Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-09

years. this time the last full year Of Nc
Kinley's administration, the trade was
$57, 1884. 81. The figures are the more sig
nificant if the imports and exports are
separated. In 1912 the United States
imported ST., 1881, GIL worth of goods from
Cuba. In 1856 the amount was $40,oli,-
$50, while in 1S99-1900 the imports to this
country amounted to $3l,S11. 1o4. But it
is when the exports from the United
States to Cuba are considered that the
fullest effects of the comparative results
of democratic and republican ways OF
conducting the national business are re-
allied. During the last year of Harri-
sons administration, Cuba bought ST.
95S, $40 worth of United States goods. The
fourth year of Cleveland's second term
we sold them only two-tifths of that
amount, or 81 1880, $50 worth. But during
the year that has Just been concluded the
amount has been S26.513.6lS. or nearly
four times as much as in the last year
of the last democratic administration.
1t is not surprising that progressive
men in the United States have ever con-
templated closer union between u coun-
try and this rich island. What is sur
prising. is the INSCRIPTIONS means that
democrats have been ready to resort to
in the past, and their hypocrisy at pres
ent in criticising the course of republican
statesmen at the present time. For the
republican party today is not considering
anything else in respect to the Cuban
problem than to perform the pledges that
the nation has given. In n breath the
democrats accuse the republicans Of i'm
perialism, and in the next blame them
for losing the opportunity to secure so
valuable a prize, regardless of the plight
ed faith of the nation.
But as the democratic party is apt to
deny that their statesmen have ever con-
sidered the acquisition of the island. it
is desirable briefly to epitomise the sem
timents that have been expressed by their
prominent men in the past.
jefferson, both while president and
afterwards, in correspondence with Mad
ison and Monroe, frequently expressed a
desire that Cuba should some time be-
come a part of the United States, and
the democratic text book as late as 1898,
issued as an official document of the
democratic party, quotes extracts from
his letters in support of that statement.
President Monroe also expressed himself
in favor of making Cuba a part of the
United States. Polk favored the annex
alton of Cuba, and Hon. James D. Rich
ardson, the present member of congress
from Tennessee. who now holds UP his
hands in holy horror at the thought OF
this kind of expansion, says in his index
to the Messages and Papers of the Pres
iients, page 352, volume 10:
President Polk made a proposition in
1910 for the purchase of the island by the
American government for 800, 900, 900. In
1884 the Ostend manifesto claimed the
right of the United States, should Spain
refuse to sell Cuba, to take and annex it.
The Ostend manifesto, it will be re-
membered, was al announcement made
by President Pierce's ministers to Eng
land, France and Spain Buchanan, Ma
son and Soule), i'm which they suggested
that an earnest effort be made to pur.
chase Cuba at a price not to exceed $120,
900, 900, and added that if this should b
refused by Spain 1--WE should be ~jusuifiet
by every law, human and divine, il
wrestling it from Spain if we possess tn,
power a proposition of which Tossing
the historian, says: 1.-THE bald iniquit,
of this proposition amazed honest me-
i'm both hemispheres."
Spain having refused to sell, and tn
sentiment of the world failing to sustain
the democratic proposition to seize tn
island, Pierce's administration failed, blu
that of Buchanan Immediately took
up again, and President Buchanan, i
three of his annual messages to congress
urged tina Cuba ought to be made b
purchase a part of the United State
During his term a bill for that purpos
was introduced in ongress by Senate
Slidell. whose name is we'll remembers
in connection with the confederate go,
eminent, and was sustained by souther
democrats generally, while the sam
proposition for obtaining control of tt
island of Cuba by some process was pull
a licly commended by jefferson Davi
a speech in his own state during thu
, time. The efforts of the various dem,
cratic presidents for the purchase
\ Cuba having been rejected by Spain. tt
~o%;oool %s.,o <aol- +.
j the question and in the platforms upt
a which two of it's candidates, Douglas al
breckenridge, ran in 1860, 1t declar.
pointedly in favor of the annexation
i Cuba, as follows:
% Resolved, That the democratic par
is in favor Of the acquisition of t
. island of Cubs upon such terms as sh