The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-20
Democratic Record on Cuba.

Democratic speakers. while admitting
that the Democratic party, in all OF it's
early history. favored expansion. claim
that the Democratic expansion contem-
plated stopping with the borders of the
continent. and that the Democracy
never advocated the taking in of any
of the islands of the sen, or any terri
tory which could not be admitted into
the Union as state. This is directly In
the teeth of the record. From the earli-
est history OF the country Democratic
statesmen have had their eve an Cuba,
and from the time of the acquisition of
territory on the Pacific coast. other
Democratic statesmen worked earnestly
for the acquisition of the Hawaiian is-
lands 1t Is not necessary TO go into
the private writings or public speeches
OF these Democratic leaders to show the
position which they occupied on these
questions. Their public state papers are
full OF illusions TO the ultimate aequisi-
ton of both OF these island groups. Fur
thernore. on several different occasions
American diplomatic representatives
abroad have been instructed to- inform
foreign governments, In the --LATEST and
most unmistafable terms, that the
United States would regard the attempt
on the part Of any foreign government
TO acquire either Cuba or Hawaii as
distinctly unfriendly acts. which the
United States would resist with force
In wharton's International Law, vol
ume I. the various state papers on the
subject of cuba and Hawaii are coll
lated. and afford conclusive proof that
Mr.. Bryan and those who follow his
lead deliberately misrepreseut the his
toric Democratic attitude on the sub
jeet Of expansion.
Speaking OF the possibility Of Great
Brtain's acquiring Cuba. Thomas JEFF
ferson. in letter to president, Monroe,
dated June IL, 1923. says;
CUBA alone seems nj present TO hold
speck OF war for us. It's possession by
Great Britain would indeed be n great
calamity to as Could we induce her 10
foin us IN guaranteeing It's Independence
against all the world except spain, Il
would be nearly as valuable as II Il were
our own. But should she take H. would
not Immediately go 70 war for 81. because
the first war on other accounts will give
u 20 us. or the island viii give Itself
90 MS when able 90 DO so"
In subsequent letter. dated June %.
isss Jefferson modiaes this as follows;
''But n there Is no danger Of It's falling
into the possession OF England, | must
retrsct an opinion founded on an error os
fact u Is better then. 60 lie stil
~ readiness "a receive that Interesting
Incorporation. when solicited by herself
for certainly her addition to cur con-
fFderacy l. exactly what Is wanted 10
| round our power a. a nation 10 the point
Of SIS utmost interest"
In tSe6 this government fatty refused
70 enter into a proposed treaty with
Great Britain and France 10 protect
Cuba FROM being wres,cd from Spain.
The sole reason 81 the refusal was that
the United States asa not propose 70
bind Itself no; 90 acquire the island. At
the same time Gallatlu, minister 70
England. was given Instructions 10 TIM
press strongly on CsnnluKs mind "that
q WAS impossible thRt the United states
could acQuiesce in the conquest by or
the transfer ~ that island (Cuba) -
any great maritime power"
During the administration os po9k an
( attempt was made 10 purchase Cuba
from spain. The spanish government
resented the proposal strongly. and ,,
eaz 3rngusa
ON another PROPOSAL for a convention
% protect Spain "a possession q CuAa.
Edward Everats, secretary Of state.
wrote Mr.. Cramrtan
The raitsi states 1n fhs other hand
would hy the Proposed convention. dis
abe themselves FROM making an arquisi-
tion which mlEhf take p.ace without any
disturbance - existing foreign relations
AID IN me natural order 81 things"
In three separate annual messages
! Preside buchanan recommended the
purchase % Cuba. The most striking
/ document o. the whole series. however.
Is contained in Joint note BY Buchan-
an, Mason ana soule. az THAI time oc-
/ ospyins the positions Of ministers to
London. Paris aud Madrid respectively,