Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-06-15
CUBA.
Special Message from the Presi-
dent. @
Grant Opposed TO Recognizing the
Rebels as BelIigerentss

sage to Congress late Monday afternoon
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
In my annual message to Congress q
the beginning Of its session l referred I
the contest which had for more than yea
been existing in Cuba between portions c
its inhabitants and the Government G
Spain, and to the feelings and sympathy Q
the people and Government Of the Unite'
States for the people of Cuba, as for al
| people struggling for liberty and self-gov
| ernment, and said that the contest has a
no time assumed the condition which
amounted to war in the sense Of interna
tional law, or which would show the exist
ence Of de fdcto polit;c1 organization o
| the Insurgents sufficient to Justify q recog
nition of belligersncy
During the six months which have passed
since the date Of the message, the condi
ton Of the insurgents has not improved
and the insurrection itself, although moi
subdued, exhibits no signs of advance, bul
seems to be confined to an irregular sys.
tenn of hostilities carried on by small bands
of armed men without concentration,
through the woods and sparsely populated
regions of the island, attacking from am
bush conveyances and small bands Of
troops, burning plantations and estates OF
those not in sympathy with their cause (;
but the insurrection has not gained ground.
II is equally true Spain has not suppressed
it. Climate, disease and occasional bullets
have worked destruction among the
soldiers Of Spain; and although the Span
ish government has possession of every
seaport and town on the island, they have
not haap obla 70 o1hdua fba hostile faa1fnr n,
which has driven a considerable num-
Der of natives to armed resistance
against Spain, and still leads them to en-
dure the dangers and privations OF roam
Tag life of guerrillas. On either side the
contest has been conducted, and is now be-
ing carried on, with lamentable disregard
OF human life, and of the usages and prac-
tces which modern civilization has pre-
scribed 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
Yalmaseda and Col. Bolton on the part of
Spain have each startled humanity and
aroused the indignation of the civilized
world by the execution each of score Of
prisoners at a time, while Gen. Quesado,
the Cuban chief, coolly and with apparent
unconcern has admitted the slaughter by
his own deliberated order in one day of up
wards Of $50 prisoners of war. A summary
trial, with few il any escapes from convic-
ton, confirmed by execution, is the fate of
those arrested on either side on suspicion of
infdelity to the cause Of the party making
thearrest.
Whatever may be the sympathies of the
people or of the Government of the United
States for the cause or the objects for which
a part of the people of C1baar understood
to have put themselves in armed resistance
to Spain, there can be no question Of just
sympathy in conflict carried on by both
parties alike in such barbarous violation of
the rules of civilized nations, and with such
combined outrages on the plainest princi-
pies of humanity. We cannot discriminate
N our eensure Of their mode of conducting
their contest between Spain and Cuba
Each commits the same atrocities, and out
RACES alike established rules of var. The
property of many of our citizens has been
destroyed or endangered; the lives of
several have been sacrificed, and the iber-
ties of others have been restrained. In
every case that has come to the knowledge
Of the Government, an early and earnest
demand for reparation and indemnity has
been made, and most emphatic remon-
strances been presented against the manner
in which the strife is conducted, and
against the reckless destruction of material
wealth, and cruel disregard of established
rules of civilized warfare. .fs-
have, since the beginning of the pres
ent session of Congress, communicated to
the House upon their request. on account
of steps which have taken in the hope Of
bringing the conflict to an end, and for
securing for the people of Cuba the bless
ings and rights of independence. The eff
forts thus made have failed, but not with
out assurances from Spain that the good
offices of this Government might still avail
for the objects to which they had been ad-
dressed
During the whole contest, the remarka-
BILE exhibition has been made Of large num-
bers of Cubans escaping from the island
and avoiding the risks of war, congregating
in this country, at safe distance from the
scene of danger, and endeavoring to make
war upon our shores, to urge our people
into fight which they avoid, and to en-
broil this Government in complications
and possible hostilities with Spain. 1t can
scarcely be doubted that this last result Is
the real object of these parties, although
alefully covered under the deceptive and
apparently plausible demand for the recog-
milton of belligerency. 1t isstated on what
1 have reason to regard as good author
ity, that Cuban bonds have been prepar cd
to a large amount, whose payment IS made
dependent upon the recognition by the
United States of Cuban beIigerency or in
dependence. The object of making their
value thus entirely contingent upon the
action of this government is subject for
/ serious reflection in determining the course
to be adopted on the demand thus made
| for the recognition of belligerency. The
liberal and peaceful principles adopted by
| the Father of his Country and the eminen
statesmen of his day, followed by succeed
| ing Chief Magistrates and the men OF the1
day. may furnish a safe guide to those o
| the United States now charged with The
direction and control of public safety,
From 1879 to 1915 the dominant thought o
our statesmen was to keep the United
| States out of the wars which were devasta
| ting Europe The discussion of measures
| of neutrality begins with the State paper
| of Mr.. Jefferson, when he was Secretary Q
State. He shows that they were measure!
| of national right as well as OF nationa
| duty that misguided individual citizens
| cannot be favored in making war according
\ to their own caprice, passions ant
| interests, or foreign sympathy; thai
| the agents of foreign Govern
| ments, recognized or unrecognized
cannot be permitted to abuse our hospital
| ity by usurping the functions or enllst1nt
| or equipping the military or naval forces
within our territory. Washington inaugu
rated the policy Of neutrality and OF abso
Lutte separation from all foreign entanglinl
| alliances, which resulted, in 1874, IN tht
| first municipal enactment for observanc'
of neutrality. The duty Of opposition t
flibustering has been admitted by tn
President. It has been one OF the con
slant cares of the Government IN the
| United States to prevent piratical expedi
tiors against the feeble South American
republics from leaving our shores. In n
country are men wanting for any enterprls
that holds out promise of adventure o
gain. In the early days of our natlona
existence the whole continent Of Amerie
outside of the United States, and ell tn
islands, we're colonial dependents upol
European powers. The revolutionlst
from 1910 spread almost simultaneous
through the Spanish-American continent
Colonies resulted in the establishment c
new States, like ourselves, of Enropeai
| origin. and hence the question Of dynast
and balance Of power from further IL
fuence in the New World.
The American policy OF neutrality, IN
II 4 = ~ !,