The sun., 1892-12-18
I L.

II the question Of political union with Cana
d. has once moro been forced into the fore
ground OF politics, the acquisition OF Cuba may
also figure there again at any hour. The
Southern statesmen were not moro anxious to
bar out the British North American provinces
than they were to obtain possession OF the
Queen OF the Antilles Their views in the latter
particular were zealously promoted by Will
liam l. Marcy. Mr.. Pierce's Secretary OF State.
He instructed Soule. the American Minister at
Madrid. that the United States would not
only be willing to purchase the island. but
would even be disposed to contribute money
toward effectinG IL voluntary separation OF
Cuba from the mother country and trans
formation Of the island into an independent
republic. Nothing came Of these Instructions.
but 1t is probable that the seizure OF the Black
Warrior, an American merchant steamer. in
the harbor OF Havana. might have led to
war with Spain but for the fact that
tho Northern States. resenting the pas-
sage OF tho Kansas Nebraska act. were unwill-
ing to sanction any course on the par. OF the
Federal Executive which might lead to an in
crease OF slave territory. No one now doubts
that had VIC gone to war with Spain in 1854
We should have taken Cuba and Porto ltico
far more easily than we had previously con-
Quered Mexico. 1t is true that the Madrid
Government had the sympathy Of England
and France. but no material aid from those
countries was to DO hoped tor. they were at
the time engaged in war with Russia. which
taxed their resources to the utmost. Tho most
sensible men in Spain. rs the Madrid corre-
spondence Of tho London Times bore witness.
we're convinced that Cuba must sooner or later
belong to the United States. though it was well
understood that proposal to that effect would
displace any Minister and probably overturn
the dynasty. Soul6 expected that he would be
ordered to domand his passports and leave
Spain and that war would ensue. But Mr..
Pierce's Cabinet seems to have been divided on
the subject. and in the end the aggressive
attitude taken by Souls was not approved.
1t was tho almost unanimous sentiment OF
the North that not only deferred the Pierce
Administration from declaring war. but caused
1t to issue Il proclamation against the project
OF acquiring Cuba by illibustcring eXpedi-
tton. long time may pass before conditions
equally favorable to the acquisition OF Cuba
BY the United States recur. Mr.. Rhodes says
truly that lighter preteXts than the Black
Warrior affair have sufficed to bring about
international hostility: and 1t is to be noted
that Clarendon. the English Secretary of
Foreign Affairs. admitted to Buchanan that.
II tho spaniards left Cuba. it would be alto
gether their own fault. and they would be in
debted for it to the wrctchcd manner In which
they governed the island. Alterthought Is
easier than foresight, and We can all now see
with Mr. Rhodes that the Southern leaders
mRde fatal mistake in 1854. By passing the
Kansas-Nsbrasks bill they obtained bare
chance OF making Kansas slave State. but
they threw away the Pearl OF the Antilles. the
island which would have been fortress to the
Southern Confedsracy.
Although the President and his Secretary of
State decided not to 60 to war with Spain in
the teeth OF the strenuous disapproval OF tho
Northern States. they did not relinquish the
hope OF acquiring Cuba by purchase. This
hope was largely based on change OF Minis
try at Madrid. which had improved soule's
position. In July OF the same year 1854. as
Congress was about adjourninG. an attempt
was made to get few millions OF dollars
placed at the disposal Of the Executive for en-
ployment during the recess in the Cuban busi-
ness No such appropriation was made but
later in the summer Secretary Marcy directed
Soule to confer with Buchanan and Mason.
the American 1iniltszs ct London and Paris.