The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-21
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SPAIN AND CUBA OUR NATIONAL DUTY
To OURSELVES

What is TO be the attitude of the United
States with reference to Cuba and Spain
This is a question not only of vital interest to
North America, but to the whole of South
America. Expediency and self-protection enter
largely into our national views of the subject.
Much of the future progress of fifteen repub-
lies and the fate of one empire hang upon the
wisdom of our action. What is Cuba! 1t is a
great natural forlifcation, unequalled as a
base of operations for European powers against
any country in the New World. 1t is not only
selfsupporting, but 80 rich that II gives thirty
three million dollars of revenue to the decrepit
monarchy that domineers it. From this mill
tAry and naval base have been launched nearly
all the expeditions which have struck at the
mainland since fernando Cortez inv AIDED Mexico
in 1919. From 1910 to 1929 1t served for the
complete desolation of every Spsnish-Ame-
rican country on the continent. Havana was
the rendezvous for the English, French, and
Spanish expedition against Mexico during our
civil war. Again it became at once the purse
and the stronghold Of the Spanish fleet under
Admiral Nunez for the dssolation of the Pacific
coast OF South America and the late barbaric
bombardment of Valparaiso.
Were the movement of the world eastward
instead Of westward, how long would Europe
permit us to hold fortified island in the Eng
lish Channel, or point like Gibraltar at the
entrance of the Mediterranean And yet this
Is an inferior comparison to what Cuba is to
this continent; inferior even to what Cuba is
with reference to our own Atlantic coast and
our Mississippi valley.
No national or international laws can be laid
down to cover questions which are born OF
progress and the times. National expediency
becomes the irresistible lever forcing national
action. 1t Is 80 in the history Of our great
mother England, and, were there space, we
might make tour around the world and
point out numerous illustrations of territory
seized and held by her in spite OF treaties.
In the history of nations honor and force are
Synonymous; for force is the result of great
progress; great progress is honor. If ma
tion, progressing beyond its fellows, finds
itself oramped and threatened by one
of retrograde tendencies, it becomes not
only expedient, but right, to sweep
away the obstacle, be it fortifcation, an
island, or both. 1t is this which not only our
progress but that Of the continent calls upon
us to do with reference to Cuba as held by
Spain. 1t is upon this broad ground we would
announce to Spain that she can no longer
cover our coast with her guns. We would
not make war under petty subterfuge, for
the game at which we shoot flies higher. We
are great enough and strong enough to frankly
acknowledge our necessities. Let us not dis
grace ourselves by descending to the European
method of covering up great national objec-
tive point under the smoke OF pistol shot,
the seizure Of vessel, or the confscation of a
contraband cargo OF war material. All these
should be secondary, not primary, causes of
. war in the Cuban question. As secondary
causes they are powerful. The seizure Of two
men from the deck Of an American vessel the
Lizzie Majors, while on the high seas, is
parallel case with that of our Trent difficulty
with England. 1t is sufficient cause of war
il Spain refuses reparation and apology. But
in declaring war we would announce the
higher reason we have mentioned.
How wall Cuha NAV sarya mako war
against us is best shown by the constant war
fare indirectly waged upon rs from Havana
after the Spanish concession Of belligerent
rights to the "Confederate' Rebels. Can
Secretary Fish be so puerile as to now make
q proposition to the country to purchase
Cuba, when shot and shell were rained upon
us from that fertilization for four years
Who would lower his national dignity by
paying hard cash for four years insult
Negotiate with Spain for Cuba - Where is
President or Cabinet that dares propose it
How long since our people began to swallow
insults and pay for the privilege Mr.. Fish
thinks that sit will be more economical"
the acquisition OF the island; that "war
with Spain, coupled with England and
France, would involve us in vast outlays,
and require new and great sacrifices from
our people, who already suffer quite enough"
ECONOMY" at the expense of national degra-
3 dRt0u what splendid STUN This Premier 1S
made of that he hints at such thing Is this
the material of which our new Cabinet is COM
posed Doubtless the large fleet now concen-
trating in Cuban waters Is for the purpose Of
protecting the island for Spain until the nege-
tiations for its purchase may be concluded.
In the now pending question of the Alabama
claims with England we advise our British
rivals to take the hint that the great republic
has already become 80 decrepit that economy
Is the keynote of national action. We are
O. even ready to pay for the favor done to us by
the English pirates, and any order drawn upon
rs by England will be honored at sight.
Now is the moment for the enunciation of
national policy. The United States in 1860
& were an unoemented chaos of loealisms Our
war set the particles iu motion, and like gravi-
tated towards like all over the country. When
Richmond fell we found ourselves, for the first
time, a nation. The work has heretofore been
almost entirely internal. We have ignored
external issues and continental questions. We
4 have been absolutely without foreign policy;
and in the lack OF this we have caused the
countries to the south of us numberless revo-
lutions, with attendant misfortunes to them
g and to ourselves. We are bold, therefore, to
advocate that the time has come for us to look
beyond our own frontiers. The Cuban ques
ton Is OF the first Importance to the Who'll,
continent. Others must quickly follow in III
train; for up to this time everything has beer
ignored. He who has not travelled to tn
southwark has but little idea how the Spanisl
American republics hang upon our motions
When we grasp Cuba we shall send ther
twenty years ahead in the orbit of republican
ism. We ourselves shall then be doubly CON
pact and our power for offensive and defer
- -A--s Al. s..1~