Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-04-05
Cuba and Annexation.

iiusI be on the best OF terms, Other-
wise there will he no success"
Cuba and Annexation.
Spokane Times.
Senator Frye Of Maine and Senator
Morgan OF Alabama have great many
sympathizes in the United States in
their expressed desire for the acqiisi-
ton of the island of Cuba by this
government. The .Allianca incident,
the unsettled state of affairs contin-
ually existing on the island, the evil
dent inability of Spain to properly
govern the people and the continued
menace to American commerce which
is sure to exist so long as the present
conditions continue, has rapidly de-
veloped sentiment in the Northern
States in favor OF annexation. Such a
sentiment has always existed in the
South.
There is very little war sentiment
in this country. The United States
has acquired its additional territory
always by purchase, except in the case
OF Texas and she came begging for ad.
mission into the Union after having
achieved her own independence
Thomas Jefferson purchased Louisi-
ana of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1903,
by which we obtained title to all the
country west of the Mississippi river
from the Gulf of Mexico to the British
line, except Texas and the southwest
ern territory west of the Rocky noun
tains, including Utah, Nevada and
California, which then belonged to
Mexico. After the Mexican war these
were ceded to the United States, but
we paid to Mexico $2S,250,OO0 in set
tlement for them. Florida was ac-
quired from Spain in 1921 dur
ing the administration of President
Monroe, who believed that everything
i'll the western hemisphere should be
American. We paid $5.OOOOOO for
this purchase. The Louisiana pur.
chase was made for $l5,0OO,OO0 and
gave us Louisiana, Arkansas, Indian
Territory, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado,
Iowa, Minnesota, North and South
Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Mon
tana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
The vast territory OF Alaska was pur-
chased OF Russia in 1867 by Secretary
Seward and President Johnson for the
insignificant sum of 81 100000.
This experience has taught our gov
ernment that it is cheaper to acquire
territory by purchase than by con-
quest. Yet Spain has never wanted
to sell Cuba. The statement has been
made that the government archives
reveal the fact that during the admin
istration of Polk, and again when
Pierce was President, offers running as
high as 1920 900 600 were made for the
island and rejected. Such vast sum
would not be paid for the coveted prize
now, but if Spain continues her out
rageous treatment of her subjects
there, it may be necessary to take it
by conquest. For over forty years the
United States has made it possible ior
Spain to retain Cuba by continually
patrOlling our south Atlantic and gulf
coast, to prevent aid being sent from
from this country to enable the Gu
bans to throw off the Spanish yoke.
We may not see the necessity of con-
tinuing this policy indefinitely.
Cuba would make an excellent State
in this Union. 1t has an area about
two-thirds of the size of the State OF
Washington and a population of L.
100000. Its largest exports are sugar,
tobacco and cigars. 1t has a rich soil
and mild climate. Should we con-
clude to annex Cuba we should also
acquire Porto Rico, and thus drive
Spain out Of the West Indies. This
island has only All area OF 5000 square
miles, little more than twice as large
as Spokane county, but it contains a
population of nearly three quarters oi
!, q million, nearly half as much as tha,
of Cuba. The large island OF Hayti OIL
San Domingo lies between Cuba and
Porto Rico, and could probably be hat
for the asking if our government
. should acquire the other two. Genera
= Grant when President negotiated &
treaty for the annexation OF San Do
: mingo, but Congress refused to ratify
, it. 1t now has two separate independ
, ent governments, both republics, ant
= a population nearly as large as that o.
Porto Rico. These islands, in fac
6 nearly all of the West India group
q naturally belong to the United States
, Great Britain has acquired several o
them simply because she landed he
troops and took possession. She ha
no more right to them than the Unit
T ed States would have by similar oc
7 cupation OF the Isle of Jersey, and he
!, "army Of occupation" should be mott
fed to move on.
y THE Internal-reyenue receipts shov
II up well-being over five million dol
t lars more for eight months past thar
= for the same period last year. Will
/ the income.tax receipts, which will
e begin coming in soon, it would seen
j. that the Treasury should manage t,
squeeze through the summer.
r, DAVENPORT will soon have a chees
re factory in active operation.