The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-08-08
TILE PURCHASE or crpA.
An "Intelligoucei" Correspondent Civ
Some ysry Inteliipent Nipyys.

An Wntelligcncei" Correspondent Gives
Some Very Ints,iisent Views.
To ne Editor ofthe lntali0emer.
sIn:-The purchase Of Cuba formed
tho heading OF an editorial In your Tues.
days issue. According to 1t an alleged
Spanish commissioner conversed with
Mr.. Blaine and informed him that Spain
was willing TO part with tho "Pcnrl Of
the Antilles" for the modest sun OF two
million dollars. I doubt the commits.
sioner'satory. lam not aware that Spain
has any such officers. Her diplomatic
service Ia transacted through Consuls,
Charge D'AGaires and Ambassadors.
Az far as tho Republican argument 10
concerned, 1t ought to DO remembered
that that party Is not In power In Spain,
nor likely to DO for some years to come.
But monarchy or republic, | TO not
believe that Spain would sell Cuba. She
takes a certain pride in II. as being a ~.
hinder Of her ancient glory, when she
was mistress OF nearly the whole OF tho
western continent.
But for the sake OF argument let ua
consider whether 1t would DO good pol.
Icy 10 acquire the island by purchase,
and II 30, what 10 It's value. remember
this government during Bnchanan's
administration seriously considered the
purchase OF Cuba. Tho price agreed on
by tho schemers was n hundred
million dollars. Tho prime object was
TO boom the waning slave power. The
plan wa to divide the island into two
or more States, which would have large.
ly increased their number Of members
in the House and Senate, and they hoped
BY doing 80 OF keeping the free States
IN n minority for yeara to come. But
Spain would not sell at any price, and to
acquire the island by force, which was
strongly advocated by tho leaders Of tho
pro.slavery party, was considered a little
too risky by old Buchanan, in view Of
tho fact that the lower House was con.
trollcd by his political opponents and
there was not a dollar In the Treasury,
and tho credit Of tho country was l2
per cent below par. The war Of the
Rebellion, which soon followed, knock.
ed the "motii" for the acquiration into a
cooked hat. Why Cuba after a lapse OF
thirty years has become essential again
to II political well being is more than
l can imagine.
The Cubans themselves, certainly the
most interested parties, ought to be con.
sulted provided Spain was willing TO
sell, whether they are willing to become
d part OF the United States. II allowed
to vote IN separation and annexation l
believe n large number. il not n majority
would for separation from the mother
country, but Il still larger number against
annexation 10 the United States. The
Cnbans prefer to paddle their own canoe.
Why should they favor annexation ?
They have little in common with the
people OF the United States. Their Ian.
guage, religion, customs, mode Of life,
&C., are at variance with the majority OF
people inhabiting the United States.
But should Spain be willing to sell,
and the people be willing to be annexed
to the United States, is the island worth
two hundred million dollars?
What would We get for this immense
sum? WhySuzeranity rights, Of course,
Well, I do not value them in a bust.
ness point OF view very highly. They
certainly have very little il any CONNER
cial value. There was 4 time, happily
passed never to return no more, when
sovereignty was more than q sentiment;
it meant practical ownership OF all the
country contained, men included.
When a lord acquired a country by pur.
chase or otherwise he took good care to
get the purchase money back in as short
q time as possible, and some to boot. Ii
an unlucky wight could or would not
pay what was demanded OF him, the
lord took simply all he had and added
the land to his domain or bestowed it on
a favorite. What else beside jurisdic.
ton would wo get for our two hundred
million? Why, a few custom houses,
forts and some government buildings,
including Moro Castle, Would they be
worth the sum named or the hundredth
part thereof? The land aud houses and
all they contain with the exception OF
those mentioned, belong to the residents
Of the island and cannot be disposessed
no matter who clsimg sovereignty. Ii
the island vas not inhabited, then the
value OF the land could be ascertained
and n price for the game fixed. Uncle
Sam could cell his land to settlers ct al,
and by doing go reimburse the treasury
for the outlay. As the case stands I
would like to know how the government
is to get back the two hundred million
or any part thereof ii the purchase
should be contaminated. My humble
opinion is, that the purchase Of Cuba as
a business transaction would be a fail.
ure and as u political move q blunder.
n gH i. L,