The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-10-22
ALBANY, OREGON, SATURDAY OCTOBER %. ls7o.s $
A Startling Theory.a
n - !
[From San Francisco Chroniele.]

sy ulpatuctic Lluc VI popular lceung has
gone with Prussia in the great European
combat. If it has been even partially
diverted in favor of France this is owing
to the remembrance of how that Power
magnanimously involved herself in tre-
mendous war with England in 1778 by
her recognition of the young American
Republic, and the sentiment Of gratitude
on our part prompting US to reciprocate,
now that France is, in her turn, fighting
for the boon of self-government against
Imperialism within, and Absolutism with
out. But there is another light in
which to view this subject, suggested by
an editorial appearing recently in the
Boston Posi-, which draws the curtain
from before Characteristic scheme
for
PRUssIAN MARITIME ACCOMPLISHMENT
At the expense Of the United States
The article is as follows
cat the time Bismarck Brought Leo
pold and the Spanish throne SO fatally
together, he deposited for Prussia a hun
dred millions of dollars in London, with
which to induce the insurgent Cubans
eventually to claim the assistance of Prus-
sia through Leopold, and thus bring the
island under Prussian dominion. The
object was, obviously. to provide naval
station and colony for ambitious Prussia
in the West Indies, through whose waters
SO many of the future leading highways
of commerce are to pass. The plan would
prove master>stroke of policy, if it
could be carried out. Now that Prussia
is victorious in her war with France,
what should hinder the designing Bis
marck from pushing on with it Z France
certainly is powerless to iDterpose. Spain,
without France, could not very we'll help
herself. England has no interest even if
she dared, to say word. The United
States alone must resent and resist it.
We have as a nation, again and again de-
clared it would be a cause of war for any
foreign Power to accept the transfer of
Cuba. In the case supposed, should We
sia? Or would the sympathy professed
for her as against France work the effect
of concession to her desires ? Here is
a not impossible question that may yet
arise to teach us the value Of keeping a
strict neutrality in foreign wars.
THE POSSESSION oF CUBA
Has long been cherished idea with
Bismarck The evident object of Prus
sia' S territorial acquisitions during the
last six years has been commercial ad-
vantages- Schleswie II olstein, Lubec,
Hamburg and Bremen are each and all
commercial ports, fronting on the North
Sea or the Baltic. But the seizure of
seaports alone cannot convert an ambi-
tIous Power into maritime greatness.
There must also be-what England has
ever had, and what France has for a CEN
fury striven to obtain-foreign colonial
possessions. How to get these?
THE GENIUS OF BISMARCK
Deserted in the grasp of decrepid, impe-
cunious Spain rich, productive island
the "Gem of the Antilles s"-almost con-
tincnt in size, of which she is liable at
any moment to be despoiled, on one pre-
text or another, by the United States, as
was proposed at the famous Ostend Con-
ference of the three American Ministers,
in 1855 Laying at our very doors, this
island has always been regarded as des-
tined to fall into the lap the Republic,
and its attempted acquisition by any
European Power would be justly consid-
cred as
A MENACE AT AMERICAN COMMERCE,
Safety and destiny, more pronounced,
even, than the French occupation of
Mexico. With Hohenzollern prince on
the Spanish throne, a Prussian "protec-
torate" over Cuba could easily be ar
ranged protectoratet to commence with,
but to be changed into actual ownership
| by purchase or seizure at the earliest op-
po. tunity; that is to say, upon the first
war in which the United States might
! become involyed--a war helped along,
perhaps, by the astute Bismarck-and
when, too, the United States might for
the moment be as indisposed to enforce
non interference IN the affairs of Cuba. as
she was unprepared during the rebellion
to summarily eject the French from Mex
leo. But aFranco-Austrian empire in
our borders was no greater menace and
insult to the United States than Prus-
sian prince on the throne of Spain would
be to France If Prussia should once get
foothold in Cuba, she would never re-
eede an inch, even at the risk of
WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES.
In the event of such war, Prussia
would have the moral support Of the
world i; for. the same argument would be
used that was lately urged as regards the
i apTOpOScu IlOuCuzuActu II piou Va cutHouS
| ing France with her traditional enemies
and engineering Teutonic prince on to
a latin throne. The argument has been
this: Had not Spain the right to call
whomsocver she pleases to her. own
thrones4 What business was. it of
frances ?,' And so of the Prussian pro-
tectorate over Cuba: elias not Spain
the right to do what she chooses with1her
own island e What business issit of the
United States 2" I.sasssw :. - syss-s's
If we were to think of trying. sconcln-
sions on this point with Prussia, We
should find that the maritime Power
which has sprung into existence, with all
Northern Enrope for its seaports d in
which to s. s1a.sfsga ersa9 5
s aa scoNsTRucr IRoNscLADs;s ass
Would give as quite q much as We could
! attend TO especially ander khe present
decline of ali ship.buildings facilitiss IA
the United States. Hamburg and Bre.
men, which have been absorbed by Prus.