Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-06-22

tinually from first to last violated the laws /
of this country. 1t is an organization for
the purpose nOt only of achieving Cuban |
independence, but for the purpose of draw
ing the United States into that war and |
achieving that independence, as Gen. Jordan
understands it can only be achieved, through |
the aid and fundamentally of our govern |
ment and of our people. And now when
the funds of these Juntas run low, instead !
of making raid on Canada as Fenian head |
centers do when in similar impecunious
condition, these Cuban gentlemen make a
raid on the Congress of the United States, |
and fill the approaches of the Capitol with
men asking that the disorganized and rowing
bands in the island of Cuba may, in the
name of liberty, be recognized as bellig-
erents, because such recognition will ena
BILE them to sell their bonds | am obliged
to confess that | am not much moved with
this style of fighting for liberty whether in
Cuba or in ireland. Men who are in earn
est for their liberty, and who will make a
good use of it when they get it, do mt begin
their battle for it in this way. And this is
not the first time | have had occasion to
state to this House that with organizations
of that kind in our own country against the
integrity and peace of other nations have no
sympathy. L believe the gospel of minding
ones own business is as true for the nation as
for the individual the gospel of doing unto
others as you would have others do unto
you. And if that lesson has not been
burned into this people so that it ought to
remain as long as we are people, by the
terrible rebellion which we have just crushed
in our own country, and which was enabled
to hold out as long as it did, because of the
sympathy, aid and encouragement which it
received from the governments of other coun-
tire, ~ say, If that lesson has not BEEN
burned into our recollection by our own recent
experience, we do not deserve to succeed in
crushing another rebellion should one ever
lift its head again against established govern
ment in this country.
If we have not learned in consequence of
that experience, that this Government has
rights in relation to the integrity of its terri
tory, and that other governments have rights
also in relation TO the integrity oftheir terri
tOry,-if we have not learned that we should
not encourage or in any way strengthen the
hand of insurrection anywhere on the face
of the earth,-we deserve to have the lesson
repeated by succeeding instructions until
we can comprehend our duty toward other
nations as well as their duty toward us.
| had other evidence of the present condi-
ton of the instruction in Cuba to which
intended to invite attention, but have not
time, and | will proceed, as briefly as posi-
DIE 10 snow the attitude oil our government
toward Spain and the insurgents
IL has been a very difficult and troublesome
matter to keep the United States out Of this
struggle. A great many interested parties,
who nave, for commercial and speculative
purposes, desired to see Cuba annexed to this
country, have been continually urging some
recognition of the Cubans as belligerents
The insurgents have had their base of opera
tions here, and have kept the State Depart
ment and the officers of the law busy in pre-
venting violations of our neutrality laws.
Newspapers, in the interest of the insur-
gents, have most Outrageously assailed the
President and the Cabinet. The course
pursued by the government has been from
first to last misrepresented in the interest
of Spain. Every measure has been resorted
to to influence public opinion in favor of
what was called the cause of liberty in
Cuba. Yet | believe no government ever
had clearer or better record than ours has
on this question.
The government has never failed, when
ever an opportunity offered, to protest against
the savage style OF warfare pursued by Spain
When Nalmaseda issued his proclamation in
April, 1869, threatening to burn unOccupied
Indications, and those which did not throw
out the white dag, and ordering every man
over fifteen years of age found away from his
Mr.. Roberts, the Spanish Minister, saying
- In the interest of Christian civilization
and common humanity, l hope this docu-
ment Is forgery In letter to Mr.. Hale,
then Minister at Madrid - Mr.. Fish calls this
" an infamous L-..sa 49,
Sfckles, August 10. 49, ss1.rish directs
our minister at Madrid to make the follow
ing protest against the manner Of conduct
ing the contest in Cuba
You Will also in the name OF the President sol
EMMY protest against any longer carrying this
war IN Cuba IA This barharous way For now near
~ year the insurgents nave maintained them
against all the forces which spain and the Catalan
against them. In the Judgment of the President.
in which believe the whole civilized world will
coincide, the time has come when this struggle
should be carried en IN more humane way. To
shoot prisoners of war, simpI y because they are
with the customs Of the Christian world. This
country Is deeply Interested in proper solution
many aud 80 intimate that We cannot regard this
struggle, IN all IT. details, with any thing but in
tense interest. Our earnest wish has been and l.
10 do our whole duty neutral nation towards
spain IN this emergency Feeling that we have
hculty we have enforced our laws and maintained
our neutrality, We think that have right
part To- insist that spain shall carry this
hereafter in a manner more in accordance with the
humane and Christian sentiment Of the age"
MIR. Sickles formally communicated this
to the Spanish minister, in note dated
Sept. ., 500, concluding as follows;
In view Of the foregoing facts and con sideratons
the undersigned is instructed 10 protest with an
soemnity in the name the President OF the United
states against the deplorable eNcesses which have
thus far characterized the war in Cuba and to in
sist the President believes he may rightfully
sist in the name Of humanity that hereafter while
bostitie- are prolonged the war shall be conduct
eli in a manner more in accord with the humane and
Christian sentiment OF the age
In note addressed to Mr.. Roberts, Oct
Is, 1869, Mr.. Fish says
ersts of the frequency with which IN the interest
Of humanity, he has been obliged to demonstrate
against the atrocities and the cruelties which have
attended the conflict in Cuba for the past year. and
If these cruetIes and this inhumanity have not
of the Justification for intervention assigned by the
eminent spanish authority referred To has been
much the more pressing
But these protests-and many others like
them-are not all that the government has
done. 1t has endeavored not only to miti-
gate the horrors of, but to put an end to, the
struggle in Cuba. 1t has asked Spain to
cede Cuba to the Cubans. Mr.. Fish address
ed note to Mr.. Sickles, at Madrid, June
90, 1869. in which he said
sTbe proximity of the island of Cuba the con
slant intercourse between its inhabitants and our
citizens, and its extended and increasing commerce
with this country, all tend to awaken earnest in
terest in our people in what concerns its inhab-
tants. Many citizens of the United States are large
and MANY visit the island more or less frequently
either business to enjoy the benefit of the eli
mate Even more numerous, possibly, are the
Cubans who own property, or who visit, or who re
side in the United States; and thus there have
grown up close personal relations, both business
and social, between the inhabitants OF Cuba and of
the United States \ strong political sympathy also
exists, and the civil strife raging in the island
thus appeals with unusual power to the sympathy
which Americans feel for all peoples striving to Sc
cure for themselves more liberal institutions, and
that inestmable right of self government which we
prize The foundation of all progress and achieve
ment.
After much consideration and careful survey
of the question in all its relations, this government
has arrived at the conclusion that 1t Is its duty TO
exert its friendly influence to bring this unhappy
strife close Duty TO its own citizens and to
their large property interests jeoparded by the con
tinuance of the war-the necessity of maintaining
Quiet within ITS borders, now seriously disturbed
no sfrifn carried its hOr-