Year: 1869

United States.


From the London Post, August 21.l


Whether there be any foundation or not for the
port that the government Of the United States have
been in negotiation for the purchase OF Cuba there
certainly variety OF circumstances which invest 1t
with an air of great probability. That the United
States are anxious to acquire the pearl OF the An
tes' there can be no doubt, and the present rela-
tOnship between Spain and her colony i5 Just Of that
nature which would suggest the idea of "a deal" to
hard-headed Yankee statesmen. America for tho
Americans has been iavorite sentiment on the
other side OF the Atlantic from the days OF President
Monroe, and since the termination Of the cvii war
the government OF the republic have on more
than one occasion proved the earnestness OF their
desire to give to 1t the practical effect. II must,
however, be said OF the Americans that If they
most commonplace and business like OF modes.
Annexation in the sense In which that term has been
too often employed in Europe has not yet found
place in the American vocabulary. II the Americans
80 far violate the dccaogue as to c0vet Their neigh
b0rs property, they at least offer fair equivalent
Tor Its acquisition, and do not after the manner or
some OF The older States OF the Eastern hemisphere
avail themselves Of superior strength to effect the
desired transfer 1t Is unnecessary to refer with any
PARTICULARLY to the circumstances under which the
Danish Island OF st. Thomas, in the West Indies
and the Russian possessions in the northwestern
corner Of the American continent, passed under the
dominion of the government al Washington. st.
Thomas was undoubtedly needed because the Ame-
for their ships of war IN the West Indies but Alaska
was purchased apparently with no other object
than that Of diminishing the number OF foreign
Powers holding possessions on the American conli-
nent In both cases the transaction was of purely
pecuniary Kind and was concluded as we may pre-
had nothing TO- gain by retaining her footing on
small island at the opposite side OF the Atlantic and
the little encouragement she received In defending
her more substantial possessions in Europe douba-
less exercised no little influence in inducing her TO
sell a colony which she would have been pOweress
to defend. As TO Alaska, the Car was very glad to
obtain good round sum for barren tract OF terri
tory extending into the frozen regions, and which.
tic sum for wlicn it was sold That the Alnerl-
cans on their side are equally c0ntented we
may rest assured; and having thus ousted two
Powers from any plea for Intervention III American
affairs, any excuse for trading on American soil,
they no doubt desire to push still further that policy
which until now has proved so successful.


1t will no doubt be IN the recollection Of the pup.
lie that some months ago, and Immediately after the
accession OF President Grant, we called attention to
what seemed TO be an intention on tile part Of the
government OF the United States to intervene in the
Cuban insurrection. Many circumstances tended to
the President and his advisers OF their desire see
Cuba admitted within the American Union. SuHl-
ciently close to the mainland to admit OF being re-
garded as in American waters. the Monroe doctrine
unquestionably pointed to Its acquisition. II such &C.
QUESTION were possible. Under these circumstances
Spain, France and England had direct interest
in preventing CuOa being wrested from Its pre-
sent possessors, and that any attack it would in
effect be an attack on Jamaica and Martinique. II
an excuse were made to-day for appropriating the
spanish colony was reasonable E 70 assume ne taat at
hands on those islands which now owe allegiance
to Great Britain and France: Without for % one mo,
at washington were other than perfectly honest, or
that they were in any degree modified by the pros.
pect Of this contingency, Is sufcicnt to say that
no attempt at interference in Cuban aiIairs was
made by the American government, and the strict
est neutrality was O0serXed by the United States
between the established government in Cuba and
the insurgents Thus matters continued till the
government Of the United States had offered to pur
chase Cuba from the Spaniards for the round sum
OF E20, 000, 900.


Disnissing for the moment all notice of the some
what equiv0cal contradiction which this allegation
has met with, We may at once state what our
opinion OF the transaction would be- assuming that
1t has IN fact been contemplated by the two Powers
II Spain chooses to sell Cuba she has, OF course the
same und0ubted right to do so tnat Denmark had
to part with st. Thomas and we can only say that
in the event OF the sale we hope We shall continue
on as neghbOurly and friendly terms with the
Cubans under the new government as we have
been with them under the old sovereignty. II the
United States have q desire TO purchase as many OF
present pOssesSOrs are willing to part with they are
perfectly welcome, so far as we are concerned that
they should do so. The acquisition Of those islands
for an attempt TO annex by violent means any of
our colonies, and we can therefore afford to
watch with indifference transactions In which
for all practical purposes we are unnterested. AS
to SPAN, we entertain shrewd suspicion that the
best thing she can do is to close with the American
government. Not only does she gain nothing by
Cuba In Its present unsettled state but she loses
annually sums which she can i'll AFFORD. Apparently
not strong enough to stamp out the lnsurrection,
honor to continue attempts as costly as they are
unavailing. Even II she were able to restore tran
quillity In the island, considerable time would
elapse before she would reap the full fruits OF her
success, and probably before that result had been
attained the flames OF rebellion would break out
afresh These are considerations which, II we mis-
take not, VIII have weight with the government to
which the destinies of Spain are for the moment en-
trusted; and, Notwithstanding the dement, which
be surprised at hearing ere long that the purchase
and sale OF Cuba have been effected.