The record-union., 1898-07-21

From very early period, however,
and after the acquisition of the Mis-
sissippi Valley and the entire northern
coast of the Gulf Of Mexico from Cape
Sabine to the mouth of the Rio Grande,
the island Of Cuba had been regarded
by leading statesmen in this country
as natural geographical and political
part Of the territory of the United
States.
The acquisition of the Hawaiian ISL
ands, embracing 81 900 square miles, is
an event Of yesterday 1t follows the
precedent of annexing non-contiguous
territory established in the purchase OF
Alaska, but is unprecedented in the
feature of absorbing distant islands,
acquired mainly for their strategic
value and future possible commercial
Importance. BY this latest acquisition
we have annexed territory within the
tropics, so that the range of production
OF things useful to man within the ma
tional domain embraces every object OF
culture in all latitudes from the equa-
tor to the North Pole. This last acqui-
sition proceeds upon the defensible the
ory that political and commercial rea-
sons for territorial Incorporation into
the national system are not limited
solely to continental and contiguous
territory.
STATESMEN FAVORED THE AN
NEXATION OF CUBA.
From the earliest period in our his
tory the position of Cuba, commanding
as it did the commerce of the Gulf Of
Mexico, and liable to pass from the
possession of Spain to the hands of a
more powerful commercial rival, was
the subject Of apprehension in the
minds of American statesmen and a
prolific source of irritation and annoy
ance, as Well as a constant menace of
armed conflict. The view that Cuba is
territorially a part of the United
States: that its possession by foreign
Power is inimical to our interests and a
menace to our safety; that it, acquisi-
tion by the United States is demanded
by every commercial and military con-
sideration, has been entertained by all
the leading statesmen in every period
Of our history. When Great Britain
proposed a defensive alliance between
herself and the United States against
the designs Of the Holy Alliance con-
cerning the restoration of Spanish au-
thority in America, by which the
United. States would have been forever
debarred from acquiring any portion
of the Spanish colonies for themselves,
the subject was submitted by President
Monroe to Thomas Jefferson, who re-
piled, under date of October "a, 1923, as
follows:
But we have first to ask ourselves
the question, do we wish to acquire
to our own confederacy any one or
more Of the Spanish provinces? I
candidly confess that I have ever
looked upon Cuba as the most in
teresting addition which could ever
be made to our sytem of States.
The control which, with Florida
Point, this island would give us
over the Gulf of Mexico and the
countries and isthmus bordering
upon it, as well as all those whose
waters flow into it, would fill up the
measure Of our political well-being.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
The alliance proposed by Great Brit
ain in this instance was opposed by Mr..
Adams, Secretary of State. He declar-
ed that we should make our declara-
tion independently Of Great Britain.
Accordingly, on December 2, 1923, the
message of President Monroe was sub
mitted to Congress. This message,
which embodies the historical Monroe
doctrine, vouchsafes no assurance to
the world that the United States would
forego the acquisition Of additional ter
ritory upon this continent as suggested
by Great Britain. 1t was a simple dec
laration that the United States would
not look with Indifference upon any at
| tempt on the part Of European Govern
ments TO restore the authority of Spain
over her lately revolted colonies. and a
further protest against extending the
political systems Of Europe to any por-
ton Of the American continents. cou-
pied with the statement that the ex-
tension of such system would endanger
our peace and happiness.
Mr.. Adams views concerning Cuba
were expressed at a date prior to the
expression of Mr.. Jefferson already
quoted. In a letter to Mr.. Nelson. dated
April 20, 1898, and prior to the receipt
or the proposition Of President Monroe
Of the proposed defensive alliance with
! Great Britain. Mr.. Adams, speaking Of
Porto Rico and Cuba, said:
These islands, from their local
position, are natural appendages
OF the North American Continent.
and one of them (Cuba). almost in
sight Of our shores, from a multi
,tude of considerations has become
an OBJECT Of transeendant import
ance TO the commercial and polit-
lcal interests of our Union Its
commanding position with refer
ence to the Gulf of Mexico and the
west India seas; the character of
It's population; its situation mid
| way between our southern coast
| and the island Of San Domingo: it's
| safe and capacious harbor Of the
| Havana, fronting a long line of
our shores destitute of the same
| advantage; the nature of its pro-
auctions and Of it's wants furnish
| ing the supplies and needing the
| returns of commerce immensely
| profitable and mutually beneficial,
| give 1t an Importance in the sum
| or our national interests with which
that of no other foreign territory
| can be compared, and little inferior
| TO that which binds the different
| members of this Union together
| MR.. ADAMS WARNING.
| AT this date Spain was at war with
France and had made overtures to
Great Britain for assistance Appre-
hending the danger to the perpetuity Of
Spanish authority in Cuba by reason Of
an alliance with Great Britain, Mr..
Adams voiced a note of warning He
declared that a guarantee of the island
to Spain might be among the stipula-
tions Of an alliance with Great Britain,
but that in the event either Of q threat