Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1886 — The Preposed Annexation of Cuba. [ARTICLE]

The Preposed Annexation of Cuba.

Ever since the purchase of Florida from Spain in 18*21 the United States Government has taken much interest in the island of Cuba. Its contiguity to our coasts, and its position at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico, give it an importance that has not been overlooked. In 1825, uqder President John Quincy Adams’ administration,’ some diplomatic correspondence was carried on between the Spanish authorities and Mr. Clay, our Secretary of State. Spain proposed that in return for certain commercial concessions the United States should guarantee to-her the perpetual possession of Cuba. This proposition was declined, however, as contrary to the general policy of the United States; though it was averred that shoulq the island ever be'in danger of passing into the bands of a strong maritime power, as the British or French, our Government would promptly step in to protect it. President Adams and Mr. Clay cherished the plan of buying Cuba, believing that this measure would greatly strengthen their administration at the South. But on making overtures to this effect to Spain they were totally refused. In 1848, the continued tyrannies of Spain having aroused ranch discontent on the island, the subject of purchase was again agitated. President Polk authorized the American Minister at Madrid to offer-SIOO,-000,000 for Cuba, but the proposition was rejected in the most peremptory manner. In 1849-51 several expeditions were fitted out on American soil against the Spanish Government in Cuba by General Lopez, but in the interest of neutrality the United States Government checked their operations as far as it was able to do so. In 1854 Messrs. Buchanan, Mason, and Soule, United States Ministers at London, Paris, and Madrid, respectively, held a conference at Ostend and drew up a statement which is popularly known as the Ostend manifesto. In this it is argued that Cuba ought to belong to the United States, and that Spain would <IO Wei! to sell it. ~A proposition was also urged in the United States Senate in 1858-9 to place $30,000,000 in the hands of the President with a view to the purchase of the island, but after debate this was withdrawn by its author, Mr. Slidell. The question has not s nee that time found its way into American politics, though the United States has more than once offered to meditate between the Cubans and the Spanish authorities during the frequent revolutionary outbreaks on the islands. —lnter Ocean.