The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-04-12
JEFFERSON ON CUBA.

Inc solution OIL LIE ,ttDan IuoDitii
inow nppcrmost. can be helped rs al
appeal 10 Jefferson. While h. was II
public life. he had no occasion 70 ac'
with reference to the relation Of Cuba
tons claimed his attention, among the
foremost being the acquisition of Louis
lana and the Northwest from France.
He believed that the United States
Ought to annex no country which
would make it necessary To keep q
powerful navy 10 defend ii. If Ae were
alive to-day it is certain tnG,. under thar
limitation. jefferson would oppose The
annexation Of Hawaii. II IS not 80
clear what position he would take as t.
Cuba. In 1S23, when Monroe ,was
President, jefferson gave az his opinion
that he had ever looked on Cuba as
the most interesting addition which coula
be made to our system of states. but
could honestly join i'll a policy that
we aim not at the acquisition His
entire letter. which is OF timely inter
est at this juncture, is as follows:
Monticello. Oct. >. 1898.
Dear Sir: The question presented by
the letters YOU have sent me is the
most momentous which has beer ever
offered to my contemplation since that
of independence. That made rs a ma
ton. this sets our compass and points
the course which we are to steer thro'
the ocean Of time opening on us, and
never could we embark on it under cir
cumstances more auspic.ous. Our first
and fundamental maxim should be
never to entangle ourselves III the
broilS of Europe: our second, never to
suffer Europe to intermediate with Cis-
Atlantic affairs. America. North and
South. has a set Of interests distinct
from those of Europe. and peculiarly
her OWN. She should therefore. hav.
Il system Of her own, separate and apart
from that of Europe. While the last
is labOrin@ to become the domicil OF des-
potism, our endeavor should surely be to
make our hemisphere that Of freedom.
One nation, most OF all, cOuld distur:.
us in this pursuit; she now offers -
lead, aid. and accompany us in it-bs
.acceding to her proposition, we Getach
ner from the band Of de@pors, bring hei
riighty weight into the scale Of free
government, and emanciphte Il continent
at one stroke, which might otherwise
linger long in doubt and difficulty. Great
Britain Is the nation which can do us
the most harm of any one. or all. oil
and with her on our side we
need not fear the whole WOrld-WitL
her then We should the most sedulously
cherish Il cordial friendship, and nothing |
would tend more to knit our affections
than to be fighting once more. side by
side, in he same cause. Not that IL
would purchase even her amity ut the
price OF taking pat in her wars but
the wal in which the prosr:.t rropos:tiGii
engage us. should that be its con-
sequence. is not her war. but ours. its |
object Is to introduce and establish the
American system of keeping out of our |
land all foreign powers. of never per-
mlttln@ those Of Europe TO intermoddle |
the affairs of our nations. 1t Is
to maintain our own principle. not IL
from it. and if. to facilitate this.
can effect q division III the body of
the European powers. and draw over
to our side its most powerful member,
surely we should do it, but | am clear
of Mr.. Canning's opinion that it will
prevent. instead of provoking war.
With Great Britain Withdrawn from
ser scale and shifted INTO that of our
continents. all Europe combined
would not undertake such q war. fol
now would they propose to get at either
without superior fleets? Nor
IS the occasion TO be sighted which this
proposition offers of declaring our protest
against the atrocious violations Of til,
lights OF nations. by the interference OF
my one III the international affairs o.
another so fiagitiously begun by Bona
N ytn n ~ 40"
awless alliance. calling itself Holy.
But we have first to ask ourselves
/ question. do we wish to acuuira 10
'ur own ~confed1racF any one or more
# the Spanish provinces? | candida,
that | have ever looked on
fuha as the most interesting addition
which could ever be made to our sys
en- of States-the control of which.
With Florida point. this island would
us over the Gulf of Mexico. and
he countries, and the isthmus border
nS on t. as we'll as those whose water
into it. would fill up the measure
# our political ~well-being. Yet. as
m sensible that this can never be oil,
aimed. even with her own consent. but
" war; and its independence. which i
'ur second interest land especially it,
of I%ngland). can be 81.
urea without IT. l nave no hesitation
II abandoning my first wish 70 future,
hances. and accepting its independence,
With peace. and the friendship of Eng
md. rather than its association at the
Expense of war and her enmity.
| could honestly therefore join in the
eclaratlon proposed that we ann no ;
t the acquisition of any of those DOS
that We will not stand in tn,
'ay of any amicable arrangement be-
them and the mother country :
ut that we will oppose, with all our
leans. the forc:ble ~interposition Of any !,
power, as auxiliary. stipendiary,
L under any other form or pretext. and (,
foft especially their transfer to any +,
over by conquest. cession, or a~cquisl- /.
on In any other way. / should hin !,
therefore advisable that tho Execu- :
We should encourage the British gov ;
rnlncnt to a continuance III the dis