UNITED STATES AND CUBA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 113, 5 March 1853, Page 11

UNITED STATES AND CUBA.

The New York Correspondent of the Times, in an able review of the foreign relations between England and the United States, thus speaks of the designs entertained by a growing party in the Union towards annexing Cufta. He mentions seve- ; ral cases of difference between England and the United States, as the Fishery question, the Nicaragua question, &c, any one of which might in 3, moment plunge the two nations into war; but the one which creates the most anxiety is Cuba, on which island the Americans have long cast their eyes, which the English are bound by treaties to protect. '•'.*' But a question of far greater importance, and one more imminent in my judgment, is that of .Cuba. It is a great mistake to suppose that the Americans have given up the idea of the .acquisition of Cuba. Peaceably or forcibly, : they are determined to have it. The miscarriage of. the Lopez expedition appeared to quench ail enthusiasm on this subject, but it had directly an opposite effect. The Americans who were engaged in that affair were not numerous enough or influential enough to control the action or the policy of Lopez. Not one of them has been found who was not able to produce satisfactory testimony that be went reluctantly into the expedition. Scarcely one of them had any confidence in the judgment, the heroism, or the perseverance of Lopez. He was then, as he is now, generally regarded as an unprincipled adventurer, destitute of judgment and discretion, and prodigal in the resources, the lives, and the fortunes of others. But the miscarriage of Lopez only taught those who sympathised in the object of his movements greater discretion, and no manner of doubt exists that a much larger and far more formidable movement is under way at the present time, and I entertain no doubt whatever that it will show itself in some startling form before any considerable period has passed by. About oneyear ago the Order of the Lone Star was formed in the south, and it now numbers upwards of 20,000 resolute and efficient native Americans. No Creole is admitted into their order or their conferences. A very large proportion of its members are men of property and social standing. . They, belong to all parties in politics and all denominations of religion, but confined chiefly to what are called the upper classes of society. Its founder and chief, Dr. Wren, of Alabama, has been for some weeks in New Yori, organizing new branches of this secret society, and the institution already embraces very many of the most worthy and influential merchants, lawyers, and politicians of this country. Its object is the extension of the institutions, the poiver, the influence, and the commerce of the United States over the Western Hemisphere and the islands of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The first two objects it has to accomplish are the acquisition of Cuba and -„the Sandwich Islands. You will observe by the news which goes out in this steamer that the Crescent City, which arrived tlie day before yesterday, brought the most stirring intelligence from Havannah. A large number of Creoles had been arrested by the authorities of that State and thrown into the most loathsome dungeons. Nearly every Creole of position and influence had been placed under the surveillance of the police. The mails had b.een broken open, and all correspondence with the .American continent and islands read, and in ; : ;tJQe meantime the terrific visitations of the cho- ,''.> l'era and the yellow fever had appeared to increase the glooni which had been diffused through the city and over the island by the merciless and barbarous exercise of irresponsible power. All these severities have grown out of a knowledge by the authorities of a determination on the part of the Creole population to overturn the Royal Government of Spain. The Lone Star people have had nothing whatever to do with this movement, but they watch it with lynx-eyed intensity, and they are slowly but surely preparing a ertisade^ which, when it "begins, will be sustained by t.he enlightened public opinion of the United States, and when it strikes that beautiful^ island lit will siveep from its bosom every vestic/e of Spanish authority before two suns have risen and set. "Cuba is the most fertile, the )most lieautiful, and the worst-governed island sin the> world. There are many reasons why the Americans

desire it, and be it known that Anglo-Saxons have in all periods been the greatest land-stealers since the time of the Romans. j.. The Americans feel that it would-be but a praiseworthy act to rescue the island from the barbarous and bigoted reign of Spain, and bring j it under the segis of a Republican Constitution, 'that it should enter at once upon a-career of progress, refinement, and civilization. 2. They know that a considerable portion of the Cuban population is desirous to form such a connexion with our Republic. 3. The entire southern section of the United States naturally favour such a movement, because the annexation of Cuba would restore the equilibrium of power between the northern arid southern states. 4. The commercial portion of our community would go for this movement almost en masse, since it would augment our trade and very materially multiply our resources. 5. Persons of wealth and taste in every part $ of the country would be pleased to make the* acquisition of this gem of the Antilles, since it; is now brought by the agency of steam within; three or four days of New York, and it would serve as a kind of Italy to our Anglo-Saxons of the north ; and, finally, there is a growing, and j it will soon become universal feeling among the American people, that whatever we can take belongs to us. I am, therefore, pretty well persuaded that, come weal or woe to us or Cuba— come war or peace with Spain or any other European Power—the time has gone by when American statesmen, politicians, or citizens will allow any barrier to be interposed by a European Power between them and their grasping cupidity. The era of Republican propagandism has come for our democratic country, and the events of the next quarter of a century will furnish a commentary upon this foreshadowing of its history."

The Lopez Obsequies in New Orleans. —The torchlight procession which was got up to commemorate the anniversary of the death of General Lopez must have exceeded in magnitude the most sanguine expectations of the warmest friends of the movement. About 8 o'clock the procession commenced moving down Royal street from Canal, where an immense crowd assembled to see it form. First went the different companies of the Washington Regiment, under the command of Colonel Wood, who was surrounded by a numerous staff with brilliant uniforms. Next came the returned Cuban prisoners, with a large illuminated lantern, bearing on one side an inscription designating them, and on the other " Beaten, but not conquered.'' A hearse, with all the insignia of mourning, and bearing on its sides the names of Lopez, Crittenden, Kerr, and others, was the next and most striking feature of the procession. Three pallbearers walked at each side. Then came a large body of Cubans who are exiled in this city ; and "then followed a multitude of firemen and citizens, whose unbroken line, as they marched past where we stood, seemed interminable. A large number of the members of the Society of the Lone Star and a German association, organized for the purpose of practising gymuastycs, called the " Turners," also joined in the procession. Last of all followed a number of well known citizens on horseback and in carriages. As all moved along, the gleaming torches, the glancing bayonets of the military, the gay uniforms of the officers, the shining caps of the firemen, the stars and regalia on the breasts of many of those who composed the pulely civic part of the procession, the flags of the United States and Cuba, and banners with various devices, gave the pageant a truly imposing aspect. There were several bands of music. Messmer's celebrated band played a very fine piece which had been composed by him for the occasion, and is called " The Lopez Dead March." Every street through which the procession passed, during a march of nearly two hours, was crowded by persons of both sexes and all ages and conditions. The balconies and windows in the line of march were filled with ladies. The principal streets appeared as if the population of the city had turned out en masse. When the procession filed into Lafayette square, Colonel Scott Haynes ascended a stand and introduced W.J. A. Roberts, as the orator of the occasion. That gentleman delivered a very spirited address, which was received with repeated applause. All passed oft in the most harmonious manner, and we did not hear of an accident or a breach of , the peace during the progress of the procession

through the city or at the meeting that followed. At the close of the procession religious services were held in the cathedral, when speeches were delivered by Lieutenant Haynes and others. Interesting ceremonies were also held on board the steamer " Pampero."— New Orleans Paper.