The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-04-21

The above is an extract from Saco's
reply to Nasqucz-Quepelro
EXTRACT FROM AN ESSAY By SACo ON
THE FUTURE OF SPAIN, CUBA AND
THE UNITED STATES 1853
The aspirations of many of the sons of
the American republic We're once limited
to the acquisition of their hemisphere
from the north pole to the isthmus of
Panama but, no longer content with
such a vast extent OF territory, they are
proclaiming now, IN their public prints
and at their public meetings, that they
will conquer the whole new world A
country in which such dangerous doc.
trines are propasated is II direct menace
to all its neighbors. Look at the pro
gress of the territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OF the United States, Their first acQui.
sitions were by legitimate title then
they bought Louisiana from France and
Florida from Spain Later on they
seized Texas in an infamous way. When
the settlement of the Oregon question
was under consideration they wanted
to take possession of the entire region,
and only the fear of a war with Great
Britain brought them to reason, Later
they provoked hostilities with Mexico
and by most iniquitons war despoiled
her Of great part OF her territory
Now they are resuming their threaten
ing attitude toward Cuba, Their first
invasions, within the brief interval of
fourteen months. and the schemes which
they are now plotting against the un.
happy Mexican nation, show to what
extremes the criminal ambition of IN
unbridIed democracy will 90.
Under these circumstances, what
check can restrain the strength of such
tendencies, VIII it be the government
OF the union ? As regards Cuba, will
it be the fear of war with Spain :
Moreover, that government is seeking
to thrust into the international law u
principle OF public law as strange AZ it
is inadmissible. 1t contends that no
European powers shall interfere in Amer.
ican affairs, without considering that
50 long rs any of them hold colonies in
the new world they have nm undeniable
right to take part in all American ones
tions which may affect their territorial,
political or commercial interests. A
government so constituted, Supported
by such constituents and protesting such
doctrines, Is a governmen. which can
not undertake to insure the tranquility
OF Cuba. What may not happen when
there comes to the presidency n man
who, in accordance with his own ideas
as well MS by being the willing instru,
ment of Others, will propose the acqui.
sltion of Cuba I
The dread of a war with Spain will
not repress the ambitious designs of
these northern people. Possessed OF
the most extravasant pride, they be.
leve themselves superior to all nations
and Spain, which is now Leginning to
recover from her great losses, is not in.
debted to them for even 80 much con
siderntion rs is due to her from the
Of her past glories. To them
it seems very easy to triumph over her,
and even though they deceive themselves
in this, the very self deception will lead
them on to new aggressions. Spain,
seated between the Atlantic and the
Medite, ranean. mistress Of the Canarie
In the former and Of the Balearic islands
in the latter, snd holding the Philip.
pines in Asia, can send ont many pri.
vateers and inAict enormCus damage on
American commerce. But II Spain, by
herself, can iniure the enemy seriously
in those seas, the enemy would proceed
10 seize, off the western shores Of Africa,
The islands Of Anobon and Fernando
/
Po--the latter, at least, which, lying
near the mouth Of the Niger river, may
N time come to be place OF great i'm
portance he would attack and probably /,
would occupy the whole or lart OF .
Puerto Rico ; perhaps, also, from Cali
'ornia he would make serious attacks
N the Philippines and ~ for Cuba, /
which 10 the primary subject Of the ,
whole question and the conquest OF
which would be the canse and the end ,
# the war, 1t must be acknowledged 4
hat all the advantages are on the side ,
Il the nniOn. /
The United States being close to Cuba, e
..aL H.. .t~ ktas A. ~ f..