The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-06-14
THE UEPRESIDENTS APOLOGY.
UtsnTNGTON's EXCUSES FOR ITs IN
ExCUSABLE IMBECILITY.

EACUS8BLE I1BECfLITf.
No warrant for the Recognition Of Cuba-
No Authentic knowledge OF state Of
war-Ne special Provision for the Case
OF Cuba 10 be Pound In International
Law No Redress for the Murder OF
Americans-No Hope for our Commerce
if Congress Dares Declare for Cuba.
10 ne Senate and House Of Representatives.
In my annual message to Congress at the beginning
bfs present session, referred to the contest which
bad then for tl,an year existed In the island
pf Cubs, between q portion Of Its inhabitants and
Ae Government OF Spain, and to the feelings and
ympathics OF the people and Government OF the
United States for the people Of Cuba, for all peo
pie struggling for liberty and seltgovernment, and
paid that the contest had at no time assumed the
conditions which amount 10 war in the sense OF in
ternationn law, or which would show the existence
pfs deJocto political organization Of the insurgents
sunscient TO Justify o rocoention OF belligcrency.
During the six months which have passed since the
date Of the message the condition OF the insurgents
has not improved and the insurrec,ion itself, al
though not subdued, exhibits
NO SIGNS or ADVANCE,
but seems TO be confined to an irregular system OF
bostiites carried on By ANAL aud alarmed bands
OF men, roaming without concentration through the
woods and the sparsely. populated regions OF tie
island, attacking from ambush conveys and small
bands Of troope, burning plantations and the estates
Of those not sympsthizing with their cnuse.
Bot, if the insurrec,ion has not gained ground 1t
sSae Ssed disease Ss ns and s,s Ss o sss Sps have
worked destruction among the solciers OF Spain
tion Of every seaport and every town the island,
lbey have not been able to
sUBpuE IuE HOSTILE rERLISo
which has driven considerable number Of the ma
against Spain, and stil leads them to endure the
dangers and prvations OF roaming fo OF rrla.
and Is ',Ift s carried on S.s @
Of human life and Of The usagcs and practices which
me Seeessary hopro wsr The torch o. sp.O
Iard and Cuban alike busy In carrying devasta-
ton over fertilo.regions.
suRDERous AND RsvKSosruL pEcRxRs
sre issuod and executed by both parties Count Val.
each startled humanity and aroused the Indignation
score prisoners at tine while Gen. Quessda The
Cuban Chief cooy, and with apparent nncons scious.
sS, S m sSer.ss s. IN oS
nay, OF upwards OF six hundred and hfty prisoners
NON conviction followed by immediate execution,
!. the fate OF those arrested on either side
picion Of inndely to the eause Of the party making
Whatever may be the sympathes Of the people or
rsuse or tse objects for which part OF tile people
Of Cuba are understood 10 have put themselves in
hrmed rosis'ance ~ the Government Of spain, there
can be
NO JUST SYMPATHY
In conflict carried by both parties alike In such
bsrbarons violation Of the rules Of civilized nations
principles OF humanity. We cannot discriminate in
sar oensuro of their mode OF conducting their con.
tcst between the Spennrds and the Cubans. Zach
commit the same atrocities, and outrage alike the
established rules Of war. Tho properties OF many
The lives OF several have been sacrificed, and the
liberties OF others have been restrained. In every
case that has come to the knowledge Of the Covers
ment, an early and earnest demand for reparat ton
and Indemnity has been made. and most ON phauc
remonsirance has been presented against the
In which the strife is conducted, and against tho
RsckLKSs DISREGARD OF HUMAN LIE,
the wanton obstruction OF material wealth. and the
cruel disregard Of the established rules Of civilized
have since the beginning OF the present session
OF Congress communicated TO the House OF Repre-
steps which had taken in the hope OF brin ging th,
uad conflict TO an end, and for securing to the peo
dent seiigovernment. The efforts thus made fsiled;
but not without an assurance from Spain that the
The objects TO which they had been addressed.
Duriug the Whole contest. the remarkable exhibi.
Lion has been made OF large Numbers OF
So cuBASs ESCAPING IRON rHk ISLAND
End avoiding the risks OF war; eongregating In this
Country at safe distance from the scene OF danger.
AND endrayoring 10 make war from our own shores,
TO- g ptGe g our people iso the nsb. which shsy s,oS
md possible hostites with spain. IL can scarce be
doubled h1, THIS last result Is the real object Of the
I've I'M apparently Ilausibe demand for mere reeog
milton Of beligerency. II Is stated. on What % have
bonds have bcen prepared TO large amount, whose
payment Is made dependent upon the recognition BY
The United States OF either Cuban
- BELLIaxREscr on MDsrENDsNcx.
The object OF making their value thus entirely
vohtingent upon the action OF this Government Is
course to be adopted, on the demand thus made for
recognition OF belligerencS, the liberal and peaeelu
aa0I,sa pS .He 81 isei s sy n and
peoding Chief Magistrates and the nen OF their day,
.y furnish safe guide to those Of US now charged
FROM 1850 to 1915 the dominant thought Of our
statesnen was to keep the United States out OF the
wsrs which were devastating Europe The discus
sion OF measures Of neutrality begins with the State
P.pors Of Mr. Jefferson, when he was Secretary OF
right as well as OF national duty; that misguided
individual citizens cannot be tolerated In making
mar according 10
THEIR OWN CAPRICE,
passions, and interests, or foreign sVmpathies that
tbe agents OF foreign Governments, recognized or
Sospay by usarpnr the fanerons Of r sn.siSE S or
eQuipping military OF naval forces within our terri
Sraiity and OF absoute sbstinencs from all ioresa
entangiing alliances, which resulted in 1874 In the
e SaS OF s ne TO
has been admitted by every President. Washington
reyolutionsts; John Adams the projects OF Mieran.
ds; Jefferson the scheme OF Aaron Burr Msdison,
and subsequent Presidents, had to deal with the
United States, and since the days Of John Quincy
adams, II has been OF the constant VI the
Government In the United States to prevent
PIRATcAL EXPEDITIONS
against the feeble South American Republlcs from
leaving our shores
- In 10 country arc men wanting for aoy enterprise
that holds out promise Of adventure or gain In tIe
carly days OF our national existence the whole oon
tnent OF America outside o. tie United SIale. and
al It's islands were IN colonial Dependence unon
European powers. The reVoutiOns, winch nom
1si0 spread almost simultaneously throughout the
Bpanish-Auerican continental colonies, resulted in
shu establishment of new states, Ike ourselves OF
Iuropean origin, and interested In excluding
European politics and the question OF dynasty and
Of balances OF power from further nlaoLee IN the
NoH World. The American
POLICY OF NEUTRALITY,
important before, became doubly so from tho fact
that II became applicable 10 tho new Republics as
well as 10 tho mother country. IL then deyovei on
us to determine the great international question al
what time, and under what circumstances 10 reoog-
niLe new power Us entitled 70 placs among the
family Of nations, AS well as the preliminary CUES.
ton Of tie attitude TO be observed by this Goyorn
snen toward the insurrectionary party pending the
c1ntosL Mr.. Monroe concsoy expressed the rule
watch has controlled the action Of this 0overnmeui
with re'oIehco TO revolving country pending III
nv