The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-18
nucnANANs crBAw roLIoE
Acquisition of N~on-ContiEuous Territory
Always Democratic Doctrine.

SUN on all the great questions which have
arisen for discussion before tho American
public, / have been especially Interested In fol-
lowing you In your splendid advocacy Of tho
annexation OF Hnwnii. supplemented by your
strong American arguments in defence Of our
Constitutional right. ha we'll as duty, TO fortify
the strength OF the people OF the United States
as emergencies demand. whether In Porto
Rico, Cubn, Hawaii. or the Philippines.
I have also hoen greatly interested In the
position and arguments OF our Democratic
friends In opposition TO such n policy. THE Sun
has left them no ground to stand on. by bring
ing orward tho writings OF the early Demo-
cratic statesmen. and they find themselves In
opposition TO the traditional and official history
OF their party.
The old regime OF great Democratic statee-
men went out OF power with thor party In 1880.
and those who were still alive when Cleveland
came into power were unable to make them
selves felt under tho order OF the new political
dynasty. Therefore 1t may not be inappropriate
] to recall the last political action OF the Demo-
cratic party. under the leadership Of its most
trusted statesmen, upon the subject OF annexa-
ton. only two years before it's flag went down In
defent. 1t was the climax OF continuous Demo-
CRITIC acknowledging the unanimous ad-
herence and advocacy Of that policy which had
guided 1t from the days Of Jefferson down to
the time OF Cleveland.
Lying before me is the United States Demo-
cratic Rerierc Of April. 1850. published in the
city Of New York. and bearing the imprint Of
its forty-fourth year. All the old Democrats
know that in It's pages could always be found
the most perfect eXemplincatlon OF national
Democratic sentiment TO be found in the col
umns Of any periodical in those days.
In this number l find that tho first thirty
nine pages are taken up with an article en-
titled the I" Continental Policy OF the United
States The Acquisition Of Cuba" Tho article
opens as follows:
At no former period since the foundation of the
Government OF the United States has the public mind
been 30 ~pointedly awakened to q comprehensive
sense Of the Inission and duty OF the American ro-
public in extending our Democratic system over this
entire continent. Il seems to have been reserved for
President Buchanan TO call into being this active
public sentiment, and TO mark out q new epoch In
the history Of the government Of civilized man. In
his last annual message he foreshadowed the true
national policy of tho Government of the United
States In regard to the future political condition ofthis
J continent. and by the logical power Of this authorita-
tive State paper. tho public opinion Of both hemi-
spheres is to be concentrated and centralized.
Continuing. II says:
but this review. having from its birth until the
present moment advocated the manifest destiny"
of the American republic. Il ia proper In this article
to consider practically and somewhat In detail the
question involved in the acquisition Of Cuba as one
additional step toward the accomplishment of that
great end.
After embracing in the first twenty-five
pages the political and commercial reasons
which demanded the inclusion OF Cuba within
the area OF our jurisdiction, it proceeds to say:
Keeping in view these important truths, the Presi-
dent places the acquisition OF Cuba upon Just and
patriotic grounds. and is sustained in this great
measure Of his Administration by the wise statesmen
I who haya unpa hafnra hfr, Apaonu kbon, - rho--..
jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe. John
Quincy Adams. Henry Clay. Martin Van Buren,,
James X. Polk. Edward Everett, Franklin Pierce, and
William L. Marcy.
1t then proceeds to Justify its assertion by
publishing. first. the letters Of Mr.. Jefferson to
Mr.. Madison. April 81, 1909. and to Mr.. Mon
roe. juno %, 1923. and Oct. "a. 1923; secondly,
it scts forth the letter Of John Quincy Adams
while Secretary of State under Mr.. Monroe to
our Minister at Madrid. April %. 1923. follow
ing 1t with the views of Mr.. Clay while Secre-
tary OF State under Mr.. Adams to our Minister,
Mr.. Everett. at Madrid. under date OF April p,
1925. After stating the fact that Mr.. Buchanan
in 1913. then Secretary OF State under Mr..
Polk. authorized our Minister at Madrid, Mr..
Sanders. to offer Spain 500. 900. 900 for the
transfer Of Cuba to the United States. it follows
with the letter OF Mr.. Everett to Count do
Sartiges. in which he rejects the Joint PROPOSE
iOh VI wv IlCASH uIlu DIlIlSn governments IOT
n tripartite convention with the United States
disclaiming s~everally and collectively oil inten-
ton to obtain possession OF the island Of Cuba,
and respectively binding themselves to discon-
tinue all attempts to that effect. This Is sup
plemented by a letter from Mr.. Marcy. Secretary
Of State under Mr.. Pierce. to Mr.. Soule, our
Minister at Madrid, sustaining the position OF
Dir. Everett and urging the Importance Of
closely watching the movements OF France and
England in regard to Cuba.
Coming back to the proposition involved In its
opening paragraph. the Democratic Rerie1o pro-
ceeds to says:
We believe a great duty devolves on the American
people In connection with the spread of FREQ insti-
tutions; and that evory barrier erected by foreign
powers against the extension OF our theory of gov
eminent will speedily disappear. It cannot be other
wise. Dcspotism cannot long continue to chain
down and crush out freedom. especially within sight
of our republic. The children Of Cuba. Central
America. and Mexico must fraterniZe with those OF
the United States. They can look to no other quarter
for protection or safety. They have felt the iron
grasp Of foreign power, and they are falling away
under the oppressor's hand.
II IL time they should repose under the panoply OF
this free and prosperous country, and reap the fruits
OF their own labor. But. unfortunately, they arc
met and rcpulsed by those who should welcome
them among us, thus imposing upon the Democratic
party the double task OF preparing the way at homo
for their reception, and OF holding at bay their enc.
mics abroad. This We are prepared TO do. and tho
fact that the recent measure of President buchanan
was not carried into effect during the last session OF
the Thirty.hfth Congress argues nothing to the con-
trRry. The bills introduced in the Senate and HouSa
Of Representatives. in conformity to the ecommen.
dAtions of the President. looking to the acquisition
of Cuba, would have become a law before tho ad.
journment. except for the ~factious course Of the Old.
ponents Of the measure.
In a foot note the contest in the Senate Is
thus described:
On Friday noon. Jan. 10. Mr.. slidelrs bill was
taken up by the Senate with \ arm determination TO
ascertain the sense of that body on the proposition;
and one hour after midnight Mr.. Brown moved, as a
test vote. to lay the bill on the table. announcing at
the same time that he should vote against his own
motion. Tho test vote was then taken and the mo.
ton was lost by-yeas. 10; nays. 80; majority in
favor of the bill. II. The nays were as folloys.