The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-22
The West. Indies.

The "progress " Of the Federal Govern
ment is towards expansion as we'll as power.
No empire ever ceased to expand itself
until it reached its point of elimination.
When it had not power to 60 further, its
next step was to decline. But as long as a
nation is growing in consequence and force,
there is an imagined or real necessity-and
it matters not which-tbat it should protect
itself from foreign hostility by adding q new
outside line to it's defences.
Of all the objects of conquest now open
ed to our view none equal in attractiveness
and Importance the West India islands.
Whether considered as points of military
strategy, or with regard to their produc-
tons and their commerce, they are of so
much consequence to this country that their
acquisition by the Federal Government is
an absolute necessity.
The present would seem to be favorable
opportunity to get possession Of Cuba. A
pretext for selling it might be easily
trumped up, if the Government is not too
scrupulous to resort to an artifce with such
purpose. General DULCE is entering
upon system of oppression and cruelty
which will reach many of our own people.
Already we have complaints of numerous
outrages upon American citizens, including
man of consular dignity. AS the revo-
luton goes on, these cases will increase in
number and completely. So that tolera-
bis case for action against Cuba will pro-
baby soon arise. :. r..-
But whether this Government seizes the
present opportunity or not, that cannot pre-
vent the ultimate acquisition Of Cuba by
the United States. 1t is the chief of the
West India islands, whose staple product
is become so important to the world, and
especially to this country, that it cannot be
allowed to subside into unthrift and anar-
chy. This the United States must prevent.
We cannot allow another nation to get pos
session of it, and must take it under our
own protection.
It is mere than probable that St. Do
mingo will soon be ours, and with it will
come another problem for US to solve. The
present state Of semi barbarism that exists
there is destructive to the prosperity Of the
island-which in fertility is equal to Cuba.
In the hands of the United States, the
island must be cultivated and its produc-
tiveness and its commerce revived. If the
negroes viii not work they will have to get
out Of the way. Sugar must be made.
How will they be disposed of? How has
the Indian been disposed of?
His lands were wanted. He would not
cultivate them, and it was argued that such
a noble heritage should not be retained by
those who did not appreciate its value. So
he was driven off or killed. Is the negro
any better than the Indian? The negro in
st. Domingo is taking fertile island, once
teeming with production, back to barba-
rism. 1t will be no more cruel to remove
him than it was to dispense or kill the In
dams. And this will be done. The pro-
ducts Of the West Indies are second in i'm
portance to those Of no country.
They must be industriously cultivated
and their aggregate yield increased and
there must be such government and such
labor as will insure this. Fanaticism will
not be allowed to balk the way in this mat
ter in the West Indies.
So We shall have the principal islands of
the West Indies as military necessity, and
We shall have plenty of sugar.