The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-15
Highly Important from Havane-The
spanish Offer OF Cuba and Porto Rico

ing from Havana is OF the highest significance
and Importance. Thus it runs:-Spain offers
the magnificent island of Cuba and the pretty
island of Porto Rico to the United States for
the sum Of one hundred and fifty millions of
dollars, in gold, in three equal payments-one
cash down, one next year and the third at the
end Of six years. The news has, naturally
enough, created a great excitement in the
sever faithful island" the extnguishment of
slavery being one Of the consequences in
volved in the annexation. 1t seems, however,
to be regarded at Havana as certain that the
bargain will be completed forthwith, consider
ing the enormous value of the islands 10 pos
session of the United States.
It is not difficult matter, we think, to
understand the why and the wherefore Of such
an offer from Spain at this crisis. Profitable
as these islands are to her Most Catholic
Majestys government, her hold upon them is
precarious and uncertain. With any little
breeze of war. involving the balance
of power in the Gulf Of Mexico, they
may slip through her fingers Moreover,
the cession Of ST. Thomas to the United
States has the appearance OF q strategical
movement. which. In the event OF rupture
with Spain, will enable us on call at sunset,
with heavy squadron from ST. Thomas on the
one side and from Key West on the other, to
seize both Porto Rico and Cuba by sunrise tho
next morning. Manifest destiny, or the laws
Of gravitation, point to the annexation Of Cuba
eventually to the United States Peace or war,
in the course of events the island must be ours
The American people are as firmly possessed
Of this idea as are the Italians Of the manifest
destiny Of Rome. Spain, looking thoughtfully
into the subject has probably concluded that
now is her appointed time, and that there is
danger in delay. Again, her extravagances.
resulting from her American discoveries and
colonies and the enormous amounts Of gold,
silver and other materials Of wealth derived
thereffom in the sixteenth, seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries, had left her, like the
Roman empire in its time, SO enfeebled from
her debaucheries that when in the sixteenth
century her American colonies struck for in
dependence she lost them, from Mexico to
Peru, and all their vast contributions to her
treasury.
Thus, nearly City years ags her American
colonies were cut down to Cuba and Porto
Rico, and from these during all this time she
has largely depended for her supplies of
ready cash. The luxurious. extravagant
and idle habits Of Spain, government and
people, we say, contracted from the abound
ing wealth poured into her Golfers from her
American possessions in the days Of her power
and glory, have reduced her from the splendors
of Philip the Second and his invincbIe arma-
da, to the PRIDE the gallantry and the rags OF
Don Caesar de 'Bazan. Industry in Spain itself
has relapsed into general idleness; the people
are poor, the government is bankrupt, and has
SO far exhausted all means of raising the
wind that the slightest increase Of taxation
develops revolutionary conspiracy. In this
extremity can we wonder that she offers to sell
the goose that lays her golden eggs. Don
Caesar must have his dinner, with his bottle of
wine, though 1t may cost him The sword at his
side.
Well, il her Most Catholic Majesty has au-
thorized this offer for the cession Of her last
remaining American colonies TO the United
States, for so much gold, what are we TO do ?
The islands are worth the money but where
Is the money 10 come froms With hard
winter setting in they are at Washington dis
missing scores Of poor female clerks in order
to save their pititul salaries to the Treasury,
while millions upon millions are lost in whis-
key frauds upon the revenue. We are to pay
seven millions two hundred thousand dollars
in gold for Alaska, that polar bear region,
where il rains or SHOWS three hundred days in
the year, and where over large portion Of
that immense country they have wintry
night Of three months duration. We are to
pay the same sum Of money, or more, for St
Thomas and two or three other neighboring
little islands, which may be turned inside out
by volcanic eruption, or swept OF clean any
day by a tornado and we are burdened with
twenty-five hundred millions OF debt on account
Of our late Southern rebellion. and taxed TO
the utter most to make both ends meet
Where, then, are we to get these one hundred
and fifty millions for Cuba and Porto Rico, II
we can get those lovely islands at that figure :
We venture TO say that considerable por-
ton may be derived by the Treasury from the
undevclopcd mines and forests. and the unap.
propriassd lands Of the islands themselves, de-
Quoting our losses from the loss Of the tariff on
Havana cigars and other articles. We sup
pose however, that our negro worshipping
radicals In Congress will consider the emanci
patton Of the slaves Of Cuba and Porto Rico
and the complete extinction of the African
slave trade cheap at hundred and dity mil
lions, and that, with an eye 70 trade. our mer.
chants would raise the first any millions As .
loan at good interest In any event. II the
offer has been made IS reported, we have no
time o'ioss in striking bargain for whom
England and France hear Of this matter there
will be some diplomatic hedging with Spain