Year: 1872

No question relative to the foreign or ex-
ternal relations of the United States has occu-
pied the attention of the American people, for a
quarter of century or longer, more than that
of Cuba. Indeed we may go back to the time
of Mr.. Monroe, when he was President of the
United States and Mr. Canning was Prime
Minister of England; for the declaration Of
had reference to the Island of Cuba as well as
to the Spanish h-American States which had
become independent Of Spain. This protest
against the reconquest Of the Spanish-Ameri-
can Republics, Or the subjugation of them
agnin to any Of the European monarchical
Powers was based upon principle Of pro-
found and far-seeing policy, and one which
our people have cherished ever since And,
though it did not call for the forcible ex-
pulsion of Spanish rule from Cuba, or from
the other colonies which Spain continued
to hold in this hemisphere, it was under
stood as embracing Cuba SO far as to prevent
that island passing under the dominion Of
any other European government and to give
the United States, as the great American
Power, the right to watch over the destiny Of
that contiguous territory. Spain has always
been conscious of the position the United
States assumed with regard to Cuba, and never
relished it. The other monarchical govern
ments Of Europe have at different times and
up to a recent period endeavored to checkmate
or overthrow the republican policy of the
United States as implied in the Monroe doc
trine Jealousy and fear of the progress of
republicanism were the motives chiefly. The
famous tripartite treaty guaranteeing the per-
petual possession by Spain of the Island Of
Cuba, to which the American government was
invited to become party, and which the
Buchanan administration refused to accede to,
was inspired by that jealousy Of and hostility
to American republicanism and the vast, grow
ing power Of the United States. This country
has, in fact, had more trouble with foreign
governments, and with Spain particularly,
about Cuba than about any other question Of
an international character. We have more
than once been on the verge of war about that
island, and from first to last we have been put
to great expense as well as annoyance, in
protecting our people and interests and in
maintaining our policy and the dignity of the
Republic.


Heretofore, and up to recent period, then,
the Cuban question has been complicated and
difficult Of solution Spain has been too proud
to part with the island, though the United States
has offered large sum of money for it, and
though there can be no expectation Of perpet-
uating Spanish rule over it. With all the diff
culties and cost Of money and blood in main
tanning her authority for awhile, she is unwil-
ling either to sell Cuba or to concede its inde-
pendence, yet every sensible Spaniard must
see that the time is not far of when Spain will
have to give up the island. The United States
government, from sense Of honor and to
fulfil to the letter the duties it owes to o
friendly nation, has not forced an issue with
Spain on this Cuban question. 1t has, in fact,
resisted the popular sentiment of the country,
and in its extreme forbearance has endured
indignities and suffered the grossest outrages
upon American citizens to 60 unpunished.
There is scarcely any other great nation, under
like provocation and with the same popu-
lar sentiment and policy existing that
would not have seized the opportunity
to wrest Cuba from Spain. II was
not fear Of war or of the consequences of war
that made the United States SO forbearing, but
q sense Of honor strained to the utmost. Then
the intrigues and resistance Of other Euro
pean nations some years ago had an influence
both upon the United States and in making
Spain more obstinate when the subject Of
Cuban annexation or independence was
brought up.


There is very different state Of things now.
Spain, it is true, appears to be as proud, as


obstinate and as impracticable as ever. The
] same naughty feeling which led to prolonged