Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-14
THOMAS BURKE GRANT, OF MAGA-
ZINE OF CINICS.


Though Spain is no longer the land OF
champions. Of colonies. and Of cavaliers
and has sunk under the burdens OF an
enervating pietsm, or of feudai grantees
though her navies no longer threaten the
peace Of nations. and the argosi,s OF 'he
world nave ceased 10 pour their treasures
into Cadiz or Madrid. IL would be MS
take TO assume that Spain mas ceaseu
To influence the councils OF Europe, OF
could be coaxed or coerced to part VIII"
any portion of her dominions
Spain still adneres to the gem OF 'he
Antilles az all that remains OF the vast
errire of ph,iip H.. extending from
both sides of the equator into the tenn
nerats zones. with the same desperate
ot,achment as a gambler stakes ms all
unon the last chance, or az the helr Oh an
inpoverIshed family preserves the ias'
me,oento of a vanished splendor. spanish
statesmen are well aware that tupa u
an island Of unique strateglcai iihpoit
ance as well as Of wonderfui ieiui'!'
ruggedness. and beauty, certain 10
come more dearly priced when 'he No
rapua canal shall bring 1t dfectly nv
ths highway of interoceanic traHnc. an
makes Cuba a halfway house % '
commerce of the world. r,
cnain however II may surprise Aheil-
che would mortgage the CorteS or Noi i
iii, transfer the Escurial to Washihs-
Ton ar 10 Chicago. Nor will she cede "
tho cubans their independence anu'
without assistance from TINS coun'is,
,hay are not strong eonush W
,,'rest II themselves. sympathy WIN
cuba Is, therefore, lost anu az
attampts to aid the insurgents oy No,
eress recognizing them as peh,s.' 'nso
are not only TO be deprecated pu' o.
also likely 10 lead to far uiie'e -,
sequences than resulted oy 1 LII or an
al rebellion in Honolulu or Haiu vi III
Samoa. !, I, no, de-
Nera sentiment aside. II Is not ue
.irat,ro that cuba should become an
,ndenendent republic without the teii
torv IN maintain a feet and an army io'
nor own defence. No genuine ihenu "
freadom need much enthuse co,I''n,
dating another Spanish republic. oou'n
American republics seem destined ioi ~
nobler purpose than 10 enapie so"'o
bidalgo on horseback to grasp power "
override the liberties OF 'he Peope'
20 violate the Constitution when ne hau
s.,o,n ~ defend. And Cuba, as repup-
,,c ,en't likely to inspire mankind Win
richer ideals than those of other repuoi'oS'
Which are very fortunate II they can
oach escape a dictator or reVoiutioh ioi
six clear months at time -,
csssion of the island, or lis ihpep1hu
ence being thus out of the lues'"''
there remains the proposal OF hhiieNa-
ZION TO the United states. Ih'ss my
annreciate Cuba most ana VINO N''"" ~"
neople best think that Y anhrAe' -
bans would long remain nca hssi'il'-
,a.n1 nortion of our American ropula-
,fnn Snanish pride and Spanish Gus
ton,s vould not disappear for ages from
r. Cuban peopte; indeed. IL is UNI
c,,,, IA see how the island could pe
safely annexed wi.hcu. also bthi5 HIh,,r
canizcd This Anne .icanizstion OF ,upa
cnt,'l rot be dc; bmDiis1e' "Hhou-
nee pling the country Somewhat "i'rr lle
n amer Of England IN the case Vi '.
land. and differing, as inc ih'h
necessary would, with the peop'e u 'ne
r,o,r,and u watch they were hinged IN
race religion. historical ftiliations, ana
national traditions, 1t would be sad
worlx Of conquest, dfIicult. pnprontapie'
and monumental TO most Americans
c,,ha Is therefore, best left in the arms
~ ber mother country TO work out
her own destinies and In her own way
such a course on her part is the more
anprop-iate, since the two Things WHICH
Ne United States does not need are
fresh accessions of territory ana III
sorted additions To our popuiatioh' Like
The arms OF Alexander. this republic
now reaches from the confines OF the
EAST TO those OF the West. But even
a. ,hs United States stood eminently in
need of territorial expansion or OF a
larger population, this great republic
could not afford 10 force the annexation
of cuba. and thus toward the END OF
the nineteenth century 10 attempt the
role Of another Persia. by creating an
other Sparta in the bosom of the An
titles and. in the maritime highways OF
the western world.