The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-05-20
CUBA, THE UNITED STATES
AND THE TRI.PARTlTE
ALLIANCE.

The subject of Cuba and its affairs is
no new question with the American
people. This has formed for years the
subject of discussion in the various
Cabinet Councils of the United States.
1t was regarded within the scope of
the Monroe doctrine. This did not
propose to interfere with monarchlal
countries already cxistugon the Contl-
ncnt, but to prevent additions to their
institutions. The Government clearly
proclaime the right of every people to
Judge Of their OWE laws aud determine
their own rulers.
While, therefore, it sought the dis
placement of none, already in existence,
it claimed any increase or raccessIons to
the autocratic principle as an assault
upon the policy and the institutions OF
this country. 49,. .
1t was during the administration of
President Monroe that this question
was first prominently brought TO the
consideration of the American people.
Great Britain was anxious for colonial
increase of her maritime power, nego-
t.atcd for its purchas'' from Spain.
1t was then that Mir. Adams, the
Minister of the United States, ex.
presscd to the Court of Saint james
the opinions of this Government. He
announced distinctly that ''the transfer
o. Cuba to Great Britain would be an
event unpropitious to the interests of
the Union. The question both of our
right and our power to prevent 1t, 1t
necessary, by force, already obtrudes
itselfupon our councils, and tie Admin
istratlon is called upon, in performance
of its duties to the nation, at least to use
all the means within its competency to
guard against and defend it."
And this has been the repeated declara-
ton of every Administration which
has been called upon to express its views.
Thus only three years 'atcr, In 1875,
when Spain sought to reconqu"r the
South American Republics, the qucs
ticn of Cuba again arose, and Henry
Clay then Secretary ofS'ate thus de-
clarcd The policy Of this Government.
He said: "If the war between Spain
and the new Republic should continue,
and the islands of Cuba and Porto Ri
CO should become the object and the
theatre of it, their fortunes have such
connection with the prosperity OF the
United States as they could not be in
different spectators and the possible
contingencies of such protractcd war
might bring upon the Government OF the
United States du'ics and obligations,
the performance of which, however pain
full it might be, they might not be at lib
crty to decline"
In fact one Of the strongest utteran-
ces on the subject, that was made by
this Government in 1887. 1t was then
practically affirmed, that any attempt to
transfer the dominion Of Cuba to any OF
the Powers Of Europe, would be con-
sidcrcd au act of hostility to the United
States.
The following language was used:
at is impossible that the United States
could acquicsce in the transfer Of Cuba
from the dominion of Spain to any OF
the great maritime powers of Europe;
that of the right of the United States
to interfere in relation to these islands
I presumed there could be little doubt;
that while the general rule of intcrna-
tional law which forbidS the interier-
encc of one Stale in the affairs Of an
other was freely admitted, there were
vet exceptions to the rule in relation to
the laws of defence and sclf-prescrva-
ton, which all nations acknowledged,
and that the present was precisely such
a case"
But the more explicit even was the
instructions of Mr.. Forsyth's in 1910.
His words were: "Should you have
reasons to suspect any designs on the
part of Spain to transfer voluntarily her
title to the island, whether of ownership
or possession, and whether permanent
or temporary, to Great Britain or to
any other power, you will aistictly state
that the United States will prevent it
at all hazards, us they ~iNa"y toreiyh
military under any protect wh""Orr.
The United States has thus uniform.
ly, and BY its unbroken declarations to
the world, avowed that it would never
pcaeeably consent to the occupation OF
Cuba by Great Britain or any other Flu,
pcan power, under any pretcxt what
ever.
In the forciblc language of Mr.. Blu,
.ehanan, "thc fate of the island must
ever he deeply interesting to the people
of the United States. We can never
consent that this island shall ever be,
come the property Of any other Europe
an power. In possession of Great Bri
tain or any other strong naval power
it might prove ruinous both to our do
mestic and foreign commerce, and even
endangcr the union Of the States. The
higl est and the first duty of every in
dependent nation is to provide for its
own safety, and acting upon this p'inci
4 1 n.