The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-22
A New Negotiation for the Purchase OF
Cuba,

A New Negotiation for the Purchase of
Cuba,
From the NJ Y. World.
There is a report in Washington, said to bs
semi-oficial, that Mr.. Seward is engaged in
brisk negotiation for the purchase of the
island OF Cuba; and that he expects to con-
summate the treaty before the expiration of
the brief remnant of this administration. Mr..
Seward seems possessed of a mania to distin-
guish himself by such acquisition; but the
country cannot very well afford to sanction
impolitic purchases and foot the heavy bills
to crafty that gentleman's itching for ecLat.
There are two questions:-First, is the &C.
quisition of Cuba desirable and second, if
desirable, is the present good time to pur-
chase it Mr.. Seward probably takes it for
granted that the acquisition of that island
by the United States is desirable, because
our Government has made previous attempts
to buy it; and thinks the present time op-
perfume, because the need of money by the
new Government of Spain might induce her
to part with it on favorable terms. Both
arguments are specious, but neither will bear
examination.
The condition of things on this continent
has so greatly altered since the former offers
to purchase Cuba, as to deprive the motives
which prompted them of nearly all their
force. Cuba was then wanted by the South to
strengthen the institution Of slavery. That
motive has, of course, become imperative.
The country would have approved of the pur-
chase, at any reasonable price, twenty years
ago, on grounds of commerce and revenue;
but the expectation of this kind of advantages
rested upon the continuance of slavery in
the island. The negroes would have been no
| mere slaves in, than they would have been
out of the United States and when our
people did not anticipate the abolition Of
slavery at home, their moral sense would
| how hnnNn nh Chn bad AIn
continuance of that institution in Cuba.
At any rate, the negroes would have
| been no worse off under an American than
uEder Spanish sovereignty. The CONNER
cial and fiscal value Of the island depends
almost entirely upon slave labor. Whatever
! advantages may have resulted from emanci-
patton in the British West India islands in
other respects, it is undeniable that it de-
| stroyed their commerce and revenue, and con-
sequently their money value to the British
| Government. If we purchase Cuba now, we
| shall necessarily emancipate its slaves and
the island will become as unproductive in
proportion as Jamaica. With our colossal
national debt, we do not want to purchase a
possession which would be worthless for reve-
| nue. as soon as it became ours.
We surely do not need Cuba for any pur-
pose of security. In the hands of Spain we
have nothing to fear from it. We long ago
notified the world that we should not permit
its acquisition by any other European power.
There is no immediate danger of any other
power acquiring it. Spain cannot find pur-
chaser unless she finds one in us. No other
power wants it enough to take the risk of a
war with the United States. France has too
recently burnt her fingers by intermeddling in
America; and England knows by her expert
ment in Jamaica how little Cuba would be
worth after the abolition of slavery. The
island, if We do not purchase it, will not pass
from Spain except to become independent.
There is, therefore, no sufficient reason why
we should increase our heavy public debt to
purchase it.
But even granting that Cuba is desirable,
this is not awell-selected time for its purchase.
Slavery in that island cannot long survive the
shock Of emancipation in this country; and
after its fall the revenue to Spain will not
suffice to defray the cost of governing it.
What Spain puts in the market now is pos
session yielding large revenue. But five or
ten years hence it may be possession yield
ing nothing. II it is desirable for us at all, it
is better to wait until after the abolition of
slavery, and buy it at what it may then be
worth. There are chances that the island
may become independent; and after a short
trial OF independence it would probably apply
for admission into the Union, and we should
acquire 1t without any cost. Our proper policy
in regard to Cuba is "a wise and mastery in
activity"