The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-01-18
FHE CUBAN QUESTION.


the President.
The discussion of the Spanish cabinets
reply to what is called in the late Mad
rid telegram "the Washington note"
has reference to unsettled questions be-
tween the two countries. The exact
point Of this official paper cannot be as
certained, but they may be inferred from
the views of the president, which form
the basis of the instructions to Minister
Gushing, and which show that the pres
ident regards the civil dissensions in
Cuba, and especially the sanguinary hos
tihties, as producing effects in the United
States second in gravity only to those
which they produce in Spain. The ulti-
mate issue Of events in Cuba will be in
dependence, however that issue may be
produced, whether by means Of negotia-
tions, or as the results of military opera
tions, or of one Of those unexpected Incl
dents which so frequently determine the
fate Of nations. The continuance Of the
insurrection grows day by day more in
supportable by the United States, and
while the attention of this government
is fixed on Cuba in the interest of hu-
manity by the horrors of civil war pre-
vailing there, it can not forbear to regret
that the existance Of slave labor in Cuba,
and its influence over the feelings and
interests of the peninsular Spaniards lie
at the foundation of all the calamities
which now afflict the island. But sla-
very can not last long in Cuba, envir-
oned as that island is by communities Of
emancipated slaves in the other West
India Islands and the United States.
The president has not been without hope
that all these questions might be settled
by the spontaneous act Of Spain herself,
she being more deeply interested in such
settlement than all the rest Of the world.
The question what decision the United
States shall make is . serious and diff
icult one, not to be determined without
careful consideration of its complex ele-
ments Of domestic and foreign policy.
but the determination of which may at
any moment be forced upon us by oc-
curences either in Spain or Cuba. With
all the president can not but regard in
pendence and emancipation, Of course,
as the only certain and even the neces-
sary solution of the question Of Cuba,
and in his mind all incidental questions
are quite subordinate to those, the larger
objects of the United States in this re-
spect. The president does not mediate
or desire the annexation of Cuba to the
United States, but its elevation into ar
independent republic Of freemen in har.
mony with ourselves. and with the othel
republics of America. The policy of the
TT-:4~J CknA~. - .-c~--.o. a. G,.lo -
the present time is declared to be one o.
expectancy, but with positive and fixed
convictions as to the duty of the United
States when the time or emergency fol
action shall arrive.
The new sloops Of war Alert, Alliance
Essex, Ranger, Adams, Trenton, Huron
and Enterprise, viii soon be ready fol
sea, and most Of them will be in servic,
before the end of the year. The Trenton
is the only one not launched, but it j
thought she will be by the 18th Of De
cember next. The Alert is already il
commission. The Alliance, now at Phil
adelphia, win soon be put in commission
The Ranger will, in . few days, 60 Il
Philadelphia to get her outfit. TN
Adams and Essex, at Boston, the enter
prise at Portsmouth, New Hampshire
and Huron, at Norfolk, Virginia, an
rapidly being prepared for sea, and thei
officers will be soon ordered aboard. i
is thought that the Alert win be ordere,
to the East Indies to join our squadron
in those waters. The others win be OF
dered to join the north Atlantic feet a
fast as they are put in commission, an,
as vessels are needed abroad they win b
ordered from the north Atlantic +
foreign stations. 1t is the policy Of th
secretary Of the navy to keep q larg
number Of vessels in the north Atlanti
feet, 90 a. to relieve vessels abroad fron
this station when necessary. The Wol
cester, at present the flagship of tha
station, being very old, will be ordere
to Norfolk as receiving ship in place 6
the New Hampshire, which vessel will b
sent to Port Royal, South Carolina as
store ship for the north Atlantic fe<t
The Hartford, which recently retu'1 9
home from the Asiatic squadron, wild b
the new flag. ship of the station. Durin
the troubles growing out of the captur
of the Virginius by the Spanish rnan-o
i war Tornado, our government sufere
great Inconvenience on account of th
very weak condition of our navy, bu
since then the department has been d.
ing all in its power with the limite
means at its disposal to put the navy
good condition SO that We may be read
for any emergency. The iron-clads MOI
tauk, Manhattan, Saugus Mahopa
Nantucket, Ajax, Canonicus, Catskl
Jason, Dictator and others are in sci
going condition, and should occasion n
quire they could be put in service in f,
days. 81
j WHY" asked a governes of her lit