Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-14
CUBAN ANNEXATION.
sorinsnt Mn Point Out The Duty Of
tns United States Government.
, FEW orrosE ANNEXATION.
~. signed Views of Gov. Oates.
CAV. Evans, Frederic u. Coudcrt,
y,hsn Allen. and Many Other Nota-
HE strtcsmcn.

correspondence Of the Dispa,ch-Copy-
righj. patek &: Ferguson)
NEW YORK. May ls.--The men q brains
> mis- nation for the past 100 years have
,y-n thought to the serious question OF
,-,eSing cuba. That sooner or later this
..h island OF the Atlantic will form n
,,-, ~ the dominion Of this government
81. looked upon as "a natural sequence Of
zine. There IS a feeling In certain sec
,.,ns o.; the country. particularly the
s,g,h. whose commercial relations with
CHA are Of the closest. that the time
il rioe for the necessary preliminary ac-
ton
what the leading men OF this city and
o., .h south think IL shown in the fol-
,,vlne carofully-collected letters. They
=, he regarded az fair criterion OF
,~,srican sentiment on the question.
zach man was asked two questions-if
- believed in the annexation Of Cuba,
ard n 80. wha, means should be taken
:, hiring such annexation about? The let
tcFs follow:
FREDERIC RENE CoUDERr
Won ask me whether we should annex
cuha. when you pat the question In that
NV IL sounds very much like inquiring
wne,hcr l should add the late Mr.. Gould's
estate 10 my own. or take possession Of
,,r. Picrrspout Morgan's bank-aecouni-
orsratons that would be pleasant enough
q, themselves. and Of which ! can descry
80 advantages without microscope, but
o., rsrtlcs more Immediately concerned
--.eht make objections and invoke
d. law and its officers 20 sustain them
a. their unreasonable opposition. So, to
s~-.x cuba We must first find some
,'.ss.hle excuse. granting that annexation
o. desirable. which will justify US in
,,r,sung from a friendly nation its ter
-.ory. contrary 10 those laws which are
t.sad u Is true. purely on moral grounds
g., which. nevertheless. are Of great
y.s-ht In the intercourse Of all self-re-
s-ectng nations.
~ Won can get over this objection by
,.rv'ncing Spain that she ought TO drop
Cuba into the broad lap OF the United
s.stss. then am heartily with you.
While | believe that. as a general pro-
,,suon. we have ell the territory that
w. need. and more than we can at pres
Ell properly take care Of. / am willing
e., make an exception for this. the gem
a. The Antilles. Her geographical position
si,-e would make her almost invaluable
o., MS commercially and politically, and
nov that slavery has been abolished on
,se island. the old objection that could
have been raised In pro-slavery days has
e.ssppearcd. Her mineral resources have
r1i vet been tapped. her climate Is I'M
e,esUed in its beauty. its variety. ana
So, opacity TO contribute when properly
taken advantage Of to the comfort ana
tappiness OF the world.
Indeed. her resources are almost bound
,..s and. rich as We are in gold and sil-
ysf md fruit and sugar and grain this
rariaus little island would az once step
% the front rank and be a subject OF
r- Ie 10 our whole people Metaphorically
king. il makes the water come to
-v mouth when | think Of the State Of
c.tl as one Of our family, but ] think we
arc as much bound 20 respect our neigh
t.r's goods when We deal nationally as
WIEN we operate IN the capacity Of indl-
lals.
Therefore I conclude first. ! know no
ground upon which we can interfere with
tut violating the decencies Of International
Intercourse % take Cuba from stain
arar,t the latter's viii Secondly, Il
sau makes no objection. I should ad-
,1c.te receiving Cuba with open arms
.-l n Joyous heart. We would wonder
u "A few years how we ever got on with
OFT her