The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-06-16
THE CUBAN QUESTION.
Message from President Grant to
Congress-The Head Of the Great
Republic Has no Sympathy for n
People Struggling for Liberty.

! WASHINGTON, June -.
MESSAGE UP -THB PRESIDENT on CUBAN
AFFAIRS.
( The President sent the following
message to Congress late this afternoon
To tie Senate end Ho'rsc Of Representa-
tiueS:
In nv annual message TO Congress al
the beginning of its present session,
referred to the contest which then fol-
more than a year existed in the Island Of
Cuba between a portion Of its inhab-
itants and the Government OF Spain,
and to the feelings and sympathies OF
the people and Government of the
United States for the people of Cuba as
for all peoples struggling for liberty
and selfgovernment, and said that the
contest has at no time assumed the con-
ditions which amount to war in the
sense OF international law, or which
would show the existence Of a de facto
political organization of the insurgents
sufficient to justify recognition of bel
ligerency.
During the six months which have
passed since the date of that message
the condition of the insurgents has not
improved, and the insurrection itself,
although not subdued, exhibits no signs
of advance, but seems to be confined to
an irregular system Of hostilities, carried
on by small and illy-armed bands OF
men, roaming without concentration
through the woods and the scarcely
populated regions Of the Island, attack
ing, from ambush, convoys and small
bands of troops, burning plantations
and the estates of those not sympathiz-
ing with their cause.
But if the insurrection has not gained
ground, it is equally true that Spain has
not suppressedit. Climate, disease and
an occasional bullet, have worked de-
struction among the soldiers Of Spain,
and although the Spanish authorities
have possession of every seaport and
every town on the Island, they have not
been able to subdue the hostile feeling
which has driven considerable num-
her of the native inhabitants of the
Island To armed resistance against
Spain, and still leads them to endure the
dangers and privations Of roaming life
of guerrilla warfare.
The cruelties OF both sides, the PreSi-
dent says, are committed with y terrible
disregard for human life, and property
is wantonly and useiessly destroyed.
The President also refers to the fail
ure Of the proposition for mediation
made by the United States, and speaks
also Of the number of Cuf ans who fled
from the island, and instead of aiding
in fighting their battles, sought so bring
about hostilitics between Spain and the
United States. The President als0
SAYS:
II is stated, on what / have reason to
regard as good authority, that Cuban
bonds have been prepared to a large
amount, whose payment is made de-
pendent upon the recognition Of the
United States OF either Cuban beligcr-
ency or independence. The object Of
making their value thus entirely con
tingent upon the action OF this govern.
m5nt is subject for serious reflection.
In determining the course to he
adopted on the demand thus made for
a recognition of helligerency the liberal
and peaceful principles adopted by the
Father of his Country, and fhe emf
nent statesmen of his day, and followed
bv succeeding Chief Magistrates, and
the men of their day, may furnish a
safe guide for those of It's now charged
with the direction and control of the
public safety. From 1889 to 1873, the
dominant thought Of our statesmen was
to keep the United States out Of the
wars which were devastating Europe
The message then reviews the neutral
policy Of the United States in the early
days Of the Government and quotes
the following from Monrocs opinion of
revolutionary struggles:
Mr.. Monroe conciselv y expressed the
rule which has controlled the action of
the Government with reference 10 re.
rol!ing colonies pending their struggle
BY saving, As soon az the movement
assumed such steady and consistent
form as 10 make the success oi the pro-
vinccs probable, the rights to which
they were entitled by the lavs Of ma
tons as equal parties 10 a civil war,
were extended to them
The message then continues
The question of belligerency is one Of
fact, not TO be decided by sympathies for
or prejudices against either party The
relations between the parent State and
the insurgents must amount to war in
the sense OF international law. Fight
ing, though fierce and protractsd, does
not alone constitute war. There must
be military forces, acting in accordance
with the rules and customs OF war,
flags of truce, cartels, exchange of pris-
oners, &c, &c, and to justify a recog-
milton of beligerency there must be,
above all, a de Jdcto political orgsniza-
ton of the insurgents, sufficient in char
actcr and resources to constitute it-if
left to itself-a State among nations
capable of discharging the duties Of a
State and of meeting the just response.
bilities it NAV incur as such toward
other powers in the discharge Of it. ma
tional duties.
Applying the best information which
have been able to gather, whether
from official or unofficial sources, in
cluding the very exaggerated statements
which each party gives to all that may
prejudice the opposite or give credit to
its own side Of the question, am un-
able to see in the present condition Of
the contest in Cuba those elements
which are requisite to constitute war
in the sense of international Law
After commenting upon the insigniri-
canoe of the Cuban army, as &C
knowledged by General Jordan, the
President SAYS: