Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-12-17

OF fertile and productive fields des-
troyed, and more valuable property
constantly sacrificed to the incendi-
ary's torch.
THE QUESTION OF BELLIGERENCY.
In a former message to Congress
had occasion TO consider this ques-
ton, and reached the conclusion, that
the conflict in Cuba. dreadful and de-
vastating as are its incidents, did not
rise to the fearful dignity of war;
Regarding it now, after this lapse of
time, l am unable to see that any not
able success of any marked or real adj
vance on the part Of the insurgents
has essentially changed the character
Of the contest. 1t has acquired great
err age, but not greater or more form
liable proportions. 1t is possible
that the acts Of foreign pow rs, and
even the acts of Spain herself might
be pointed to in defense of recogni-
ton, but now, as i'll it's past history.
the United States should carefully
avoid the false lights which might
lead it into the mazes of doubtful law
and Of questionable propriety, and
adhere rigidly and sternly to the rule
which has been its guide, and doing
only that which is right and honest,
and Of good report. The question of
according or Withholding rights of
belligcrency, must be judged In every
case in view Of the particulars attend
ing the facts; unless justified by ne
cessity, it is always and justly regard
cd as an unfriendly act and i gratuit-
Gus demonstration Of moral support
TO the rebellion. 1t is necessary, and
it is required when the interests and
rights OF another government, or Of
it's people, are So far affected by :,
pending civil conflict as to require u
definition of rights, which have here
totore been its sure and safe guides,
i'll like contests between revolted
colonies and their mother country.
and acting only upon the clearest
evidence, should avoid any POSSIBLE
ity of suspicion of imputation. A
recognition of the independence of
Cuba, being in my opinion impracti.
cable and indetemsible, the question
which next presents itself is that of
recognition of belligerant rights in
the parties to the contest.
When any considerable body of
people who have attempted to free
themselves of the control Of the supe-
rior government, have reached such a
point in the occupation Of territory,
i'll power, and in general organization,
as to control in fact body polite,
having government in substance as
well as in name, possessed of the ele-
mcnt of stability and equipped with
machinery for the administration of
internal policy, and the execution of
its laws, and prepared and able to
administer justice at home as well as
in its dealings with other powers, it
is within the province Of those other
powers to recognize its claim to ex-
istence as new and independent ma
ton. In such cases other nations
simply deal with an actually existing
condition of things, and recognize as
one Of the powers OF the earth that
body polite, which, possessing nee
essary elements, has III fact become a
new power. In word, the creation
OF a new State is fact. TO establish
the condition OF things IL ual to the
recognition of the fact, there must lie
a people occupying known terrific
ry, united under some known and
definite form OF 60, eminent, and ac-
knowledged by those subject thereto
iii .'hich the functions Of the govern
ment, administered by usual methods,
competent to mete out justice to citi-
zens and strangers, to afford RENE
dies for public and for private
wrongs, and able to assume the cor
relative international obligations, and
capable of performing the cores
ponding international duties resulting
from the acquisition of the rights OF
sovereignty. A power should exist,
complete in its organization, ready to
take and able to maintain its place
among the nations of the earth.
CUBA NOT A BELLIGERENI."
While conscious that the insnrrec-
ton in Cuba has shown strength and
endurance which make it at least
doubtful whether it be in the power
of Spain to subdue, it seems to be
quite evident that no such civil Or
ganization exists which may be rec
ognized as an independent govern
ment. capable OF performing its obi
cations, and entitled to be treated as
one of the powers of the earth. A
recognition, under such circums:an-
ccs, would be inconsistent with the
facts, and would compel the power
attempting to give it, soon to support
by force, the government to which it
had in fact given its only real claim
to existance In my judgment, the
United States should adhere to the
policy and the principles of its rela-
tons to the parties thereto, But this
conflict must he one which will be
rec ognlzed in the sense of interna-
ti"nal law. Bclligerence, too, is a
fact. The mere existence OF contend
ing armed bodies and their OCCASION
al conflicts do not constitute war in
the sense referred to. Applying to
the existing condition of affairs in
Cuba the test recognized by public
lists and writer's on international law,
and which have been observed by all
nations OF dignity, honesty and pow
er, when free from sensational
promptings, or selfish and unworthy
motives, fail to find In the insurrec-
tic n the existance Of such a substan-
tial political organization, real, palpa-
bic and manifest to the world, hav-
ing the form and carable of the or.
binary functions of government to-
ward its own people or to other
States, with courts and administra-
ton of justice, with a local habita-
ton, possessing such organization
of force, such material, such occupa-
ton of territory, as to take the con-
test out of the category of a mere re-
belfious insurrection, or occasional
skirmishes, and place it on the terri
BILE footing Of war, to which rec