The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-30

Total 81, ,6S3 73I 81 1874 578
Exportable domestic produce is the basis of all com
merce The amount of such produce possessed by any
people their commercial capabty or in other
words their purchases IN series of years will about
equal their ability to pay Any commerce beyond that
must be unsound involving the country in debt or
positively detrimental making drafts its accumuls
ted capital TO pay balances Taking the exports as the
of commercial capacity Cuba has in proportion
to its population nearly threshold that the United
States. With estimated population of % 900 900, the
United States exported in the year 1858 SOB 1888 279 of
domestic produce being dollars and forty nine cents
per head whilst Cuba in 1854 exported twenty
dollars and twenty teecents per head The fact that
total population of 200 0n0, of all classes paying tax
of twentyth millions of dollars to SPAIN and without
any OF the encouragement protection derived from
good government exhibit such results from their
rude and untored industry, will speak volumes the
commercial inquirer, and needs no comment l.ttt
Determined to confine themselves to ncontrovertiba
facts the committee have been obliged to go back to
1854 in order to obtain official information In the four
years that have since elapsed great been made
in the island and it is not doubted that 25 per cent
must be added to these results represent the wealth
aud commerce OF the present time In addition to which,
all writer's agree that the official reports from their Gus
tom houses are 25 per cent under the truth.
We cannot hope that have been able present ali
the material facts bearing upon this point Indeed the
jealousy of the Spanish government sedulosy conceals
much That would throw light upon the subject But this
few prominent facts that have mentioned will show
beyond doubt that to the commercial classes the Uni
ted States the acquisition OF the island Of nestmab
Importance. atlr
Ours is government dependent the consent Of the
governed and resting for its basis upon the affections of
its citizens If the Of power is felt IL il in repr
ing vice and maintaining order. If there u.s. throughout
the broad limits of the republic citizen who looks
with maevolence upon the constitution under which he
lives he is spurned by the good but fears no persecution
Hrnd ias IL, and ought to be, maxim ia extending
our institutions over organized communities Ii would
accord neither with our principles practice to
take into the Union territory already fully occupied
by civilized people to constitution II bs
comes Important then, to inquire whether the people OF
Cuba would probably desire annexation to the Union 4
On this point can have direct assurances Tor the
slightest whisper of discomfort would probably hzing down
upon their heads the wrath of the government under
which they live.
well informed historian thus sums up the oppres ssons
under which they groan
She is permitted voice In the Cores tho press is
under the viest censorship farmers compelled to pay
ten per cent all their harvest except sugar and on
that article two and half per cent the island has been
under martial law since 1925 twenty three millions
of dollars taxes about s4O0 to each family are levied
upon the inhabitants to be squandered by Spain flour is
taxed to be nadmsbe the natives of the island
are excluded entirely from the army the judiciary the
treasury, and the customs letters passing through tn
post opened and pnrged of their before de
livery planters are forbidden to send their to tn,
United States for educational purposes In short
possible snbterugc is resored to by the government Off
cas to swndie the people, everything being taxed amt
there Is no appeal from the captain general" (tany
the expressions enumerated omitted for breyity
To these grievances is to be added the terrible threas
constantly held them by the minons of the govern
ment that the least appearance of disatction
bellon, the sscles will be stricken from the slave popu
laon OF the islad aud hall million of Atlican savagss
viii he turned loose TO deugc their hearths in blood and
desoate tue island Threats of spoiaon and visions OF
carraec hang like thunderbot over their heads
ii the thirty thousand resident Spaniar,a who are AL
lowed TO monopoize the honors and eolanents of gov
ernment, and 10 domineer the island in the very
wartonness of unrestraned power, should object to any
change IL would not be surprising The same class a.
persons mterposd the Kind of objection the cs
sion of Florida wbere their exaspns nearly SO
great nor their privileges so lucrative they are in
Cnia AS was done in the OF Florida there could be
reserved 10 them by the treaty the privilege be-
fore the flag OF the republic Is raised on the island
To the Ave hundred and twenty thousand native white
population tas question presented Is totally different To
them 1t Is question of emancipation from thaldonn
freedom from exaetios aud oppression, elevation om
political servtude 10 political freedom escape from the
most irresponsible dspotism TO be invested With the ,ls
lcoScLuDEp ON TouRru PzoF