The record-union., 1898-07-21

appropriate domain, would look
with unfriendly sentiment upon the
acquisitions of this country, in every
instance honorably obtained.
On December 8, 1853, in his second
annual message, President Buchanan
said:
Spanish officials under the direct
control of the Captain General of
Cuba have insulted our national
flag, and in repeated instances have,
from time to time. inflicted injury
on the persons and property of our.
citizens.
Is Continuing, the President said:
1t has been made known to the
world by my predecessors that the
United States have on several oc-
casions endeavored to acquire Gu
ba from Spain by honorable ne
| gotiation. If this were accomplished
the last relic of the African slave
trade would instantly disappear.
President Buchanan referred to the
acquisition of territory from France,
the annexation of Texas and the fur
ther acquisition Of territory from Mex
| leo by purchase, and said:
This course we shall ever pursue
unless circumstances should occur,
which we do not now anticipate,
rendering a departure from it clear
ly justifiable under the imperative
and overruling law of self-preserva-
ton.
Our relations with Spain. which
ought to be of the most friendly
character, must always be placed in
jeopardy while the existing colonial
| government over the island shall re-
main in its present condition.
| Abraham Lincoln, in his third annual
message, dated December 8, 1863, said:
An important question, involving
the extent of the maritime jurisdic-
| ton Of Spain in the waters which
surround the island of Cuba, has
| been debated without reaching an
agreement, and it is proposed in an
amicable spirit to refer it to the ar
| bitrament of a friendly Power.
Andrew Johnson in his third annual
message, dated December 3, 1867, said:
/ agree with the early statesmen
that the West Indies naturally
gravitate to, and may be expected
ultimately to be obsorbed by, the
| Continental States. / agree with
| them also that it is wise to leave
the question of such absorption to
this process of natural political
gravitation-
| Andrew Johnson, in his fourth an
nual message, dated December 9, 1865.
said:
comprehensive national policy
| would seem to sanction the acqui-
| sition and Incorporation into our
| Federal Union of the several ada
cent continental and insular COM
munities as speedily as it can be
f,,ll 10 oxxrf,,1 nd h.
| out any violation of national justice,
| faith or honor. Foreign possession
| or control Of those communities has
|. heretofore hindered the growth and
| impaired the influence of the United
| States.
| President U. S. Grant. in his first an
nual message. dated December =, 1869,
said
The United States have no dispo-
sition to interfere with the existing
relations of Spain to her colonial
possessions on this continent They
believe that in due time Spain and
other European Powers will find
their interests in terminating those
relations and establishing their
present dependencies as independent
Powers.
President Grants special message of
May 81, 1871, submitted for ratification
an additional article to the treaty OF
November %, 1870, concerning the an
nexation of the San Domingo Republic,
and presents the standard arguments
depended upon by all statesmen and
used by all Presidents in their mes
sages in favor of acquiring a strong
position in the West Indies in the in
terest Of the construction of the Mic
aragua Canal and American commerce
in the Gulf of Mexico.
President Grants fifth annual mes
sage of December /, 1873, gives the his
tory Of the seizure of the Virginius.
On October 31st and while sailing
under the flag of the United States,
on the high seas, she was forcibly
seized by the Spanish gunboat Tor
nado and carried to the port of San
tiago, where fifty-three of her pas
sengers and crew welc inhumanly
and without due process of law put
to death.
Pending negotiations between the
United States and the Government
of Spain on the subject of this cap
ture, I have authorized the Secre-
tary of the Navy to put our navy on
war footing.
In his sixth annual message, dated
December Z, 1874, President Grant re-
ferred TO the deplorable strife in Cuba,
continued without any marked change,
and said:
Six years of strife give to the in
surrection a significance which can
not be denied. Its duration and the
tenacity of it's adherence, together
with the absence of manifested
power Of suppression on the part of
Spain, cannot be controverted, and
may make some positive steps on
the part of other Powers a matter
of self-necessity.
President Grants seventh annual
message of December Z, 1875, calls at
tention to the disregard Of the laws Of
civilized warfare on the part Of Spain
in her attempt to subdue the insurgents,
and continued:
Desolation, ruin and pillage are
pervading the rich fields of one Of
the most fertile and productive re-
gions of the earth, and the incen-
diary torch, firing plantations and
valuable factories and buildings is
the agent making the alternate ad-
vance or retreat of contending par
ties.
He declared that:
This protracted conflict seriously
cial nations, and those of the United
States more than others.
President Hayes, in his fourth an