Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-06-24

- On the other side, the contest has been
- conducted, and is now carried on, with
lamentable disregard of human life, and
the usages which modern civilization has
prescribed as the necessary process OF war.
!. The war of Spaniard and Cuban is alike
bringing devastation over fertile regions
Murderous and revengeful DEGREES are is
.. sued and executed by both parties. Count
Valmaseda and Col. Bolton, on the
mart of Spain, have each startled the
rs. humanity and aroused the indigna-
ton of the civilized world by the
e. execution each of d score of prisoners
at time, while Gen. Quesada, the Cuban
chief coolly, and with apparent uncon-
% Germ, has admitted the slaughter, by his
own order, in one day. Of upward OF 500
prisoners of war. A summary trial, with a
Fsffew, if any, escapes from conviction, con-
9 firmed by execution, is the fate OF those
arrested on either side on suspicion OF in
fidelity to the cause of the party making
the arrest. Whatever may be the sym
pathies of the people orof the government
of the United States for the cause or OBJ
B iects for which the people of Cuba are
z understood to have put themselves In
armed resistance to Spain, there can pc
4 no question of past sympathy in a conflict
carried on by both parties alike in such
barbarous violation of the rules OF all CIV
~ rilized nations, and with such combined
~ outrage On the plainest principles OF
e humanity we cannot discriminate IN our
+ censure of the mode of conducting the
saacontesL between Spain and Cuba. Each
commit the same atrocities, and outrage
alike the established rules OF war. The
property of many OF our citizens has Deen
destroyed or embargoed, the lives ofrseV-
Z eral have been sacrificed, and the liberties
"a how he haar
case that has come to the knowledge OF
the government, an early and earnest de-
: mand for reparation and indemnity has
been maze, and q most emphatic re-
monstrance been presented against the
80 manner in which. the strife is conducted,
land against the reckless disregard Of hui
2 man life, the wanton destruction OF mate
: s rial wealth, and the cruel disregard of the
established rules of civilized warfare" -
',sg25 After abiding to the steps previously
taken by the President, in the hope OF
-- bringing the conflict to an end, and Tor
the securing to the people of Cuba the
blessings, and rights Of independence,
which efforts had so far failed of their OBJ
"a, ject, and after citing precedents and au-
; thorities on the question of neutrality, the
message concludes as follows:
tAsJ" The question of belligerency is one OF
ssa fact not to be decided by sympathy OF
'7 : prejudice against either party. The rela-
ton between the present state Oh the In
- strgents must amount in fact to war &C
~ cording to international law. The fight
ing, though fierce and protracted, does
not alone constitute war. There must be
military forces acting in accordance with
the rules and customs OF war, flags soi
,gtruce, exchange of prisoners, ETC.; and to
,iustifysa recognition of belligerency, there
must be above all de fdcto political Or
gsnization of the insurgents sufficient IN
character and resources to constitute, II
a. left to itself, a state among the nations
capable of discharging the duties of a
state. andgmeeting the just responsibilities
1T may incur as such toward other powers
in the discharge of its national duties.
EN9Applying the best information which
I have been able to gather, whether from
official or unofficial sources, including the
very exaggerated statements which each
party giveto all that may prejudice the
opposite Or give credit to its own side OF
the question, / am unable to see in the
present condition Of the contest in Cuba
II thoseselements which are requisite to con-
- stitute war in the sense of international
law. The insurgents hold no town or
b city; have no.established seat Of govern
Sment; they have no prize courts; no or
'so enue; no seaport to which prize may be
80. carried, or through which access can be
ssssa had by a foreign power to the limited in
terror territory and mountain Businesses
zllWhich they occupy The existence of
Legislature representing any popular
constituency is more than doubtful in its
- Tuncertainty. There is no probable evil
dence Of an election of any delegated au
thorities of any government outside the
limits of the camps occupied from day to
day by the moving companies of the in
surgents. There is no commerce, no
Is trade, either internal or foreign; no man
ufactures. The late Chief
.Ofthe insurgents, having recently come to
the United States, publicly declared that
all commercial intercourse and trade
Nj with the exterior world has been utterly
cut off, and he further added To-day
sIaE we have not 10000 arms in Cuba 1t is
a ell-established principle of public law
that q recognition Of foreign state of
,a belligerent rights to insurgents under
circumstances such as now exist in Gu
ba, if not justified by necessity, is dem
sssa onstration of moral support to the re-
bellion. Such necessity may hereafter
arise, but it has not yet arisen, norris its
probability clearly to be seen. If it be
war between Spain and Cuba and be
recognized, it is our duty to provide for
ga the consequences which may ensue in
the embarrassment of our commerce and
%Ssthe Interference with our mariile.A II
belligerency be recognized, the COM
mercial marine of the United States be-
comes liable to search and seizure by the
5, commissioned cruisers of both parties,
S'z and become subject to the adjudication OF
prize courts. Our large coastwise trade
between the Atlantic and Gulf States,
2 ind between both and the Isthmus of
Panama and the other States of South
America, engaging the larger part of our
commercial marine, passes, of necessity,
almost within sight of the island of Cuba
Under the treaty with Spain of 1895, as
s.SsweH as by the laws of nations, our vessels
Twill be liable to visits on the high seas.
s,ssan case of belligerency the carrying of
~ cortraband goods, which now is lawful.
becomes liable to risks or seizure and
condemnation. T
In view of the gravity of this ques-
ton, 1 have deemed it my duty to invite
the attention of the law-making power of
the country to all the relations and bear
rings of the Iquestion in connection with
shthe declaration of neutrality and granting
..oof belligerent rights. There is not a de
- lrfo government in Cuba sufficient to ex7
Ns.ecute the laws, or to maintain the just re
sslations with other nations. Spain has not
been able to SUPPRESS the opposition to