habits of acquies-
cence and loyalty by her people in her existing
| institutions. She seems TO have passed the
period when the country was rent, convulsed,
and distracted by the contests of democratic
and monarchial factions. At present she is
apparently in a condition of profound repose
and contentment. If there any doubt a
| bout this subject, all doubt is now removed
by the answer which we have already received
from the authorities of Spain, to this very
proposition of the President of the u. States
in the very form in which it is proposed that
we shall adopt it. $Our mail Of this morning
brings us the answer of the Spanish Govern
ment and Legislature TO our advances, even
before we have taken the first step.
Now, Sir, after having shown that there is
not the least earthly prospect of acquiring the
Island of Cuba by, or in consequence OF, the
passage of this BILL what fOllowS2 1t follows
that the question, whether Cuba is desirable
and ought to be attained, is not at all in de-
bate. 1t is an idle, a visionary and mischiev-
Gus abstraction. There is no such question
here; but the question which is presented is.
whether the Congress of the United States Is
to offer an indignity TO Spain. That is All.
, Sir, will not stop to inquire as an aostracs
, question about the wisdom OF great haiiou
offering insults and indignities to other ma.
| tionS. / will not stop now 70 ihquiie aoou'
| the virtue, the morality, ana the hohor, q
| saw nothing of the dignity OF such a course
| Rnt will saw this, that il is not wise to otfeI
: | an indignity to foreign power if You are te
/ cain nothing by it. So much may at least be
, Conceded to me. And now, what is to be OBJ
tanned by insulting Spain Nothing; bu
i only this we must expect that she will b,
provoked TO war to resent the indignity ant
when the war has come to resent the indigni
ty, then the prize OF Cuba may be attained a
indemnity for the expenses OF the war. Sir
3 if we desire to acquire Cuba by negotiation