The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-02-23

of the territor.4 of friendly State would be a
violation of public law that we should deeply
regret. But such proceedings have not been
unknown in Europe The partition of Poland,
the annexa ton of Finland, and of some of the
richest provinces of Turkey by Russia, and the
occupation of Italy by Austria may be cited as
examples. We have acquiesced in these griev-
Gus wrongs, and we have no right to cry out if
Cuba should fall to the United States. There
is reason why the peaceful annexation of the
island should not be regarded with satisfaction
by this country. Spain has hagrantly broken
her engagements with us, and, in the face of
treaties, openly encouf5ges the slave trade
Were Cuba incorporated with the United States,
the last market for the importation of African
slaves would be closed, and we should save the
million a year spent on our preventive squadron.
The island would be relieved from the prohib-
tive fiscal system of Spain, and opened to the
trade of the world, and the people would be re-
leased from a close, jealous, and despetic gov
ernment. Sooner or later Cuba must become
part of the u States, and we can have mo in
terest in retarding the inevitable consummation.
From Cuba to Mexico the transition is easy.
That unfortunate Republic has gone from bad
to worse. Ever since its independence it has
been in a chronic state of revolution, and
has been the prey of one military chief or an
other. At the present time there is no central
government capable of maintaining order, and
the various provinces are overrun by brigands,
who dignity themselves with the names of gen.
erals. There is security for life or property,
and foreign residents are plundered, imprisoned
and murdered with impunity. Such condi-
ton of affairs almost compels theinterference of
the United States. The northern boundary of
Mexico is conterminous with the southern
boundary of the United States from ocean to
ocean. The regions of Sonora and Chihuahua
lie between the Gulf Of California and the
American State of Texas. They form parts of
the Mexican Territory, but are perfectly disor-
ganized. The local Governments are helpless
They cannot prevent large bands of Indians
from wandering over the country or lawless
Mexicans from invading the United States
territory, and inj juring peaceful settlers. Thus
the progress of Arizona, the region which bor-
ders on the Mexican territory, and through
which the mail passes from the States to Cali
fornia, is arrested. The president recommends
that Arizona should be admitted as territory,
and that the Government of the United States
should "assume a temporary protectorate over
the northern portion of chihuahua and Sonora,
and establish military posts, within the same"
This is, doubtless, the beginning of the end,
but it does not justify the charges made by
some of contemporaries against the United
States of cherishing visions of territorial ag-
grandizement. The precautions recommended
are absolutely necessary to the security OF the
frontier, and if the Americans. of the north
should ultimately become the masters of Mex
leo, it would be gain to humanity and civili-
zation. The old complications, with which
the English Government are more or less mix
ed up, continue in Central . America. The
President recommends the employment of an
armed force for the protection of the transit
route, maintaining it free and neutral for all
nations, and we see no reason why his good
faith should be called in question.
On calm review of the Presidents Message,
we only see reason to congratulate the Ameri
can Union on the progress it has made, and is
making. There is nothing in the foreign poll
cy of that great country that need arouse our
jealousy. We may leave its government to
settle their quarrcls with Spain, to acquire Gu
ba, and to deal with the total disorganigation
of Mexico. There is too much disposition
here to criticise, to find fault, and to interfere;
but that disposition is confined to the govern
ing classes, who are alarmed by 'American in
stitutions" as much as their fathers were at
''French principles" The people of England
rejoice to the United States advancing in
prosperity and power, and far from wish
ing to interfere, they would rather assist, were
it needful or possible, in aiding their natural
development.