Year: 1869




The question of our expansion southwark is
pressing upon us in various shapes, with
greater or lesser urgency, according to the
quarter from which the pressure comes, and it
is time the government should shape its policy
and recognize the work it has to do. Cuba is
clamoring to us in the stress of revolution for
the recognition of her independence; st. Do
mingo has a formal proposition for peaceful
admission to the Union, and one of the party
generals and leaders In Hayti openly avows
his correspondence with the Secretary of State
at Washington with view to annexation and
protection Since the abolition of slavery in
our Southern States the question of political
union with the great republic has made wonder
full progress in the islands of the American
Mediterranean. Communities which before
that event were in a state of semi-hostility to
us now look to our government as their only
hope for security, peace and prosperity.


Our late war has taught us lesson in this
connection which we should do well to heed.
The islands of Bermuda, Bahama, st. Do
mingo and Cuba form powerful line Of
picket posts along our Atlantic coast and the
outlet of the Mississippi valley. During the
rebellion they were held by Bowers hostile to
us, and were converted into ports of refuge
for blockade runners. The war supplies
which these carried into the South very mate
rally heightened the struggle and involved
the nation in all expenditure of fully three
thousand millions of dollars-more than would
have been requisite to put down the rebellion
if these maritime picket posts along our shore
had been in our possession. More than that,
Havana was the base upon which the French
occupation of Mexico turned, and that move
ment was part of the general scheme of the
Western Powers of Europe to assist the break
ing up of the American Union. Had they
not been in possession of these islands their
efforts would have been the futile aims of
vain desire If the blockade runners had
found it necessary to CROSS the Atlantic in
stead of the narrow strip of water between
these islands and the main shore there would
not have been one where we found hundred
to annoy us.


In the event of foreign war these maritime
picket posts would become of equal if not of
greater Importance to us. We should be
compelled either to take possession of them,
without time to consolidate our power there,
or to see them bristling with forts to defend
hostile fleets, which at any moment might
choose their point of attack on our line of
shore. We are, therefore, under the necessity
of contemplating the policy of arming against
them, or providing against the contingencies
of the future by following the natural impulse
of our southwark expansion.


AS point Of national policy and of natural
connection we should hold possession of all
of these West India islands. This was felt
more imperatively during the late war than
ever before or since, and for this very reason
it becomes our government and the states
men who lead in Congress to take advantage
of every circumstance which presents itself
favorably to the policy of our southwark expan-
sion. The friendly feeling now developed in
St. Domingo should be cultivated, and if that
republic seeks admission by treaty or other
peaceful act, by all m cans let it be accorded
to her. The struggle now going on in Cuba,
which is in fact, a social revolution
for the overthrow Of slavery there, and
a political revolution for a change from a
tyrannical to free government, merits our
warmest sympathies and support. We hope,
therefore, to see the early passage of the
Banks resolution authorizing the President to
recognize the republican government of Cuba
whenever in his opinion it is fit so to do.


These two steps, which are now urged upon
us by every consideration of policy and in
terest, once taken, the path for the accom-
plishment of the rest of our natural south
ward expansion will be clear and facie.
Should England refuse an honorable adjust
ment of the Alabama and other pending claims
Bermuda and the Bahamas would be the first
points we might be compelled to look after
We could not permit her TO hold picket posts
on our frontier, and without the friendly ports
of her ally, Spain, to flee to we could establish
safety along our whole coast. Congress should
take all these things into consideration now,
aud determine its line Of policy in support of
our southwark expansion. Events and feelings
in the West Indies coincide alike at this time
to favor US, and our first duty as people is to
take care of our own household.


GENERAL GRANT Nor AFRAID OF THE
NIGGERs. 1T appears that two American
citizens of African descent have been nomi-
mated by General Grant as justices Of the
peace for the District Of Columbia that B. F.