The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1867-12-12

lcoNrMunD FnoN skcoNn PAok'J
Eation Of the American continent
Mo3t Of the colonies planted her'
became independents nation ia th'
oloae Of the last and beginning Of fth'
present century. Our own country
embraces communities which a on,
period were colonies Of Great Britain
France, Spain Holland, Sweden, and
Russia. The people Of the Wes'
Indies. with the exception Of thos,
Of the leland Of Hayti. have neither
attained nor afpired 10 independence
nor have lhey become prepared foi
telf defence. Although possessing
considerable commercial value, they
have been held BY several European
States which colonized, aDj at the
tame time conquered them, chiefly
for the purposes Of military aud naval
strategy. In carrying out the Euro
pcan policy aud designs In regard to
this continent in our revolutionary
war, ports and harbors in the West
India Islands we're used BY our enemy
to the great injury aud embarrassment
~ the United States. We had the
same experiences In our second war
With Great Britain. The same
European policy for long time
excluded us from trade with the West
Indies, while we we're at peace with
oil nations, In our recent civil war
tho rebels and their piratical and
blockade breaking allies. found facil-
tiles Ia the same ports for work,
which they too successfully accom-
plished, Of injuring aud devastating
commerce which we are now engaged
IN rebuilding. We labored especially
undor this disadvantage, that Euro
pcan steam vessels employed BY our
eaemies, founi friendly shelter, pro-
lection, aad supplies 10 West Indian
ports, while our own naval operations
we're necessarily carried on from our
own distant shore. There was then a
universal feeling Of want Of an
advanced naval post between the
Atlantic coast aud Europe The duty
of obtaining sucb an outpost peace
fully and lawfully, while neither do.
Ing or menacing injury to other
Hates, engaged the attention Of the
Executive Department at the close Of
the war, that IL has not been los,
sight Of since that time. A not en-
tirely dissimilar naval want revealed
itself during the same period on the
Pacific coast. The required foothold
there was fortunately secured by our
late treaty with the Emperor of Rus
sia, and itnow seems imperitiye that
tho more obvious necessities Of the
Atlantic coast should not be less
oerefully provided for. A good and
eouvenleut port and harbor, capable
W easy defense, will supply that want.
With the possession Of such a station
by the United States, neither we nor
any other American nation need any
lougor approhond injury or oHense
from any Transatlantic enemy.
! agree with our early statesmen
that tho West Indies arc maturity
gravitating to, and may bo expected
ultimately to be absorbed by Continent.
al States, including our own. l agree
With them, also, that il is wise to leave
question Of such absorption to this
process Of natural political gravitation.
The Islands Of 81. Thomas and st.
Johns, which constitute part Of the
group called tho Virgin Islands,
seemed to offer us advantages immO-
diatcly desirable, while their acquisi-
tlon could be secured in harmony
with the principles to which have
alluded. A treaty has heretofore
been concluded with the King Of Dem
mark for the cession of those Islands,
and Il will be submitted to tho Sem
ate for consideration.