rationale for the United States to purchase Cuba from Spain, and
declaring that the U.S. would be "justified in wresting" the island from
Spanish hands if Spain refused to sell. Cuba's annexation had long been
a goal of Southern slaveholding expansionists, although U.S. national
leaders had been satisfied to have it remain in Spanish hands rather
than those of Britain or France. At the suggestion of Secretary of State
William L. Marcy, three American ministers in Europe (Pierre Soulé
(pictured), James Buchanan and John Y. Mason) met in Ostend, Belgium, to
discuss strategy related to acquisition of Cuba. To Marcy's chagrin, the
flamboyant Soulé had made no secret of the meetings, causing unwanted
publicity in the U.S. and Europe. The administration of President
Franklin Pierce was finally forced to publish the contents of the
dispatch, which caused it irreparable damage. The manifesto was
immediately denounced in the Northern states and Europe, and it became a
rallying cry for Northerners seeking to control the vote on slavery. The
question of Cuba's annexation was effectively set aside until the late
19th century.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostend_Manifesto>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1514:
Mary Tudor (pictured), sister of Henry VIII of England, became
queen consort of France.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Tudor,_Queen_of_France>
1874:
The Universal Postal Union, then known as the General Postal
Union, was established with the signing of the Treaty of Bern to unify
disparate postal services and regulations so that international mail
could be exchanged freely.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Postal_Union>
1919:
In Major League Baseball, the Cincinnati Reds won the World
Series, five games to three, over the Chicago White Sox, whose players
were later found to have lost intentionally.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sox_Scandal>
1970:
The Khmer Republic, headed by General Lon Nol and Prince
Sisowath Sirik Matak, was proclaimed in Cambodia.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Republic>
2006:
North Korea conducted a nuclear test, reportedly near Kilchu,
with an explosive force of less than one kiloton, that was condemned and
denounced by many countries and the United Nations Security Council.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_North_Korean_nuclear_test>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
understudy:
1. To study or know a role, so as to be able to replace its normal
performer if required.
2. To act as an understudy (to, for someone).
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/understudy>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
We all been playing those mind games forever Some kinda druid
dudes lifting the veil. Doing the mind guerrilla, Some call it magic —
the search for the grail. Love is the answer and you know that for sure.
Love is a flower, you got to let it — you got to let it grow.
--John Lennon
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Lennon>
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