The Daily Minnesota Pioneer

Acquisitions--Cuba.

In 1803 the United States purchased Louisiana for $11,000,000 in cash, and stipulated to release France from obligations of as much more. In 1819 Florida was purchased from Spain for $5,000,000. Texas and the Mexican acquisitions cost us $35,000,000. These sums, in the aggregate, are pretty large; but we do not suppose any one regrets that they were paid. For the Louisiana territory alone we might better have given one or two hundred millions than not to have obtained it.

California has paid for herself a hundred times over in the benefits her gold productions have conferred upon the rest of mankind. Texas and Florida are gems in the constellation of States.

All these acquisitions were made by the Democratic party, in spite of the most inveterate opposition of its opponents-the federalists, whigs, and abolitionists. While the Democratic policy has been liberal, enlightened, and expansive, that of the opposition, under whatever name, has been contracted, short-sighted, and bigoted. And the parallel has not reached its end, and we doubt whether it ever will. The acquisition of Cuba is opposed just as violently as have been all previous acquisitions. Notwithstanding that the country has again and again emphatically endorsed the policy of enlarging the area of freedom-notwithstanding that instead of the nation being confined to its original limits, it has become great by reason of the acquisition of territory--the same arguments are advanced, the same objections are raised to the purchase of Cuba that were advanced and raised to the purchase of Louisiana: and Cuba is of vastly more moment to us now than Louisiana was to us in 1803.

But it is a waste of ink to discuss the policy, the necessity of Cuban annexation. The popular sentiment in favor of it in the North as well as the South, is so strong that the administration cannot be embarrassed in pursuing the line of duty it has obviously marked out for itself, by any opposition that can be induced. There is greater danger in another quarter. The two ardent friends of Cuba-the adventurers, the filibusters of the South-are far more to be dreaded than the abolitionists of the North. And we believe the administration does dread them more.--Detroit Free Press.