The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-06
TH1 RELATION OF CUBA TO THE UNITED

/ I
The insurrectionary trouble in Cuba il
now seems, has been more Important in its
nature than it was recently supposed to be.
The strenuous efforts Of the captain general
first to suppress the nsws of its existence,
and afterwards to conceal its gravity and
scope, have only thrown about it transpa-
rent mystery, SO to speak, through which il
is not difficult to divine If not its precise orr
gin and Development at least its tendencies
and probable results. And from what is thus
to be seen, We are led to suspect that the rev.
dictionary movement will issue in both fail
ure and success (; failure in so far as it aimed
at the independence of Cuba, and success in
SO far as it was inspired with the hope on the
part OF the creoles for political enfranchiss-
ment, and for relief from the onerous taxation
and the cramping and sitting commercial re-
strictions, which have so greatly contributed
to render their colonial servitude hateful and
bitter. Cuba, it is almost needless to say,
has been for twenty years the seat of chronic
conspiracy against the Spanish domination.
That this conspiracy took the form of overt
resistance at the same time that the re-
volution in the Spanish peninsula was
IN successful progress, though it appears
to have been an entirely accidental
coincidence, presents a fact on which
VIII, perhaps, turn, the whole issue of
the former movement. The provisional gov
eminent of Spain manifests disposition to
concede to the Cubans all the political fran
chises, short of absolute independence, and all
the revenue and commercial reforms, which
they could reasonably hope to obtain under
any probable conditions of an accomplished
revolt Thus the chief argument of the Gu
ban revolutionists is exploded by the triumph
of the revolutionary party in Spain. They
are in respect to all points of substantial
grievance logically disarmed Consequently,
if the permanent government of Spain shall
hereafter pursue towards Cuba wise and
liberal policy in keeping with the sentiments
exhibited by the present revolutionary junta,
the chronic conspiracy in that island will
doubtless expire in natural death. Such
result would be, of course, by no means favor
able to the prospect of annexing Cuba to the
United States. But as far as we in this
country are concerned, most of the COM
mercial advantages of annexation would
be realized; and as far as the Cubans are
concerned, they would enjoy similar
advantages, while avoiding what they might
regard as serious disadvantages attendant
upon such a relation. The fact is that, in
respect to material amelioration, the most
potent cause of Cuban dissatisfaction with
the colonial condition has been desire to get
rid of tariffs. prohibitory in their effect, i'm
posed by the home government for the sole
purpose of compelling the Cubans to consume
Spanish products, and more especially of
those tariffs which almost wholly excluded
rom Cuba flour, grain, pork and other pro-
1uce of the Mississippi valley to be exchanged
Tor coffee, sugar and tropical fruits. With |
his radiance, the commercial grievance of |
Cuba would fall to the ground, and a very |
powerful motive for separation from Spain
would be removed. But on the other hand,
would only remain for Congress to recipro-
ate such policy of free trade, and
IL the conditions of the commercial an
lexation Of Cuba to the United States
would be secured. And this is a matter
which the congressional representatives
I the great West should see to without DELAY.
nd press with determined vigor. In a mate
ial point of view, under policy of recipro-
al free trade, Cuba would be worth to us of
he Mississippi valley, and to all parts of the
United States indeed, just as much as though
were politically incorporated in the Union.
'erhaps, even, considering some of the
Troublesome questions inseparaole from polit-
al annexation, it would be worth to this
ountry great deal more, commercially. in
he former than in the latter position. It's,
aturally, the richest island of the western
emisphere. Its vast agricultural resources
'e very partially and very imperfectly devel-
ped. Give it the benefit of commercial
berality in the legislation of both Spain and
lie United States, and its production would
ION be trebled; its foreign trade would be
,oportionately increased; if African laborers. i
r any cause, should desert its plantations.
out and industrious Cinnamon would fill up I
e vacancy more than compromising for the
'sertion; we would hardly have need for a
ore direct route, by railroad or isthmus
nal, to China and Japan, for we would !
We almost the commercial equivalent of .
tn those countries at our very doors. 9