The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-07
Mr.. seward in Real Estate.
III ~ V ub-sI.,...

From He ~ Y Tribune
There is a rather musty aneodote of French
husband who was made happy by tidings that
his wife had presented him with an heir. His
Joy was doubled, an hour later, by the an
nouncement of a second accession to his family
circle; but when, after further interval, the
nurse appeared to congratulate him on the
birth of third responsibility he jumped from
his seat, ,exclaiming, 81 must go and put stop
to this business ~ In a kindred spirit, we
were disposed to tolerate the purchase of Wal
russia as rather costly act of Difference to
our august ally, the Emperor of all the Russias
(Walrussia hencetorth excepted); but the
reports of further investments excite alarm
and repulsion. If common report NAV be
trusted, the country is already 'let i'm for the
following SUMS
Walrussia (undoub'ed) ................ 81 200 900
Bay of Samana (St Domingo )............. 100000
Danish West 5000 900
200 900
And it is cuttingly added that Governor
Seward cannot be spared at this time from the
State Department, because he has several
delicate operations in the same line as yet un-
completed General Prim, says a European
report, expects soon to be master of Spain,
when he will forthwith replenish his exchequer
''6Vef-
taithfuI' island of Cuba for round hundred
millions, and perhaps throw in Porto Rico to
sweeten the bargain. In short, there is no end
to the outlandish possessions we may acquire
II Mr.. Seward shall remain long enough in the
State Department, and our money Cor oredit)
shall hold out.
Our repugnance to these operations is known
to be radical and invincible. They seem to us
to assume as their basis the monarchical idea
OF government. Why should thirty millions
here pay n oney to have one million Cor less)
elsewhere live under a common government
with us We cannot have colonies, depen-
denotes, subjects, without renouncng the
essential conception of democratic institutions.
If Cuba, or any other territory, chooses to re-
deem herself from European thradom by
payment OF money, that is her own affair, and. if
she shall afterwards make overtures for
place In our Union we would have them con-
sidered with every desire to find them accent
able; but to buy the alliance of any people is
to degrade our political system. What can
they bring us more than a fair go qu1vaI5nt for
what we can proffer them 2
Hitherto, our invulnerability to European
attack has been a substantial guarantee
against foreign wars. While we are essen
tally continental and compact, we could, if at
war, damage any foreign power more than it
could injnre us. Even California will be in
vulnerable from the hour in which our Pacific
Walrussia exposes us to annoyance from any
great naval power; while West India posses
sions will enormously increase the cost of any
future conflict with Great Britain or France.
Either we must dsmantle and abandon at the
hrst intimation of war, or we must fortify,
provision and garrison at fearful costa cost
which imposes no corresponding burden on
our enemy, who may assail or ignore at plea
sure. If we try half-and-half policy, as we
probably shall, the armaments and garrisons
of our West Indies would very soon fall prey
to the foe. In no conceivable contingency
could they fail to prove source of weakness
and of ruinous cost.
We want to pay our national debt. During
the last two years we have reduced it by two
hundred and fifty millions of dollars, or about
One-eleventh of its fearful amount when the
civil war closed We want to go on paying;
but the reduction of taxes on the one hand,
and Mr.. Stewards operations on the other.
make us heart-sick. Do, Mr.. MoCulloch, use
up that hundred millions of coin in paying off
public debt of some kind, before Governor
Seward can make ducks and brakes of il in
the real estate market We fear that custo-
dams may prove recreant, that Congress may
repeal more taxes, that thieves may break
through and steal-but we fear, above all, the
operations of the President, Ia "Mrs. Too
dies" The safest Investment for spare funds.
the surest safeguard against their misuse, is
found in paying honest debts.
The Step Backward.
From 1se ~ Y. Independent.