The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-10
The Annexation or Cuba as q Balm for
Reconstruction.

The Annexation OF Cuba q Balm for
Reconstruction.
The Southern papers are already beginning
to speak out vigorously on the subject Of an
nexing the island Of Cuba to the United
States. One influential organ of Southern SEN
timent is especially solicitous and urgent upon
the subject. 1t says:-"Cuba is actually
astray, and her people, feeling the want of
stable government, are in favor Of annexation
to this country" that "they know that what
ever the result Of the Spanish middle, they
will get nothing advantageous from it, after
being left without government and at the
mercy of their garrison for many months,
and that snow Is the proper moment for the
prompt offer to Cuba Of immediate annexation
to the United States"
The Southern States have always been in
favor of the annexation of Cuba to the
United States. When they were slave States
they advocated annexation, even to the extent
Of forcible seizure, because Cuba was slave
territory, and its possession was desirable for
the purpose of extending southerly their pecu-
liar institution. And now that slavery is
abolished in the Southern States they favor
annexation because it is likely to be substan-
TALLY abolished in Cuba through the liberal
policy Of the powers now ruling in Spain.
The geographical proximity Of our Southern
peninsula with the island OF Cuba naturally
lea DIS to an identity of commercial interests as
well as to a determination of political senti-
ment between the people of the two sections,
although they have been reared under differ
ent forms Of government. And we do not know
but it would prove balm to the decorating
wounds opened in the South by the radical
policy Of reconstruction to have Cuba annexed
with all practicable celebrity. 1t might also
soften the asperities or change the bitter cur
rent of the pending Presidential campaign to
have an issue like that Of the speedy annexa-
ton of Cuba introduced into it, Moreover, it
might justify pardonable spirit of acquisition
on our part for us to accept this precious gem
In the diadem of Spain in retaliation for the
lack of good faith and honor the government
Of that country, under the dethroned Queen
Isabella, exhibited during our direst national
troubles by attempting to re-establish monar-
chical power upon American soil consecrated
to liberty. But after weighing all these con-
siderations, without touching upon others per-
haps more potential, we cannot avoid the con-
clusion that it is the best policy of the United
States government not TO attempt to take the
island Of Cuba by force, not to accept it if
offered by the free will and consent of her
population under the present posture of affairs
in Spain, but to make an offer to the ruling
powers at home in good round sum of money
for its purchase There would be nothing dis
honorable in this, nor could the people of
Spain take umbrage at It; otherwise they
would ignore the experience taught by our
purchase Of the peninsula of Florida from the
Spanish crown itself; of the acquisition of
Louisiana from Napoleon !. by paying cash
for it, and more recently of the purchase of
st. Thomas from Denmark and more strik-
ingly still of the purchase Of Alaska from the
powerful kingdom of Russia. But unless an
offer in money be made by our government for
the early purchase of Cuba, and unless that
offer be accepted, there is every human proba-
bility that that bright and beautiful island will
not remain forlorn forever, but speedily fly to
sturdy and congenial arms for protection-to
those of her nearest neighbor and eldest kins-
man, her natural guardian, Uncle Samuel.