Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-11-26
BnpSrillf a3'frklu Chronicle
SHALL WE ANNEX CUBA?

what senator BrownIow ana Representa-
dives Maynard and Thornburgh Think of
she situation.
1t not every city that can boast of
United States Senator and two Members of
Congress. But Knoxville is so fortunate,
and thinking their views on so important
a question as to the duties of the Govern
ment in the present trouble with Spain
and the probable future of Cuba, CHoNI-
Gle representative called upon them to
learn their views.
We found Senator Brownlow in his
usual health and in cheerful spirits. Upon
this, like all other topics of public inter-
est, he entertains and expresses very de-
cded conviction as TO what course our
Government should pursue. He regards
the action of the Cuban authorities
as being hasty and inconsiderate,
purposely hasty to prevent intervention
on the part of the United States or Great
Britain. He believes the execution of the
crew and passengers of the Nirginius to
have been an inhuman act, for which the
Cuban authorities should be held to a
strict accountability. That their arrest,
trial, conviction, and execution should be
demanded of Spain, and if refusal should
follow, that proper measures should be
taken to at once force that nation to &C
cede to such demand.
He is decidedly in favor of Cuban an
neXation.e 1t is his opinion that the
United States should at once adopt meas
ures looking to the annexation of all
Spanish territory in the West Indies, eth
er by purchase or by conquest. That if
the Presidents policy in regard to Santo
Domingo had been adopted by Congress,
the present troubles would never have
come. The Senator thinks that past his
tory demonstrates, beyond the possibility of
a doubt, Spain's incapacity to govern her
American colonies, and that to force her to
give them up will be an act of humanity
which our Government is not at liberty TO
decline. He is of opinion that the United
States and Great Britain will make COM
mon cause in putting an end TO Spanish
atrocity in and around Cuba.
This question will be one of the first thai
Congress will be called upon to decide at
the coming session, and Senator Brownlow
will be found voting with those who favor
a vigorous policy in reference to Cuba and
towards Spain, even if such policy involves
Us in a war with the Madrid Government.
WHAT OUR REPRESENTATIVES, THINK.
Hon. Horace Maynard, Member from
the State at Large, though not expressing
mis- views for publication, talked freely of
the situation.
He approved of the Presidents caution
in first fully ascertaining the facts of the
capture. He thinks it highly important
that the position of the Government when
assumed should be right so that there need
be no subsequent qualifications. He feels
that the circumstances of the butchery, if
as reported, make very strong case against
Cuban and Spanish authority, and that
under such a state of facts the Government
should pursue very rigorous and decided
policy.
Mr.. Maynard thinks if President Cas-
telar feels ready and willing to dispose of
Cuba for $50 100000 or Sl00,000,000 it
would be the easiest solution of the trouble
for the United Estates to purchase it. He
does not think it would be polite to take the
Island, if with it we must take the i'll will
of Spain and other foreign governments.
He would rejoice to see Cuba free and if
her people were willing, he would not OBJ
iect TO see her under control of our Gov
eminent.
Hon. J. NJ. Thornburgh, Representative
from this District, expressed the opinion
that in the natural course of events Cuba
must become part and parcel of our Gov
eminent. He thought the shooting of the
Virginius crew, under the circumstances
reported, was inhuman and demanded
prompt action. He thinks that our Gov
erlmenu should speedily acknowledge
Cuba as a belligerent power, as by that
policy we would throw protection over
the struggling Cubans, which would al
most equal actual intervention by force.
He would not object to see Cuba part of
our territory, and had long felt that by the
laws controlling tue development and ex-
pansion of territory it would eventually,
like ripened fruit, drop into our hands.
IN his Judgment, while the Government
Ahould not act iDjudiciously or hastily.
Its policy should be firm and of such pos
tive character as would amply protect
every American citizen on Cuban soil
The result of the Virginius affair, Col.
Thornburgh thinks, is so infamous that it
must result in the overthrow of the pres
ent Government on that island