The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-06-24
President Grants Message on Cuban
ARaira.

vance but seems to be confined 10 IN irregular
system of hostilities, carried on by small
bands of armed men, without concentration,
through the woods and sparsely populated re-
Qions inland, attacking, from ambush, con-
vevances and small bands of troops, burning
the plantations and estates of those not in
sympathy with their cause. But, If the insur-
rection has not gained ground, it is equally
true that Spain has not suppressed it. Clim-
ate. disease and occasional bullets, have work
ed destruction among the soldiers, of Spain,
and although the Spanish Government has
possession OF every seaport and town on the
island, thev have not been able to subdue the
hostile feeling which has driven a consider
able number of the Eatives to armed resistance
against Spain, and still leads them to endure
the danger and privations Of the roaming life
of guerrilla.
On either side the contest has been conduct
ed and is now carried on with q lamentable
disregard of human life, and of the usages and
practices 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 issued and execut-
ed by both parties. Count Valaseda and
Colonel Cotton, on the part Of Spain, have
each startled humanity and aroused the indig-
nation of the civilized world by the execution,
each, of a score of prisoners at a time; while
General Quesada, the Cuban chief, coolly and
with apparent unconcern, has admitted the
slaughter, by his own deliberate order, in one
day, of upward of six hundred and fifty pris-
oners Of war. A summary trial, with few, il
any escapes from conviction, confirmed BY ex-
ecution, is the fate of those arrested on either
side on suspicion of infdelity to the cause Of
the party making the arrest.
Whatever way be the sympathies Of the peo-
pie or of the Government of the United States
for the cause or objects for which a part Of the
people of Cuba are understood to have p,at
themselves in armed resistance to Spain, there
can be no question of Just sympathy In q con-
fict carried on by both parties alike, in such
barbarous violation of the rules ofciviliZed na-
tons and with such combined outrages upon
the plainest principles Of humanity.--We can
not discriminate IN our censure of their mode
Of conducting their conte. between Spain aad
Cuba; each commits the same atrociries, and
outrage alike the established rules of war.
The property of many of our citizens has been
destroyed or embezzled; the ivesof several have
been sacrificed, and the liberties Of others have
been restrained. nevery case that has come
to the knowledge Of the Government, an early
and earnest demand of reparation and indem-
nifty has been made, and most emphatic re-
ner in which the strife is conducted, and
against tho reckless disregard Of human life,
the wantOn destruction of material wealth and
the cruel disregard for the established rule of
civilized warfare.
have, since the beginning Of the present
session Of Congress, communicated to the
House, upon their request, an account of the
steps which have taken, in the hope of bring
ing the conflict to an end, and securing for the
people Of Cuba the blessing and right Of indie
pendence. The efforts thus made have failed,
but not without the assurance from Spain that
good offices OF this Government NIGH avail
for the objects to which they had been address
sed.
During this whole contest the remarkable
exhibition has been made of large numbers of
Cubans escaping from the Island, and avoid
ing the risks Of war, congregating in this
country at a safe distance from the scene of
danger, and endeavoring to make war on our
shores, to urge our people into the fight which
they avoid, and to embroil this Government in
complications and possible hostilities with
Spain.
1t can scarcely be doubted that the Lust re-
suit is the real object of these parties although
carefully covered under the deceptive and ap-
parently plausible demand for recognition Of
beligerancy. 1t is stated, on what 1 haye
reason to regard good authority, that Cuban
bonds have been prepared to a large amount,
whose payment is made dependent upon the
recognition by the United States of Cuban be-
hngerency, or independence. The object of
making their value thus entirely contingent
upon the action Of this Government is a sub
ject for serious reflection. In determining the
course to be adopted on the demand thus made
for recognition Of belligerancy, the liberal and
peaceful principles adopted by the Father of
his Country and the eminent statesmen of his
day, followed by succeeding Chief Magistrates
and the men Of their day, may furnish a safe
guide to those OF us now charged with the di.
rection and control of the public safety.
From 1889 to 1915 the dominant thought Of
our statesman who was to keep the United
States out of wars, which were devastating
Europe, The discussion Of measures of neu-
trality begins with the papers Of Mr.. jefferson
when he was Secretary Of State. He shows
that they were measures of national right as
well as Of national duty; that misguided indi-
viduals can not be favored in making war ac-
eording to their own caprice, passion and in.
terest, of foreign sympathy; that the agents of
foreign Governments, recognized or unrecog-
nized, can not be permitted to abuse our hos.
pitality by unsurping the functions Of enlist
ing or equipping military or naval forces with.
in our territory Washington inaugurated
the policy Of neutrality and Of absolute separ,
alton from all foreign entangling alliances,
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. It has
been one Of the constant cares Of the Govern.
ment of the United States to prevent piratical
expedition 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 its islands, were colonial
dependents upon European powers. The rev.
olutions which, from 1910, spread almost sim
through the Spanish American
Continent colonies, resulted in the establish
ment of new States, like ourselves, of Europ-
can origin, and interested ip excluding Europ-
can politics and questions Of dynasty and the
balance of power from further influence In the
New World. The American policy Of neutra-
lity, important before, became doUbly SO from
the fact that it became applicable to the new
as well as to the mother country.
It then devolves upon us to determine the
great international question, ut what time,
and under what circumstances, to recognize
a new power as entitled to a place among the
family of nations, as well as the preliminary
questions of the attitude to be observed by
this Government toward the iusurrectionary
party, pending the contest.
Mr.. Monroe copsistiy expressed the rule
which has controlled the action of this Gov
erument with reference to a country pending
its struggle, by saying as soon as the Govern
ment assumed such steady and consistent
form as to make the success of the province
probable, the rights to which they were eutit-
tied by the laws of nations as equal parties to
a civil war were extended to them. The strict
adherence to this rule ofpublic policy has been
one of the highest hOnoTs of American states
and has secured to this Government
the confidence Of the feeble powers of this
continent, aud which inclined them to rely
Opon its friendship in the absence of all signs
of conquest, and to look to the Uuited States
for example and moral protection. 1t has
given to this Goyerpmenta position of promi-
nence and influence which it should not abdi-
cate, but imposes upon it the most delicate du-
ties of right and honor regarding the Ameri-
can question, whether those questions Affect
the emancipated colonies or colonies still sub
iect to European dominion.
The question Of belhgerancy is one Of fact not to
be de ided BY sympathes for or preiudiceu against
either party. The relation between the present
state of the insurgents must apount in fact 10 war
IN the meaning Ol lhteEuatiuuhl law. tlghtlnR,
though fsr and pr0Tacted, does not alone cousti-
tute war.-rhere must I've military for G aeting in
accordance with the rules and customs of war flags
of truce cartels, exchanges of prisoners, &C. and
to Justify a recognition Of belligerancy there must
be- above all. de facto political organization Of
the insurgents suf lent in character and resources
to constitute if left TO itself State among the ma
tions capable Of discharging the duties Of State
and meeting the Just responsibilities it az incur
as such toward other powers in the discharge Of its
national duties.