Fair play., 1875-12-09

! lNg aTineI DOIies tTtIF VCttriOnuI cnuIiIrf,
do not constitute war in the sense referred To II.
| applying to the existing condition of affairs in
/ Cuba-the tests recognized by publicSts and
| writer's on international law ard which hay,
! been observed by nations of dignity honesty and
| power, when free from sensitive, selfish or un
worthy motives. fail to iin;i in the lu-urre,..
/ ton the expense OF keeping a substantial pnIti.
cal organization, real. papabie and manifest to
the world; having the forms AMI capable OF tji.
ordinary functions If government towards il
own people and, II other states, with courts f..
administration Of iIStice-wIt. :. loca! hai,it:i
ion possessing such or-anK atom nj force such
material, such occupation of territory IL take the
contest ont Of the category ot Il Mere rebel
iDsurrection or occasional sklrInishe-, and place
it on the terrible footing oi war, 10 which Il r..
F cosBitipn of DellIgertncy would aim to elevate
it. The contest, moreover, Is solely on lan.i
The inslrreCtiOn Is not possessed ri L sing. SEA
port whence il may send forth It's flag, nor nas il
any means OF communication with foreign DOW
ers except through the military lines III Il, ali
versaries. No apprehension Of any oi those sud
den ans, difficult complications which war up
on the OCEAN is apt 10 precipItaie upon the yes
sells, both commercial and national. aId upon the
consular officers OF other powers, calls Tor the de
inItion OF their relations To the parties To the
contest. Considered as question of eXpedcn
cy, regard the accordance OF beli.serent rights
still to he as unwise and premature rs | regard il
to he at present intiefensible a measure OF
right. Such recognition entails upon the
country according the rights which Gow
from it difficult anu complicated duties
ties of the strict observance of their rights and
obligation. 1t cOnfers the right of search upon
the high seas by vessels of both parties; it would
subject the carrying of arms and ammunition of
war, which nOw may be transported freely and
without interruption in the vessels of the United
states 10 detention and possible seizures; it
would give rise 10 countless veNatiouS Questions
would release the parent Government from re-
sponsiblity for acts done by the insurgents and
would iivcst spain with the right To exercise the
supervision recognized by our treaty oi l,:,, over
our commerce on the high seas. very large part
oi which IN It's traffic between the Atlantic and
Gulf states AMI between all of them and the
states upon the Pacific passes throu:.h the waters
which wash the shores of Cuba. The exercise
of this suppositon could scarcelys fail to
lead. ii not to abuses certainly - Collisions
perilou5 I" the peaceful relations of the two
ST ties. There can be little doubt to what re-
suit such supervision would before long draw
this Nation. IL would he unworthy Of the tuit
eel states To inaiguratc the possibilities of suc;i
revolt by measures of questionable right or cX-
lIc'ilcnSy or by any iniilscrctiOn. Apart from
any question of theoretical right, | am satisfied.
that while the accordance Of be!i iscrent rights IL
the Insurgents III CUBA might gIv.. them Il hone
and iniuccment u protract the struggle, il
w"Uld be but "a deiusive hope ard woud not re-
move lie evils which this Government AMI lis
people are experiencing, but wou.d draw the
| niicti states into complications which il HIS
waited long Intt already suffered much to avoid
l he recognition Of independence or nf be.i"er-
cncy. bein" thus III my Judgment equally inad-
niSsIhie, it remains 10 consider what course shall
be adopted should the conilic; net soon bc
brought To an end by the acts ~ the parties them
selves, and should the evils which result there
from. affecting all nations, and particularly tie
nitcti states. continue. In such event am of
opinion that other nations will @bc compelic! To-
assume the responsibility which sicvoives upon
ieln, and 10 seriously consider the only remain
ing measures possible
MEDIATION AND INTERVENTION.
Owing perhaps to the large eXpanse of water
the island from the peninsula, the
want of harmony and personal sympathy between
he inhabitants OF the colony and those sent
hther to rule them, and want oi adaptation of
he ancient colonial system of Europe to the
'resen. times and u the ideas which the event. |
)f the past century have developed, the contend
nS parties appear to have within themselves no
depository "f common confidence to suggest to
hem wher passion and excitement have their
sway and To assume the part of peace ma kers. |
he good offices OF the United states u media |
or were rendered in good faith, without any sell !
lsh purpose. IN the interest of summary and sin |
ere friendship for both parties but We're at the |
ne time declined by spain. with Il declaration,
tha: at Il future time they would |
DC indispensable. No ntimation has been re- |
;eved tnit in the opinion OF spain that time has
Ieen reached, and yet the strife continues with |
Is dread horrors ami injuries to the interest of /
he United states and of other nations. Each |
party seems quite capable OF working great in
ury ami damage To the other, as we'll as to AL |
he relations and interests "f dependents the |
existence Of peace in the island; but they seelA
incapable OF OfreachinS any adjustment, and both
lave thus far failed OF achieving any success
whereby one party shall possess and control the
sland to the exclusion oi the other. Under
hese circumstances the agencies Of others,
.iuIcr in meditation or by intervention seem to
De the only alternative which must sooner or
ater be invoked for the termination of the strife.
At the same time, while thus impressed, / do not
the adoption Of any measure of in
ervention. shall he ready at all times, and as
he equal friend of both parties, to respond 10 a
~ rOtul of thf. tod |
states will be acceptable in aiding in bringing
bout a peace honorable to botn. 1t is due
spain: ,nod so ,ha, far a, s.. this oa Government
bird power, to which have adverteti. shall be
dopted only As last eNpe,iient. Had II been
he desire OF the United states to interfere in the
fairs OF Cuba, repeated opportunities ior - do
NJ have beer presented within the last few
ears; anu we have remained passive and have
reformed orr whole duty and all International
TO Spain with friendship, fairness
nj fidelity, and with 4 spirit OF patience and
orbearance which negatives every possible suc-
esion Of desire to interfere or To id 70 the diff
ultes with which she has been surrounded. Tie
government OF spain has recently submitted To
ur Minister 1T Madrid certain proposals which il
thought may lie found to he The basis, il not of
ne actua! submission of terms to meet the re-
Tirement> Of the particular griefs OF which this
government has felt itself entitled To complain
ie in their full text. ON their arrival
ley will he taken in careful examini-
on. and may. hope. lead to Il satisfactory
djus,inent oi the questions to which they
efer. and remove the possibility Of future oc-
urrences, such rs nave given rise to our Just
mpiaints. 1t is understood also that renewed
forts are being made TO introduce reforms in
le internal administration OF the island Per.
uaded, however. that proper regard for the
lterests Of the United States and of its citizens
ntitied To relief from the strain to which il has
cen subjected by the difficult of the questions
MI the wrongs and losses which arise from the
ontest i'll Cuba. ans! that the interests Of hli-
lanity itself demand the cessation Of the strife
efOre the whole island shall he laid waste and
,rger sacrifices of life be made, shall feel It
~ duty should my hopes of 4 satisfactory adj
Istment and Of the early restoration OF peace
nd the removal of future causes Of complaint be
nhappilv disappointed. 10 make further com.
to Congress at some period not far
emote anu during the present session, recon-
iendinE what may then seem to me To be neces-
arg appropriations 10 the favorable consi!era.
on OF Congress.
MEXICAN BORDER TROUBLES.
The Free Zone. SO called, several years since
stabshed by the Mexican Government in Ger
,.,fs tho >f..f.. of that