The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-08-13

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We are indebted to the high old Spanish
pride for another item of saving in the nation
al expenditure. Spain has again refused De-
.cuniary indemnity for her precious estate in
Cuba, and has doubtless intimated that the
very offer 70 purchase it this time hurts her
feelings. WE'LL Of course Spain knows best
wnetner 70 sell or keep her colony, but in this
matter she has acted against the advice Of her
friends, and against her own interest
The London Times with no great desire,
certainly, Of aegrandizing the United States,
has plainly advised the proud old kingdom to
pocket erdignity and save her military pres
tigeby backing out of her attempt to crush
i the lrebeiiion, and by taking for her .periled
rights of sovereignty just what the United
States may see fit TO offer. 1t is getting to be
quite evident that the military enterprise of
conquering the Cuban patriots is failure, aud
that the revolution is constantly gaining
strength, and growing into the proportions OF a
de Jdcto government. When Spain gets ready
to part with her West Indian gem it may be
on much less favorable terms. 1t will be re-
collected that Mr.. Greeley, about tho time of
the Sanders, Niagara conference, thought
~~--@<Aaec4A litSuo ats wei Duy OA tnc AcoSAc
for $500 000, 000 as to fight it out with them to
the bitter end. But the negotiation broke
down, and we paid three times that sum and
200, 900 lives before we achieved the big job of
erushidg the rebellion.
Let Spain understand that the cash il only
an equivalent for the necessary blood and
treasure it may cost the Cubans to get control
Of their native island, and that If they are
compelled to expend the blood and treasure in
war, there will be no second offer of indemnity
for surrendered sovereignty These kind Of
bargains are to be taken when they are going,
and q very few months so change the value of
these saleable commodities, that the would-be
i buyer is more ia mood TO ask than 10 offer
boot
We wonder how much of F.nian revolu-
ton would put marketable value on the
ish-colonies of North America, and wheth-
err the sentiment of protection, the equivalent
of Loyalty, would stand long in The way of
bargain for clean acquttance Of all terfitori-
al rights in America, in the face of the cost of
war, which would be likely to involve the
United States, and become Napoleonic in its
expense If not in its duration.
fOA euo Nu0iC VIC uOpC tuut AcilU6E Ouu1 nor
any of the outlying foreign territory will come
tous by purchase. Mr. Stewards profigate
investments in real estate were ruinous and
absurd. The sovereignty Of a foreign island,
like Cuba, or of foreign province, like Nova
Scotia, has no money value for us. There are
no public lands of any extent in either. The
United States can only acquire the duty, at
tended with the expense Of protecting and
manufacturing them, Of building aud main
tanning their forts, lighthouses and public
buildings, and instead of gaining revenues she
would lose the large revenues now derived
from that trade to us.ai
The advantages of the acquisition would ac-
crue primarily to the people of the annexed
countries, and incidentally to the people Of
our country, in the enhanced profits of pro-
duction and trade.
Sensible notions upon these matters have
become widely prevalent in England, and
whatever course the traditions and obstinacy
Of Spain may compel her to take, it is not be-
Level that an earnestand unanimous demand
for annexation TO the United States by the
British maritime provinces win be seriously
resisted by the British goyernn emit
1t will rebound to the good faith Of the Uni
ted States, that in q question SO delicate as
that Of Cnba our conduct has been 50 fair and
impartial as to compel the good opinion of the
leading powers Of Europe. Our strong nation
al passion for the acquisition of this island we
had made known most extensively years ago in
the Soule-Bucbanan Ostead Manifesto. 1t is
certainly respectable advance in diplomacy,
when we can contrast the impartiality, and
punetili0usness of our treatment OF the Gu
ban bclligerents, with the rufian policy with
which our seIf.constituted diplomats abroad
disgraced our good name twelve years ago.