National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-12-15
MEDIATION OR INTERVENTION :

metnoOS Werea recognltl0n either Oh TN
independence or the belligerent rights o
the Patriots The general apprehension
that such a recognition would be follow &c
by war between the United States ant
Spain is an error, and because it is an errol
we characterize these as peaceful methods
The Spanish Government recognized the
rebellion against the United States, in 1861
sixty-fve days after the first shot wa.
fired against Fort Sumter and before {
single life had been sacrificed by the armed
forces fthe contesting parties. The United
States made no protest against the Spanish
proclamation, which several times described
the rebels as "belligerents, but com
msnded it as friendly action. The fol
lowing extract from the proclamation by thu
Queen of Spain conclusively proves this
considering the relations which exist be
tween Spain and the United States of Amer
lea, and the expediency of not changing tn,
reciprocal feelings of friendly understanding
on account of the grave events which hap
pened in this Republic, Ihars resOlred to main
lain The StrieteSt neutrality in the struggle engaged
in 6ei,oeei all the Federal States oftbe Union ana
the Confederate States of the South"
Great Britain had previously issued q
similar proclamation. the only difference
being that the Spaniards repeated the word
''beIligerents," which was not used in the
British proclamation. While this Govern
meut protested against the manner in which
the British proclamation was issued. and
the faithless manner in which it was ex-
ecuied, we accorded to the Spanish Govern.
ment our thanks for its prompt and friendly
action. Mr.. Schurz, American Minister al
Madrid, wrote to Secretary Seward, July
Is, 1861, as follows:
"Senor Calderon Collantes then asked me
whether the declaration of neutrality on the
part Of Spain in regard to our domestic troubles
was satisfactory to my Government 1 re.
piled that, as to the declaration of neutrality
On the part of Spain, had received no EXPIRES
sion Of opinion from my Government, and that
thought Il 'couId be considered satisfactory -
A few days subsequent, July 81, Mr..
Schurz wrote to Senior Calderon CoIlantes
as follows:
''Su:: Yesterday received dispatch from
the Secretary Of State of the United States, in
forming me that the President has read, nth
The greatest Satisfaction, the proclamation Of her
Catholic Majesty concerning the unfortunate
troubles that have arisen in the United States,
and it affords me the sincerest pleasure to ex-
press to your Excellency the high sense which
the President entertains Of her Majesty's
prompt decision and friendly action ypoR this
OCCASION"
This plain statement of facts shows that
recognition by the United States of the
belligerency of the Cubans would be justi-
fed by Spanish precedent and would
therefore be a peaceful act, to be charac-
terized as prompt decision and friendly
action"
As regards the recognition Of the indie
pendence of the Patriots, the principles
which have governed the American people
in cases of this character are stated by Mr..
Webster in his letter, as Secretary of State,
to the representative of the empire of Aus
tria, at Washington, December 81, 1850.
No state paper was ever more enthusiast
caly received or unanimously approved by
the American people than the "Hulsemann
letter" A contemplation of it now carries
us back to the doctrines of the founders of
our Government. 1t recalls the declaration
of Phillimore, the ablest of English COM
mcntators on international law, that the
right OF Government to protect its citi-
Zens wherever commorant, and the right of
one Government to recognize the existence
of smother, constitute the foundation of the
law Of nstions. 1t is the American protest
against the doctrines of the Holy Alliance,
as expressed in the Layback Circular, that
new States could only be tolerated when
recognized by existing Governments Mr..
Webster wrote
sIt is the right of every Independent State
10 G1tCE Win OthSl
independent State. OF course, questions OF
prudence naturally arise in reference to new
States, brought by successful revolution into
the family of nations; but it is not TO be re-
uuired of neutral Powers that they should
await the recognition of the new government
by the present State. No principle of public
law has been more frequently acted upon with
in the last thirty years, by the great Powers Of
the world, than this. Within that period eight
or ten new States have established independent
governments within the limits of the colonial
dominion of Spain on this continent, and in
Europe the same thing has been done by Bel
gium and Greece. The existence of all these
governments was recognized by some Of the
leading Powers of Europe, as well as by the
United States, before it was acknowledged by
the States from which they had separated
themselves. If, therefore, the United States
had gone so far as to acknowledge the indie
pendence of Hungary, although, as the result
has proved, it would have been precipitate
step, and one from which no benefit would
have resulted to either party, IL tc0tld not,
nevertheless, hare been act against the lac Of
nations, provided they took no part in her con-
test with Austria
Sir James Macintosh, in speaking of the
proposed acknowledgment of the Spanish
American colonies by Great Britain, re-
marked:
'Tt is not by formal stipulations or solemn
declarations that we are to recognize the
American States, but by measures of practical
policy, the most conspicuous part Of which ia
the act Of sending or receiving diplomatic
agents. 1t implies no guaranty, no alliance,
no aid, no appreciation of the successful revolt,
no intimation Of an opinion concerning the
justice or injustice of the means by which II
has been accomplished. The tacit recognition
OF new State not being judgment OF the
new government, or against the old, is not q
deviation from perfect neutrality, or just
cause Of ofFense to the dispossessed ruler"
1t will probably be admitted in the hgh
of these citations that the recognition Of
the independence Of the Patriots would
not have been just cause forwar. Hencl
we repeat that two peaceable methods fO
tae solution of our Spanish Cuban diff