The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-12-26
OUR CUBAN POLICY.
Times-D emocrat.l

limited states came lhto
of Louisiana, it regarded The acqul-
si,ion of Cuba as an event when
would certainly come IN time. L.
was before Spain had lost Its conu-
mental possessions IN America
when this republic was young one
and California and Texas were nm
dreamt of. 1t seems strange that
while the United States should nave
extended its power in all directions.
Cuba. "the gem of the Antillers.
sbould have been allowed to- remain
in the possession of a power unable
to govern it or to develop Its mag
p;6cent resources. As for our
Cuban policy, 1t drifted from Its
original aim, the acquisition OF the
island. to determination TO keep
the island out Of the hands OF any
other power than Spain, but to allow
Spain to rule it, no matter how great
its misgovernment might be.
Jefferson was the first President
to see the value of Cuba, and that
it would give us control OF the Ouii
of Mexico. He saw the necessity
of continual expansion westward, 10
assume the grand future OF the
republic. :,
In letter to Archibald Stewart,
written in 1856, before we were yet
real nation, be said:
"Our confederacy must be viewed
as the nest from which all America
North and South. is to be peopiea'
We should take care. too. not to thihk
II for the interest of that great conti-
nent to press too soon on the Span
iards Those countries cannot be ID
better hands. My fear is that they are
too feeble TO hold them till our popula-
3 ton can be sufficiently advanced to
gain it from Them piece by piece.
!, This proposition of territorial ag.
, orandizement at the expense OF
neighboring statesmen sounds faf
more like an English minister than
e an American statesman of to-day;
but at that time the republic was
Young. strong and active, and felt
s its strength. Mr.. Jefferson foresaw
it the decay OF Spanish power IN
Z America. and wanted the United
o States TO get some advantage from
: tue breakup.
y Seven years later, in 1893, when
It Secretary of State, he wrote as fol
d lows 70 our commissioners IN Spain,
his letter to them having the ap
proyal OF President Washington:
n 1T is intimated TO us in such a way
IF as to attract our attention that France
,t Revolutionary France) means to sent
a strong force early this spring Il
re offer independence to the Spanish
a. American colonies. beginning witt
70 chose on the Mississippi. and that sh'
~ will not object to the receiving mos
;" on the east side into our confederation
d. Interesting considerations require tina
we should keep ourselves free to act II
le this case according to circumstances
I'd and consequently that you should not
rv by any clause of treaty, bind us t
> guarantee any of the Spanish colonies
10 against their independence. Nor IN
,ir deed, against any other nation.
RS Mr.. Jefferson seems to nav
nd desired the acquisition of Cuba, TO
ot he wrote to President Monroe, bt
fore the latter had formulated tn
famous doctrine which now beai
10. his name, as follows:
:, "But we have first to ask ourselves
question. DO we wish to acquire
our own confederacy any more OF u
rst Spanish provinces? l candidly confe
nd that | have ever looked upon Cuba
the most interesting addition whi'
'a' could ever be made to our system
The States. The control which, WI
for Florida point. this island would 81,
MS over the Gulf of Mexico, ana u
countries and isthmus bordering on
AS we'll as all those waters which no
'oe into it. would fill up the measure
SO our political well-being."
the 1t was during President Pierce
ms, administration that the famo
the Ostend manifesto was issued by o
=. ministers to England, France al
Spain. Messrs. Buchanan, Mas
'o and Soule met at Ostend and DIRE
ear up memorandum which declar
md that Spain must sell us Cu'
his When Buchanan became Preside
he recommended that Congress Oh
SPAN 500. 600, 900 for the islam
fter but the civil troubles which 50
led. followed rendered it impossible
rice carry cut this policy OF purchase
~ the island; and with the civil v
KY and the momentous questions VIII
ress followed it, we forgot altogetl
uch about Cuba for time.
the 1t will be seen that we had,
inch different times, two opposing Cut
. policies, one which aimed at
''.i acquisition of this island, supper
ON by Jefferson, Pierce, Buchanan
other Democratic Presidents, wi
=. John Quincy Adams and Van Blu
GU wanted to pursue the policy OF
near not interfering in any way W
of Spain's possession of the island,
ra;l- merely insisting that Spain sho