The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-23

grasp. Cuba and Porto Rico, islands Of the Gulf,
remained. And now Cuban insurgents aem manu-
engaged In deadly CONNECT with the Spanish power.
Ravaged provinces and bloodsned are the witnesses
Columbus, with the eptaph that he gave to CASTLE
aud Leon new world, Is fast becoming q desert,
contend,na for its last possession there On this
simple statement two questions occur-nrst as TO the
duty Of Spain, aud secondly, a. to the duty OF the
Unwelcome as 1t may be to that famous Castilan
pride which has played SO lofty part in modern
true 1ght nor con she close her to the lesson
OF history she must recall how the thirteen Ameri-
can colonies achieved Independence against all the
power OF Enqland--how ali ner own colonies on the
American main achieved independence against her
own most strenuous efiorts-how at this moment
England Is preparing to release her northern
colonies rom their condition Of dependence, and
recalling these examples. It VIII be proper
tendency Of all colonies which was remarked by an
iustrious Frenchman, even before the independence
prophetic in politics than when Turgot, IN 1850,
sad:-"C0l0nles are like fruits which hold to the
tree only until maturisy-when sufficient ia them
America will do" Has not Cuba reached tins con-
dlton of maturity Is II not sufficient for itselff AT
Independence worth the blood and treasure 1t will
cost These are serious questions, which can be
answered. properly only by putting aside al passion
and prejudice or empire, aud calmly confronting
the actual condition OF things. Nor must the case
Of Cuba be confounded tor moment with our
bcrment OF republic to found new Power, with
slavery as its declared corner stone. For myself,
Cuba and Spain, and in the interest Of hui
Nor can a'0 the enlightened mind fail 70 ''s see
that the Spanish power on this Island Is an ana
chronism. The day OF European colonies has
passed-at least in this hemisphere, where the rights
Of man were first proclaimed and se!i-government
was first organized. governor from Europe, nomi-
mated by crown, Is constant witness against
these fundamental principles AS the true course
for Ia r.
OF the United States equally GEAR. 1t Is to avoid In
volvlng ourselves In any way Enough OF war have
enough has our commerce been driven from the
ocean without heedlessly arousing another enemy.
insuriecton. One was to unite our fortunes openly
with the insurgents, assuming the responsibilities OF
such an allance, With the hazard OF letters OF
marque issued by Spain and open war. The other
her nothing but. good and that, especially since
the expulsion Of her royal dynasty. we cherish
for her cordial and kindly sympathy. 1t
Is said that republics are ungrateful, but /
MG% n.y. Struggle our fathers We're aided By her
money, as afterwards by her arms and that one OF
her great statesmen, Fornda Banca, bent his ener-
pes to the organization OF that armed neutrality In
Northern Europe which turned the scale against
England. say nothing Of the motives by which
our day Of need she lent us helping hand.
1t Is evident that, adopting the first policy, we
should be except as sn ene s sec
influence. The more reflect npon the actual con-
dition Of Span the more am satisfied that the true
rule for US is noninterventon, except In the way OF
good oflices. This ancient kingdom Is now engaged
In comedy and tragedy. You nave heard OF Hunt.
ing the Slipper" The Spanish comedy is "Hunting
u Ring.n the Spanish tragedy 10 sending armies
against Cuba. do not wish to take part IN the
comedy or the TRAGEDY SPAN Is d WISE sme WY "
determined by international law. To that venerable
authority repair. What that prescrbes follow.
RECOGNITION OF BELLIGERENCE.
BY that law, as understand IL, nations are not
left any mere caprice. There is rule or conduct
which they must follow, subject always to just &C.
counability where they depart from It. On ordinary
as with individuals. 1t Is only at CRITICAL moment
where the rule is obscure or precedents are uncer-
tain that doubt arises, as now, on the question OF
recognizing the belligerence OF the Cuban lnsur-
gents. Here wish to be explicit. Belllgerence is
q sfact,D attested by evidence. II the "Iact" does
not exist there Is nothing to recognize. The fact
cannot be invented or imagined. Is must be proved.
No matter what our sympathy, what tue extent OF
our DESIRES we must look at the fact There may
be insurrection without reaching this condition,
which Is at least the halfway house to 1adepen-
Austria did not reach 1t, although. they had iarg
armies in the Held and Kossutn was their gov
inc poe IN aesasa ms
conflict made Europe vIbrate the seDoys and Rajahs
OF India failed ALSO although for time they held IN
cneck the whole English power; nor IN my opinion,
did our rebels reach 1t so far az to JUSTIFY their
recognition on the ocean, II the Cuban Insurgents
evidence Tney are In arms. l know. But where
are their cities, towns prOvinces9 Where Is their
their tribunals for justcef and where their prize
cOurtsP To put these questions Is 10 answer them.
How then, Is the ''Iact' Of belllgerencef
There is another question In their case which ia
with me final. Even II they come within the pre-
requisites OF International law l am unwilling TO
make any recognition OF them SO long a. they con-
tince to hold human beings AZ slaves. decree IN
In May last, purporting to be signed py Cespedes,
abolished slavery but Tam not sure Of this decree,
especially 10 view Of another in july purportins to
come from the same authority, maintaining slavery
Until this is seJtled we must wait.
tim
latitude OF OplnOn-sOme asserting that nation
may take this step whenever 1t pleases; but this pre-
q question OF fact gu the evidence. UndOub elly an
iBdepepdent nation may do any thing IN It's power
waeneyeT pea anob eqI suegs from wSa 70 es
This may be illustrated In the three different cases
OF war, ind ependence and belhgerence. In eacn
case the declaration ID an exercise OF hgh preroga-
tive inherent IN every nation and kindred to that
OF eminent domain; but a nation declaring war
without Just cause becomes wrong docr; nation
recognizing independence where 1t does not exist IN
fact becomes wrOng-doer nnd SO nation recog'
nizng bengerence whefe II d0es not exist In Iact
becomes u wrong oer also. On the latter point
there Is want OF precedclt sufficiently clear ana
authogltatlve but with there Is Que rule In such
a case which cannot dsObey. In the absence OF
any precise injunction do not hesitate TO adopt
that Interpretation OF International law which
places war and all that make for war under tue
snail best promote civilization ana OBTAIN new secu-
rity Tor International peace.
RELATIONS WITH ENGLAND.
From the case OF spain pass to the case Of Eng
1and. There for the present content myself with
Driel explanation On this subject ! have never
broken silence except with pain, aud nope not to
say anything now which shall augment difficulties.
although, wnen consider how british anger was
aroused by effort In another place, judged by all
VINO heard 1t most pacific IN character, do not
know that even these few words may NOS We misIn-
| terpreted.
There can be no doubt that we received from Eng
land incalculabe wrong-grcater, have Oien said,
than was before received by one civilized Power
| from another short Of unjust war. / 40 not say
tins In bitterness but in sadness There can be no
doubt that through English completely our carrying
| trade was transferred 10 English bottoms; our
foreign commerce SACRIFICED, While England gained
| what we lost; our blockade rendered more expen.
sive, aud. generally that our war, with all It's
fearful cost Of blood ana treasure, prolonged
| Indefinitely. This terrible completely began with
| wrongful recognition OF rebel be,ilgerence,
under the shelter OF which pirate saips were built
and supplies were sent fortl All this was OF the
very moment or our mortal agony, In the midst OF q
struggle for national fe and 1t was done III support
of rebels whose single declared object OF separate