The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-16


OF the whites, about 1OO,O 900 were natives Of
Spain; $4,000 of the Canary Islands; 5000 of
France; 1000 Of England; and 5000 Of North
America and other oOuntries-the remaining
portion having been born upon the island.
Porto Rico, the fourth of the Antilles in point
of size, is 80 miles in length, from east to
west, and SO miles in width, giving it an area
of about 2500 square miles. The location of
the southwestern extremity of the island is in
IL deg. Sc min. of north latitude, and in 81
deg. 10 min. of west longitude. The popula-
tion is estimated at 500, 600, of which number
but 100000 are slaves.
That these two magnificent islands are worth
every dollar of $3.50, ,OOO, 900 is unquestionable,
and that Spain would cheerfully resign her
sovereignty for that amount we have not the
slightest doubt.
The possession Of one hundred millions in
cash, with the prospect of fifty millions after
the lapse of six years, would be nothing less
than godsend to her embarrassed Bourbons,.
especially at the present day, when the whole
kingdom is in a chronic state of revolution.
Nor would there be any sacrifice of the ma
tional honor in thus parting with the brightest
gems in her coronet, for this policy was inau-
gurated early in the present century, and has
been continued until her present American
possessions have been narrowed down, with
the assistance of revolution, to these two
islands.
But notwithstanding the financial embar-
easements of the Spanish Government, we
f,t.. 8
the report of its willingness to part with Cuba
and Porto Rico on the terms proposed. If the
report prove true however, the question of
our compliance with it is a very momentous
one. In the first place, there is no doubt of
our inability to pay for this territory outright.
Burdened with taxation as we are it is out of
the question to ask the American people
raise an extra 500, 600, 600 within two years. y
direct taxation, and there would be an almost
unqualified objection to raising the money by
loan, with a corresponding increase of the
national debt. But Cuba alone is we'll worth
the price demanded for both islands, and
every consideration of national policy
demands their acquisition on such favorable
terms. How, then, shall we raise the money
The answer is very simple-let Cuba and Porto
Rico pay for themselves; let them purchase
their own freedom, and once free, let them be
received into full connection with the great
republic. AS long ago as 1864, the revenues
of Cuba amounted to about $28, ,000, 900 per
annum, $4,000, 600 of which found it's way to
Spain, as a tribute for the unenviable privi-
lege of being governed as badly as any island
on the face of the earth. Let the United
States place on the European market short
loan fer 800, O,O00 900, with interest at six per
cent, the revenues of Cuba being pledged as
security for payment of both interest and
principal. This would be eagerly taken up at
par, if not at a premium, and the money
Geuld be in the Spanish Treasury at the stipu-
. Il time. Then let Spain resign her sove-
reignty over the island, and let it come under
the protectorate of the United States, with a
| quasi independence, all its surplus revenue
being paid into our national Treasury. Not
one-half of the amount thus received by us
would be required to meet the interest on the
loan, and the remainder could be set aside as
a sinking fund for the payment of the
principal. By the time that the last install
ment of $50, 900, 900 fell due, there would be
more than enough accumulated to meet it,
without resorting to another loan, and within
twelve years from the present time, the whole
amount required would be on hand, the bonds
could be discharged, and Cuba and Porto Rico
released from their anomalous condition by
admission into the Union, on perfect equality
with the other States. By that time their
populations would be completely Americanized,
the Spanish language supplanted by the Eng.
lish, and the manifest destiny of the most inn
II =. - - l.. r IL
allied, without an increase in our national
burdens. This scheme may not be feasible
but it will do no harm to give it careful con,
sideration.