The Acquisition Of Cuba

Parely sectional or politioal interests ere in control when tbe aequisition cl Cnba and of Canada was discnssed at different times dnring the 15 years prior to the civil war. It was ruainiy strnggle for the balanoe of power in the United States senate. Sorue of tbe wiseEt pnblie men since tbe earliest part of this centnry had believed thafc Cuba sbonld be anuexed at the earliest opportnnity.. JefiEerson thongbt it desirable beoanse it could be defended without a navy. In 1823 Jobn Qaincy Adacas, as secretary of state, declared that Porto Rioo and Cnba were natnral appendages to tbis continent, and tbat Coba had beconie an object of transcendent impórtanos to the oomraercial and politioal interests of onr Union. He believed that it wonld natnrally gravita te to the United States when reJeased from Spain. Polk endeavored ín vain to pnrobase it. After tbe eleotion of Pieroe the democrats made its acqaisition one of theii obief airas. .They tried negotiations, bot when that gave no promise of snocess, they threateued and argued themselves into Jieving tbat we bad a rigbt to seize tbe island if Spain wonld not sell it. In 1853 Senator Hale.of New Hapnjibire, called for extensión nortbward, for a change, and moved to snbstitute the word "Canada" in place of "Cuba" in a resolntion expressiug sentiments favorable to onr getting posseBsinn of tbat island.