Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-02-03
The United states and Cuba in 1919.

tAAuC de5p, tOAA0 SAsS Az as III
how long her husband had been missing.
The United States and Cuba in 1919.
LETTER OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
The following letter from John Quincy
Adams to VIM. Ellery Claiming, gives
an interesting account of the conduct of
the United States toward Cuban revolu-
tionists, and toward Spain in 1922:
"QuINcY, Aug. II, 1887.
"Re0.i Wm. Il. Claiming, ID. d., Nescport,
II. L.:
"My dear Sir 1t was in September.
1922, that the events to which / alluded
in my speech in the House of Representa-
tives on the 25th of May, 1886, took place
It was the time when the Spanish govern
ment of the Cortes was overthrown by
the French invasion under the Duke
D'Augoulene, Great Britain became
alarmed least, under the shelter of that
revolution, the island of Cuba should
pass into the possession of France. The
French government fabricated or was i'm
posed upon by report that the British
SoolhOb hoo actcrluiuou W beuo 81 udo-
ron and take possession of the island.
"The people of Havana, divided into
parties between the Cortes and the King,
were terrified by premonitory symptoms
of negro instruction, and looked around
for protector.
There was party for resorting to
Great Britain; party for adhering to
Spain and party for seeking admission
to the North American Union; the, last of
which was the strongest.
A proposition was then made by the Sc
cret agent from them to Mr.. Monroe to
this effect: That they, by popular
movement, of the success of which they
had no doubt, would declare the island
independent of Spain, if the government
of the United States would promise them
protection, and admit them into their
Union under State constitution, on the
model of those of our Southern States,
and with the understanding that as the
population Of the island should increase,
they should be at liberty to divide them
sely es into two States, and have that pro-
portion of Representatives in the Con-
gress of the United States
GAS the inducement to the American
government to pledge their protection,
they were assured that the alternative
would probably be the prevalence of the
party in the island for the colonial con-
nection with Great Britain and a resort
to her for protection. While this propo-
sition was under consideration by Mr..
Monroe and his Cabinet, the French Min
lister at Washington, by verbal, ire
sponsible communication, not to the Sec
rotary of State, the only medium of Off
cial intercourse between foreign minis
tiers and the government of the United
States, but to Mr.. Crawford, the Secretary
of the Treasury, asseverated that the
French government had secret but posi-
tive information that the British govern
ment had deliberately determined to take
possession of Cuba. The answer of Mr..
Monroe TO the proposition from Ha-
vana was that the friendly relations ex-
listing between the people of the United
States and Spain did not permit them to
promise countenance or protection to any
insurrectionary movement against her au-
thority. Their advice to the people OF
Cuba was to adhere as long as possible TO
their allegiance to Spain-that an at
tempt of either Great Britain or France
to occupy the island would present the
proposal from Havana under a differ
snt point of view, concerning which the
President was not authorized to pledge
prospectively the action of the United
States, but that the people OF Ha-
vana might be assured of the
deep interest which, under all the
circumstances which might occur,
the American government would take in
their welfare and their wishes 1t was
the opinion of at least one member of MIR.
Monroe's administration that the occupa-
zion of the Island of Cuba by Great Brit
ain should be resisted, even at the cost of
war. Their unanimous opinion Was that
a very explicit though confidential COM
munication should be made to Mr.. Chan
ming that the United States could not see
with indifference the occupation of Cuba
by any European power other than Spain
and that rumors had reached the Amer
lean government that such an intention
was entertained by the British Cabinet,
which made it necessary to ask an expla-
nation of their views. Mr.. Rush was in
struoted accordingly; Mr.. Charming dis
4vowed emphatically all intention on the
part of the Great Britain to take possess
ION of the island, but avowed with deter
mination not to see with indifference its
occupation either by France or by the
United States, and he told Mr.. Rush of
squadron dispatched by Louis XVIII TO
the West Indies, without notifying him
of the expedition, and of the schooling he
had ordered the British Ambassador at
Paris to give the French Cabinet for that
sin of omission. Mr.. Claiming then pro-
posed that, by mutual understanding
between the British, French and Amer
lean governments, without any formal
treaty or convention, Cuba should be left
in the quiet possession of Spain, without
interference in the government of the
island. This was precisely the policy
which Mr.. Monroe believed to be best
adapted to the interest and the duties of the
United States, and he cheerfully assented
to it. There was no further COM
munication between him and the French
government on the subject. So far as
France was concerned, the arrangement
was left to be concerted between her and
Great Britain. The people of the island
of Cuba submitted TO the government of
restored by the Duke of Ango-
uleme, and received Viceroy and Cap
tain General in the person of General
Wives, who had been Minister from Spain
to the United States, one of the most up
has ever been my fortune to hold political
relations. He was precisely tie man to
and conciliate the submission
Of the people of the island to their old
government, and he SO effectually accom-
plished that purpose that the government
Of the United States heard nothing fur
Their of intended instruction in Cuba,
during the remainder of Mr.. Monroe's ad-
and the whole of mine.
GAIL these transactions were at the
time profoundly secret. The first public
allusion to them ever made was by me,
in the speech of the 25th of May, 1896,
TO the House of Representatives. The
of the times no longer re-
luired absolute secresy. France, Spain
and Britain had all undergone political
revolutions, and the abolition of slavery
IN the British colonies of this hemisphere
mad added ten-fold terrors to her occu-