Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-28
CKRDENKS.-
-La of Cuba-Adventures of Narciso
The Acquisition of the Island Considered Several
bv the United States Within the Last Fifty

turn out so, l do not know. When the
matter came UP for discussion in the
Senate, MI. Soule, of Louisiana, led a
strong opposition, He wanted the
island but not by purchase. He was
an exceptionally brilliant speaker and
his slightly foreign accent, graceful
figures of speech and personal magnet
ism added to the charm of his oratory.
In conclusion he said: Let the Unit
ed States go and take the captive queen
of the Antilles. l hope I shall live to
see the day when the golden and
bloody flag of Spain shall float no more
over any territory, be it island or city,
which of right should be dominated by
the American nation when the flag of
cruelty and tyranny shall be replaced
by that which today flies above the
Capitol, the flag of the free" The bill
was lost In the Senate and never came
out of the committee of foreign rela-
tons of the House; and so ended our
first formal attempt to buy Cuba Sc
Meanwhile other influences were
quietly at work. Colonel Il. " Sum
ner, who was then In Europe, was
commissioned to ascertain how a move
ment tending to the purchase of the
island would be regarded by France
and Spain. Hon. John Y. Mason was
then our minister to the court st.
Cloud; but is was considered unwise to
risk becoming persona non gruta by
pressing the American project before
the intensely pro-Spanlsh French
premier, in case the tentative inquiry
should be unfavorably received and re-
suit in unpleasant diplomatic relations
with the foreign office. The answer
showed that the precaution was well
taken. Duke de Mourney, the en-
peror's half brother. who was then the
ruling spirit of the French foreign Of
flee and greatly influenced by the EN-
press Eugene, declared himself strenu-
ously opposed to any attempt being
made to compel Spain to yield any of
her possessions either under threats or
moral pressure; and that If the United
States persisted in her efforts to ac-
quire Cuba, contrary to the wishes of
the Spanish queen and cortes, the act
would be considered by France as I'M
friendly.
Then for whole decade nothing
more was heard about the purchase
of Cuba. In 1868, soon after
our Civil War had been fought
and slavery was dead, a suggestion
came from Spain herself. 1t was when
General Prim. General Serreno and
Marshal O. Donnel-the three great lib
eral leaders of Spain, who had all been
banished by Queen Isabella, returned t.
their native land. and were so success
full in pushing their revolt that Queen
Isabella in turn, had to flee. Serrent
became regent; but Spain vas abso-
lutely without money-and money the
new Liberal government must have
There was no applying to any Euro
pean sovereign to help maintain the
Liberal idea. which was an open menace
to all monarchies; and so General Prin
suggested the sale of Cuba. He was
confident that the United States woult
gladly purchase, and proposed the open
ing of negotiations at once. How diff
ferent would. have been the subsequent
history of that unhappy island. and O.
| Spain-and heaven knows how mucf
money and how many lives to be sac,
| riflced in the present war II woulc
| have saved the United States had tbs
matter been carried through. But a
| that time our own national debt WA
| very large, and Senator Sumner ant
| other prominent Republicans thought l
| should not be increased. General Gran
was up" for the presidency, and SHOULD
| the purchase of Cuba be attempted dur
| Ing the campaign the Democrats woult
certainly make party capital out of ii
| 1t was finally decided to incorporate ;
| company. with O charter something Tx
that of the Indian Empire company
| of Cuba for 800, 900. 000-one- fourth T.
be paid down in gold and the rest o
| the debt to be funded In a twenty yea
| bond secured by lien upon tn
| reyenuesof the island at six per cent In
terest. The island was to be con
trolled by board Of directors. chosei
| every four years, who should select
governor and such other officers a
might be necessary. The ehartere-
company was to hold the same relatio
to the United States that the India
| Empire company holds to England
having a right to maintain an arm
six thousand strong, and a fleet of rev
enue cutters-all to be held and ope4'at
ed under the suzerainity of our Uncl
Samuel. 1t was a wonderful fascinatin
scheme, and the Astors, the Wander
bits, Marshal C. Roberts, William +
Webb, and many other New York mil
lionaires We're glad to come into 1t. TIL
first payment was immediately sub
scribed. Hon. John N. Forbes. of Bos
ton, went to Madrid to act for TIL
Americans. General Serreno, as roger
of Spain, had n cortes that would ODE
his lightest wish; and the Cubans, VIII
had intended to revolt that autumn
concluded to wait and see what woul
happen. AS usual, It was the unexpect
ed that happened. Just when all wa
ready and Serreno had his message
written announcing the sale to the Spar
ish nation and the richest man In Cub
Domingo Albania was prepared TO bu
two million dollars worth of bonds O
his island at par, General Prim was q.
sassinated. and the storm that brok
September 30, 1856, in the exile of Quee
Isabella, struck Spain like a cyclon
The sale of the Island had to
dropped, the house of cards tunbled a
ter having cost its promoters half
million dollars, chiefly distributed
Qualifications" Mt Madrid to bring IL
affair so near successful issue. fe
I months later. the Cuban revolt began
Yara, and that ended all hope in II
United States to acquire the island fro
Spain by friendly means.
The third time that the acquiremel
of Cuba seemed imminent was in 1871
just a quarter Of century ago. II
capture of the ship Virginius by Spai
with seventy-five persons on board, wi
were held to be filibusters, resulted
sixty of the passengers being shot,
| all the world knows. The day OF reel
oning was nearer to Spain then tha
perhaps she realized-or she new
would have undertaken the tragedy
the Maine. FANNIE b. WARD.