Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-09-10
CUEA AND THE UNITED STATES

TAo Northern Radical journal.
! now proclaim that tho time has com,
for tho Administration 10 enter into
negotiations with Spain, looking tc
the purchase OF the Island Of Cub;
from that country, and, with charm
ing unanimity-, urge upon President
Grant and the Secretary OF State tho
Importance Of commencing operations
at once, and making an offer to Spain
for her valuable West Indian colony
Willie the former seems to bc in the
humor Of selling. n cablo dispatch,
received q few days since from Madrid,
stated, on reliable authority, that the
preliminarics Of a treaty for the ccs-
sion Of Cuba to tho United States
had already been signed; and while,
it is true, the dispatch has not been
believed BY the Northern Radical
papers. yet they have evidently ac-
ccptcd it Us q favorable omen OF what
the action OF the Spanish revolution
airy government will be in the event
that such 4 ccHsion is proposed, and
they earnestly advise that the Admin
istration shall proceed at once in the
matter
That General Grant and lis Sccrc-
tary Of State, Mr.. Fish, intend to
heed this appeal VIC can have no
doubt; for since tho first breaking out
Of tho. Instruction in Cuba it has
been no secret that the eyes Of the
President have been wistfuly turned
in the direction Of the Queen Of the
Antilles" and that his warmcst SYM
pathics have been with her rcbcI!ioi!s
Notwithstanding, as he did, that
if they could succeed in breaking the
chains which bound them to The
Spanish crown, they would eagerly
favor annexation to this country, and
make the :icvc,.E.ithful Isle" State
in the American Union. Now, that
the SUCCESSES; Of General Jordan, the
American communicating chief Of the
Cuban armics-and whom it is said
went to the Island with the Prcsi-
dents knowledge and conscnt-and
OF Ccspedcs, tho provisional President
of the revolutionsts, have bafllcd tho
efforts Of Do Rodas and his Spanish
forces and rcconci!cd tho Mother
country, somewhat to the idea Of los
ing her province, tho Administration
will hardly nlG;rct this opportunity
ior driving 2 bargain with Prim and
tic Spanish Junta.
Strange to say, too, within the past
few weeks remarkable change Gems
TO have taken place in the opinions Of
the leading European Journals on this
subject, and they now favor the
scheme Of sale and annexation. The
most prominent leaders Of public
""n;iinci,t among the press Of France
and Great Britain, in speaking Of the
condition Of tho two countries, now
declare that the best course which
Spain can pursue is to rclinquish hcr
vain attempts to compel the Cubans
by force Of arms to return to their
former allegiance, and sell her disaf.
tcctcd subjects to tho United States
for good, round number of American
dollars. They assert that it is now
several months since the flag Of insur-
rcction was hoistcd on the island;
that during this time Spain has put
forth every effort, sent her best Off
GERS and soldiers to crush the rebel
lion and yet, despite these cxcrtions,
the insurgents still hold out and are,
apparently, as strong and determined
~ ever. Under these circumstances
they think that Spain should exercise
what little authority she still possesses
over her discontod province and ccdc
Cuba to the United States.
The price, which it is said, will be
demanded for the island is e2O, 900, 900,
or about one hundred millions of
American gold dollars-amountinc in
currency to the snug little sum Of
moro than one hundred and thirty
millions of dollars. NVo suppose, how
over, that if Spain be disposed to sell,
mere triflc like this will not stand
in the way of tho purchase of Cuba
by tho Government. Are not our
taxes already too light, and are there
not many supcrfuous millions in the
National Treasury which can be used
by the Government in it's real estate
speculations2 Most assurcdIy 80 ;
and if our moral Minister at the capi-
tai of Spain, Daniel Sicklcs, can sue
coed in buying at tho small figure
above mentioned, wo suppose that q
Radical Senate will not hesitate to
confirm the purchase.
There yet seems to remain, howey.
er, ono little obstacle in the wav O,
tho proposed annexation, viz: the
consent Of tho Cubans themselves to
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