New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-11
Ishing Interviewed
Opinions of the Press

.On0 OF your correspondents W udy SohCu
upon Caleb Gushing, and. in the course OF
conversation, learned some new facts OF
history and policy relative to the treaty now
pending in the Senate Of the United States.
The venerable student, as usual, was in the
company of his books, and, notwlthstand-
ing the severe daily straiu upon his ener-
gies, displayed his natural affability of man.
ner and suavity of language. These out
ward evidences of satisfactory relations
being established invited very pointed
opening interrogatory.
Correspondent: Mr.. Gushing, I suppose
you have given some attention to the st
Domingo question. What is your opinion
of the proposed annexation
Mr.. Cushing: In regard to the successful
ratification l can make no prediction, be-
cause have no data upon which to decide.
L am satisfied. however, that the island is a
desirable acquisition; indeed, consider it
necessary to the completeness OF the Amer
lean nation. 1t is remarkable TACT, and
our history proves it, that the Congress of
the United States, in aggregate intelligence,
has always been far inferior to the Excel
tive. That branch Of the government. on
questions rising above the mere detail OF
local government has in no single instance
displayed itself up TO the times, or even
comprehended the national necessities IN
their broad Interpretation.
Take the purchase Of louisiana OF FlOri.
da, the acquisition of Texas and California,
and you find the Executive far in advance
of Congress. Indeed, the vast possessions
embracing our finest cotton growing and
aurifer0us regions, and necessary not only
to complete the geographical ascendency of
this nation on this continent. are all due to
the advanced position held by the Execu-
tive. Now here We have history that can
not be questioned nor dedied facts, too,
which have been overlooked and may prove
. valuable suggestion to the people.
Correspondent: l have not heard the
statement of these facts before. 1t is a good
point. Some Senators DO great deal OF
harping upon the individuality of sCguir-
ing tropical possessions.
Mr.. Cushing: So see in the papers. Such
arguments are silly-in fact, they are no
arguments at all-because they contain
neither reason nor the force of facts. Show
me 8 great nation living to-day without her
tropical possessions. My opinion is that no
nation can complete its greatness without
tropical possessions. Spain became great
when she acquired q hold upon the tropics;
Portugal followed and welded sway of
glory and power for years. until she lost her
NEST valuable fOOtholds in the tropics.
What would England do without India?
That is easily answered. She would eat
herself up in no time. Take the Neither
lands only you may hunt long time on
the map before you can find her, she is ter
ritOrially go small. But small as she is she
is a power. and only on account Of her
tropical possessions-the island of Java, the
Moluccas and Sumatra.
II seems to be q very shallow argument
admitting it to be an argument at ALTO
say that we should have no tropical posses
siOns. That is precisely what we do want
now TO finish us as q nation In territorial
way. Look over what our own soil now pro-
duces-there ia wheat, corn, beef, ETC., cot
ton, coal, iron, gold, silver, quicksilver and
copper. These are the great articles in the
worlds consumption. We must now have
sugar, coffee and tea; then We complete the
cycle of commerce. Then we have every
thing in ourselves. We can do without tea,
that is our own growth, for the present,
though / believe we will raise that before
long; but there is a danger now of throwing
away sugar and coffee when we have both
in our grasp.
Correspondent thiAk speech Of this
kind might start the opposition cut of the
rut they have been running.
Mr.. Cushing These are all simple propo.
sitions. l do not see that We need any
speeches on the subject, the matter, as q
question of State policy, is so very clear. |
think, judging from the time consumed
without coming to any result, that there has
been enough speaking.
Correspondent One of the greatest objec-
tons the Senate brings up against the treaty
is that there is q job in it.
Mr.. Gushing: Well, do not know exactly
what is meant by job. though l hear that
is one of the subjects very deliberately
body will be benefited by the ratification of
the treaty l doubt whether any great
measure has gone through Congress with |
out sOlne one prOfting in consequence. |
That does not affect the treaty. You might !
as well say that the late war should |
never have been fought because somebody |
might become enriched. thing such talk |
is absurd.
Mr.. Cushing finished his conversation by |
saying that the Executive must look to the |
people. They are the power to which he is |
responsible. They applaud the policy of |
expansion, and grow more patriotic and |
devoted in proportion as they. see their
country ascending in the scale of grandeur
before the nations of the earth.
The New York Herald says editorially:
Caleb Gushing has lost none of that vigor
OF intellect which characterized him thirty
years ago and made him one of the leading
statesmen of New England His sound
judgment and logical reasoning are dis.
played in the report of q recent interview
with Herald correspondent, in which he
freely expressed his opinion upon the st.
Domingo question. He takes truly states.
manlike view of the annexation OF that
island. and thinks its acquisition most
desirable. as well for its commercial
value as for point of national defense.
General Gushing is right when he savs
'that the Congress Of the United States IN
aggregate Intelligence has always been far
inferior to the Executive" Every acouisj-
tion has originated with the Executive. and
generally has been sturdily resisted by
Congress. as is now the case with st, Do. |
mingo. Senators will do well to read Gen
ersl Cushlng's remarks upon this subject.
They contain many valuable suggestions.
most OF which appear to have been entirely
overlooked by our grave and reverend
friends IN their anxiety to discover some
trivial objection TO the confirmation of the
the Dominican treaty.
The New York Commercial Adre,,ise,
says:
Caleb Cushing has always had the repu-
tation or being wise and tar-seeing states.
man. He is decidedly in favor Of the ratifi-
cation OF the San Domingo treaty. He yery
shrewdly remarks the fact that the Congress
OF the United States, in aggregate intelli-
geAce, has always been far interior to the
Executive. That branch Of the government,
on questions rising above the mere detail of
the local government, has in no single in
ties IN their broad Interpretation. Take the
purchase of Louisiana. of Florida, the &C.
qulsltl0n OF Texas and California, and in |
each case the Executive was far in advance
Of Congress. Mr. Cushing believes that no
country can complete it's greatness without
tropical possessions. We now produce gold.
silver, copper, cotton, coal, grain, beef.
wool and flax. These are among the great
staples of the worlds production. We want
conee sugar and tea; and these can be had
IN the tropics and when We raiso fhou, ,ya |