The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-28
rnE NAV YORK rIMEs ANp Posr AND cUBA.

Some adequate measures ought TO be adopted at
once TO aay the fears and paciy the axietles OF The
New York Times and Evening Post They have be-
come excessively alarmed and agtated The Presi-
dent suggested in his last annual message the pro-
priety of opening negotiations for the purchase of
the island of Cuba This, it is feared by our New
York contemporaries, will be regarded by Spain and
other civilized States as highly offensive to the ma
tiona pride Of the Spaniards and may involve us in
the serious blunder Of having honestly expressed
desire to obtain by fair negotiation an addition to
our national territories The Times and Post are
convinced that in thus expressing wish to obtain
the island we have been guilty of gross violation OF
international courtesy, 1t is true that on previous
occasion we obtained from Spain the State OF Florida
and it is equally true that her Catholic Majestys
government ON this side of the water has been grow
ing small by degrees and beautifully less during the
whole of the present century. Mexico was taken
from her by its own people Contra! America, and,
in fact score or more of isthmian and continental
Jewels have within few years dropped from the
Crown not so much through sudden shock as by the
simple laws of gravitation. But Spain has enjoyed
degree OF repose of late She has passed through
winter of exemption, and perhaps not only imagines
that her empire is now thoroughly consolidated,
but that the great causes which have heretofore
operated to limit her rule in America have ceased
to exist We like to call things by their right
names--to look good or i'll fortune full in the
face La this spirit it is but fair to revert
10 the progress of population and production
ON this continent No is wise or honest who
closes his eyes to the great overrnling fact that
our industry is far successful than that OF any
other on this side Of the water and wherever labor
is best rewarded and individuals best protected,
there will be the seat of empire. II is far more
question of industry than of politics with us 1t is
the former that creates and directs the latter that
provides security to persons and property that
opens new avenues of trade, new fields OF labor,
md lorti6es itself by commanding all those points
which are necessary to present or future de-
fence. In the nature of things, the island of Cuba
must fall under our territorial jurisdiction The evi
denoe of this is to be found alike in our own rapid
advancement and in the decline of Spain. II Is not
a auestion of power, of diplomacy, and OF manage
ment nor is it question of dollars and cents. 1t
is not political problem, the solution of which. is
40 deprive Spain of her island, and bring 1t to
Ma and thus weaken her empire. and magnify the
we are quite strong already. Fortified by geo
graphical defences and conducting an economical
government, we have nothing to fear from any quar-
ter t0ar muscle lies in our industry-n the persons
who conduct it, and will defend it, In this way
have am army the largest in the world-a self-sus-
tanning machine, purely defensive, and wholly in
vincible We propose now to purchase Cuba OF
Spain--to pay for it fair price--and met with
IL
is offensive to the national pride of the Madrid
government and il il intimated that we
are to be called to account for having made il.
There are very silly in the world, and
ahe Times and Post teach MS that they are
mot all in Spain Those journals actu-
ally alarmed, fearing that the Presidents free
speech, and the action of Congress in obedience
thereto, may involve in with the Qneens
government Possibly it may. What then? If we
are to be deprived Of the right to speak frankly to
the governments of Europe, it had better be after
than before war. Al matters now stand, we are
quite free to say what we please. having due regard
to the courteses of intercourse. If censor is to be
placed over us, are 10 be frightened by grand
eloquent denunciation in the Spanish Cortes it s well
certainly that there should be delay in mapping
out the maner and substance of what may be said by
the Executive and the Congress hereafter. Those
who are easy to take offence are not often difficult to
moify and satisfy. Those ,gho stsg5 30 much on
their dignity, and talk oudest about Tie courtesas of
life not the first people in the world TO run their
necks into halter in vindcation of their wounded
pride. We almost our alarmed cotempo-
raries of New York that their agitation is wholly
groundless Should the thirty -mlon bill become. a
law, not then need they give up in despair.
The wrath of Spain running into arms would be a
serious calamity, but it never win rise so high. A
little threatening prelude to friendly negotia-
tions may be anticipated nothing more But the
Times is not so much afraid of Spain as of the 1
thirty million corruption fund" by which the Pres
ident is to and elect his successor We beg
permission to suggest, in this connexon, that the
course OF the opposition towards the foreign policy
Of the administration, in Judgment, will render
it wholly unnecessary to employ extraordinary
means to elect democratic President in 1860
We are confident such miserable, trashy stuff
as the Times crowds into its columns from
day to day can fail to advance our cause
and promote the success of our men, Il is
not safe business to undertake to degrade
the American people into the belief that their