Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-15
GRANTS FOREIGN POLICY

HIS Former Ideas About Mexico
American Origtnafors OF the Cuban
ReyoiufIen-Territo for the Ala.
bama characterization Annexa
ton. ~ sEsss ss6s .-sl 10 l-.T
The Washington correspondent
of the Cincinnati Gazette RADICAL
| makes the following statement:
President Grants Mexican policy
will certainly go as far as General
Grants Mexican policy. The latter
was developed four years ago.
Expressed in acts then, It was this
We may not want Mexico, but no
other nation shall have it. If tho
Mexicans cannot control their af
fairs, no foreign nation shall inter.
fere. And 30 the French went out
of Mexico, not because Mr.. Seward
in poor weak way asked them to
leave, but because Grant was at
Washington, Sheridan on the Rio
Grande, and Sehofeld at Paris.
But although this is really the first
question relating to foreign affairs
in which Grant bore a part, the in
dications are that It will remain in
allegiance, while others come into
prominence.
The Cuban question is already
precipitated. From the first il has
been in great part an American
movement. More than a year ago
the plan of the present insurrection
was laid, and the whole matter was
fully presented 70 quite number
ofprominent Congressman. Agents
of the insurgents were very busy
both here and in New York. The
day was fixed for the outbreak, but
unexpected complications caused
delay. Finally the shaping of
events in Spain, and assurances
from many private parties here,
and from officials speaking in their
private capacity, gave direction to
the movement, and the revolution
began. At first the party of indie
pendence was the strongest among
the insurgents, but latterly the an
nexationists are in the ascendant.
The Spanish Legation here retains
scarcely q hope of success. For
two months the cable dispatches
telling of the constant defeat CT the
the revolutionists have been under
stood and estimated at their true
value. "The situation is very
grave''-such are the words which
expressed the real feeling Of this
legation months ago, and now the
talk there concerning Cuba is as it
were past all hope of saving them.
And so think the Cuban agents of
the insurgents, and all the Ameri-
cans who are in league with them.
They say with confidence that the
summer winds will lift another flag
than that of Spain in Cuba.
The Alabama question is where
money paid for ships destroyed
will never settle it.
President Grant has had little
time to talk about it, or consider it
since he came in. After the Offices,
there will be time enough, and then
it will come up. After election
General Grant did say substantially
this, and it has been heretofore
attributed to him; "Reverdy John
sons plan will never do. England
prolonged our war, and owes us for
at least a year of it; our blockade
expenses are largely due to her
action, as is also the destruction of
our commerce, and such debts
cannot be discharged by paying for
a few paltry ships"
And Mr.. Summers forthcoming
speech, as has been already said,
is pitched in this key, with tho
added peaceful note, which in
words is this: 'Let us grant all
this, and then settle it as becomes
the friends we are"
There is a story to this effect
concerning his speech: That Mr..
Sumner has taken advantage of
the occasion of reporting upon the
Alabama treaty, as Chairman Of the
Senate Committee on Foreign Re
lations, to SO embody the popular
ideas, and so follow the drift of the
popular thought to which he be-
lieves the State Department will be
obliged to conform, as to appear to
have dictated its course himself,
and so attach himself inseparately
to the policy which he regards as
the one destined to attract most
attention during this Administra-
ton.
Itseems beyond doubt that this
kind of firmness will be displayed
in all our dealings with the Ala
bama question but those whose
official positions give weight to
their opinions assert that peace is
in no sense endangered by it.
Some of these are looking to a
final solution through some possible
changes in the relations af British
America to the United SSS. And
propositions looking to such changes
| are occupying much attention
among influential men in England
and the Canadian Provinces, and
| also here in Washington.
| A year ago each Of the com
mittees on foreign affairs had 8
proposition under consideration
looking to annexation. Neither
was regarded as matters for imme
date action, but rather as embody
ing the views of parties who hac
given much attention to the subject
and had taken great pains to as
certain the real sentiments of many
influential men in various portions
of Canada.
| The first was a plan for receiving
| from Canada, with the consent o
Great Britain, all that portion o
| British America west of the me
ridian which passes through tn
western end Of Lake Superior.
The other was a general bill pre-
senting terms by which, upon &C
cepting the same, the eastern prov
ince Of British America could b
received as States, and the wester
portions as Territories. This bi
was added to a report made b
Mr.. James W. Taylor, of the treas
L nj,