The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1873-12-04
THE ANNEXATION OF CUBA.

Ever since the massacre of the Vir
ginius crew, large number Of jour
nails have been bowling for war. TIL,
st. Louis press and the New York
World and Mail seem to be ahead ID
this vociferous competition. The
Havana newspapers recall similar
condition Of things about the time o.
the Lopez execution, and do not ap'
pear to be much alarmed at the out.
cry. Though the voice for war in
this case is very loud, its utterances
are extremely vague aud. in most in
stances. silly. The annexation OF
Cuba seems to be at the bottom Of the
whole demonstration. Unthinking
people generally regard annexation rs
the inevitable outcome of the whole
difficulty. Ii we are to have war,
they take 1t as q matter of course that
Cuba will be annexed. If there Is to
be peaceful settlement. by conces-
sion or arbitration, they believe that
the United States will make annexa,
tion its ultimatum. If the Cubans
| achieve their own independence, these
same persons are confident that there
will he an immediate application for
admission into our Union. Each Of
these assumptions is as chimerical as
the others, unless ii be the last, which
ls more absurd than all the rest. The
Cuban patriots, or insurgents, have no
thought of American annexation
Outside Of the nnthinking masses and
two small classes of enthusiasts, there
has been no serious thought of it in
this country. Before the war, certain
pro-slavery men favored annexation
as means Of promoting and perpetu-
ating the institution of slavery. Since
the abolition Of slavery in this coun-
Try, certain tervid abolitionists have
looked forward to annexation as a
means for liberating the Cuban slaves
There have always been members of
Congress, among whom W. recall Mr..
Voorhees,, Of Indiana. and Gen.
Banks, OF Massachusetts,, who have
made the suhjec, a periodical outlet
for superf1uous oratory. 1t has been a
staple topic for popular excitement,
and it will never he anything more.
Cuban annexation is II myth. 1t is
about the worst thing that cou hap
pen for the United States at the pres
ent time, aud probably the worst
thing that coaid happen fm Cuba. L,
s idle to discuss he reasons why tie,
Cubans oppose annexation. 1t i,
enough for us TO IL. wv t.iat the Peaiu-
sulars (the Spanih party, the loyal
native planters, ari the insurgents :
are united in their opposition to this
scheme, though they are at logger
heads abont everything else. II will
not be difficult, however. to show why
the United States eau have no interes,
IN such project. In the first place,
the separation of Cuba from Spanish
rule will inevitably lead to the aboi-
sion Of slavery. Slave labor being
more universal in Cuba, and more
closely identified with its prosperity
States, the revulsion that will follow
It's abolition is likely to be more de-
plorabie In commercial sense than
we have seen il in the former slave
States of this country. No Govern
nent of forethought and honesty
would care to assume the responsible
,ty of carrying Cuba through the or
zeal awaiting il. As an integral part
Of the United States, lis condition,
under these circumstances, would be
rendered worse than ever. 4 carpet
nag Government wGail be set up, by
comparison with which that o. Lou
isiana or Georgia would he of primi-
rive simplicity The conglomeratc
population of Tie island, with the di-
versity Of interests, would make il an
easy prey for the rracticed political
bandits who would seize upon its
Government, skilled in the arts OF Of
ficial plunder through their expert
-nce in the SoutherG states which
they have already helpe! to "recon-
,truct,' Cuba has a population made
np Of all the elements Of the world,
with new species which are the pro-
duct of amalgamation. Besides the
American, English and French colo
nies that have held themselves some
what aloof, there are Spanish, Portu-
gese, Creoles natives, Hindoos, Coo
lies, Cinnamon, other Asiatics, mu-
tattoes, Quadroons, Mesti.os, and an
infinite variety OF mongrel races. 1t
is said that over 100 different names
are required to distinguish the vari.
Gus divisions and subdivisions of the
Cuban population. Here would be
splendid material for the experienced
carpet-bagger to work upon. The
wealth of Cuba would rapidly dwindle
away without giving America any Of
the benefit of it, and the next compli-
cation would be war of races, with
which the American Government
would have to deal. We have enough
Of this sort OF thing on our bands now.
Let us take care Of the territory we
have already before we attempt to ac-
quire any more, even If the tempta-
ton should come, as it does not in the
case Of Cuba. When we can make
thrift of Arizona aud Alaska, both of
which were acquired by purchase;
when we can govern the Indians in
the West peacefully and the negroes
of the South honestly; when we can
populate the Northern Pacific country,
and when we grow up to the clothes
we are now wearing, it may be time
to think Of annexing new territory.
That time seems now to be good
way off. But the greatest objection
of all to the annexation of Cuba is
found in cur present protective tariff.
Havana must be free port, and Cuba
must have free trade. The CONNER
interests Of the world demand il,