The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-06-16


During the whole contest, the remark
able exhibition has been made of
large numbers of Cubans escaping
from the island and avoiding the
risks of war, congregating In this
country, at a safe distance from
the scene of danger, and endeav-
oring to make war upon our
shores, to urge our people into
| fight which they avoid, and to en-
| broil this Government in complica-
tons and possible hostilities with
Spain. 1t can scarcely be doubted
that this last result is the real object
Of these parties, although carefully
covered under the deceptive, and APP
parently plausible demand for the
recognition of belligerency. 1t is
stated on what l have reason to re-
gard good authority, that Cuban
bonds have been prepared to large
amount, whose payment is made de-
pendent upon the recognition BY the
United States Of Cuban belligereney
or independence The object of max
ing their value thus entirely contin
gent upon the action of this Govern
ment is subsection serious reflection.
| In determining the course TO be
adopted on a demand thus made for
the recognition of belligereney. the
liberal and peaceful principles adopt
ed By the Father of his Country and
the eminent statesmen of his day,
followed by the succeeding Chief Mag
istrates and the men of their day,
may furnish safe guide to those of
the United States, now charged with
the direction and control of the
public safety. From 1889 to 1915 the
| dominant thought of our statesmen
was to keep the United States out
of the wars which were devastating
Europe. The discussion Of measures
of neutrality begins with the State
papers of Mr.. Jefferson, when he was
| Secretary of State. lie shows that
they were measures of right as we'll as
of national duty; that misguided indi-
vidual citizens can not be favored IN
making war according to their own
caprice. passions and interests, or for
eign sympathy; that the agents of for
eign governments, recognized or I'M
recognized, can not be permitted to
abuse our hospitality by usurping the
functions of enlisting. or equlpping
military or naval forces within our
territory. Washington inaug urated
the policy of neutrality and Of the
absolute separation from all for
eign entangling, which resulted In
1894 in the first municipal enactment
for the observance of neutrality. The
duty of opposition to flibustering has
been admitted by every President. 1t
las been one of the constant cares of
the Government of the United States
to prevent practical expeditions
against the feeble South American
Republics from leaving our shores.
In no country are men wanting for
any enterprise that holds out promise
of adventure or gain. In the early
| DAYS of our national existence the
! whole Continent of America outside
of the United States, and all the
islands, were colonial dependents
| ton which from 1910, spread almost
simultaneously through the Spanish
| American Continental Colonies, re-
suited in the establishment of new
| States like ourselves, of European
origin, and interested in excluding
European politics and questions of
dynasty and balance of power from
further influence in the New World.
L
important before, becomes doubly so
from the fact that it becomes applica-
BILE to the new Republic, as we'll as to
the mother countrv. 1t then devolves
upon us to determine the great inter
national question, at what time, and
under what circumstances, TO recog-
nize new power entitled to a place
among the family of nations, as well
hn 04 H.
attitude to be observed by this Gov
ernment towards the insurrectionary
party, pending the contest.
Mr.. Monroe concisely expressed the
rule which has controlled the action of
this Government with reference to
county pending its struggle, by say
ing as soon as the Government as /
sumed such steady and consistent
form as to make the success
of the province probable. the
rights to which they were entitled by
the laws of nations as equal parties to
civil war were extended to them.
The strict adherence to this rule of
public policy has been one of the
highest honors of American states
manship. and has secured to this
Government the confidence of the
feeble powers of this continent, and
which inclined them to rely upon its
friendship in the absence of all signs
of conquest, and to look to the United
States for example and moral Drotec-
ton. 1t has given to this Govern
ment position of prominence and
influence which 1t should not abdi-
cate, but which imposes upon it the
most delicate duties of right and
honor regarding the American ques-
ton, whether those questions affect
the emancipated colonies or colonies |
still subject to European dominion.
The question of belligerency is |
one of fact not to be decided by |
sympathies for or prejudices against |
either party. The relation between |
the present state of the insurgents |
must amount il fact to war in the |
meaning of International law. Fight |
ing, though fierce and prQtracted,
does not alone constitute war There |
must be military force acting in ac-
cordance with the rules and customs |
of war, flags of truce, cartels. ex-
changes of prisoners, &C.; and to |
justify a recognition of belligerency,
there must be, above all, de fdct7 |
political organization of the insur-
gents, sufficient, in character and re-
sources, to constitute, if left to itself,
State among the nations, capable of |
discharging the duties of State, and
meeting the just responsibilities it
may incur as such toward other pow
ers in the discharge of its national
duties.
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