Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-07
CUBA AND AMERICA.

that the patriots are fighting
for freedom from Spanish rule
and for annexation to the Uni
! ted States is one of no small i'm
| portance. 1t behooves the adj
| ministration and the American
J people to consider whether they
will aid the declared purpose
of the revolutionists, or dis.
| courage SO much thereof as re-
lates to annexation to this
country. That the general
feeling of the American
people is favorable to GU
ban independence cannot be
doubted. The instinct Of our
nation is to sympathize with
any people who may be strug-
\ Cling to free themselves from
the hand of the oppressor. This
has been shown from time to
time, in such a manner as to
be unmistakeable. The only
question heretofore has been
whether or no we should re-
cognize the revolutionists as
belligerents. For the govern
ment of the United States to
interfere with force of arms, be-
tween Spain and her rebellious
colony would be highly i'm
proper, so long as the rules of
| civilized warfare were observed.
The events of our war are still
too fresh in our minds to make
US wish to take step of this
kind. But the recent order of
General Dulce, the Spanish
Captain General, may well
cause the question to be asked,
if the proper time for the re-
cognition of the belligerent
rights of the revolutionists has
not arrived? This order is one
calculated to smother all nice
distinctions of international
law in the indignation created
by the brutality of the govern
ment which sanctions such in
fanny. The order directs the
eHooution OF every Cuban over
fifteen years OF age VINO may pe
found away from his home
without being able to give a
satisfactory explanation, and
further directs the burning of
every house which. does not
show a white flag. No more
infamous and brutal order was
ever issued by Christian or Pa
gan, and it may we'll be asked
if the time has not arrived for
! the United States to interfere.
We should be opposed to any
interference for the purpose of
acquiring Cuba by military
force, to the purchase of Cuba
we should also object, believing
f! that the United States already
has too much territory to need
to buy more. If the Cubans
succeed in freeing themselves
at all it will be done by the aid
of Americans, although, per-
haps, not with the formal sane
ton of the government. That
many Americans are already
with the patriots is certain,
and that thousands more will
soon go is considered equally
certain, Vessels for the purpose
of transporting arms and mu-
nitions of war to the insurgents
are known to be fitting out in
various parts of the country.
They will, nearly every one,
land their cargos, the Spanish
war vessels being too slow and
inefficient to prevent them.
Under these circumstances it is
more than probable that the
Cubans will succeed in freeing
themselves from Spanish rule.
That they must have some pro-
tector is but natural. The Gu
bans have ever been warm
friends Of the United States,
and wish to become one of the
confederation of States.
There is nothing in their
proposition which is objection
able or which would not result
to the advantage of both par
ties. The geographical position
of Cuba is such that she would
be Of great advantage to the
United States as a naval station,
setting aside her other great
and numerous advantages
That Cuba will sooner or later
be a part Of the United States
no one can dispute, and it looks
very much as it the time is close
at hand. The threats of
France and England regarding
American interference amount
to nothing at all. They would
do nothing for thew have too