Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-12-08

and acting only upon the celre.t evidence. sbonld
avoid any possibility of suspicion or of impnta-
ton recognition OF the Independence of Cuba
ntlne IA my opinion impmcticahlo and indeionsi-
he, the question which next presents itself IL that
OF The recognition Of bcllgefent rights of the par
ties iu the contest
In IA former message 90 Congress. had OCCASION
10 consider this question. aud reached the conclu-
sion that the conflict IN Cuba, dreadful and devas-
iHtlng aH were its Incidents ala not rise 30 tfa
fearful dignity Of war Regarding 10 now after
this lapse of time am unable 60 see that any
notable success or any marked or real advance on
We PART OF the insurgents has essentially changed
the character of the contest 10 ha. arlulrrd
greater age but not greater or more formidable
proportions 70 is possible that the acts OF foreign
powers and even nets Of spain herself of this verv
nature might hc pointed at in defence of such re-
eoghiuon. hni now. a. 10 has iu past history the
United States should carefully avoid the false
lights. which might lead into tho nazei 81 doubt
iul lnw and Of questionable prnpriett and adhere
nedly and atenlv 20 the rule which mas been its
guide. doing only that which Is light and honest
aud 81 good report The question of asrordin4 or
Of Withholding rights of beliigtfeucv must bo
Judged in every case in view OF the partieniar
attending facts Unless justified hv necessity IL
"a always and justly regarded an uufrlondy
act and gatuifuu4 demonstration OF moral ent.
port 10 the rebellion But this conflict must then
be one which will De recognized Boz the SENSE of In
ternatonal law as war Bellieorcnce to-day is
la't The mere oNistcnc" Of cnntfudug armed
hndieshud their occasional conflicts docs not c0ust
int war In Che sense referred Co. AunIeiuut DO tho
existing condition Of affairs in Cuba the tests re-
cnenfed Dos puhiio.ts and Writor4 on International
iaW and which hnve been observed hy nations of
dignity honesty and power when free from sen-
sluNe selfish and unworthy motives, fail 90 dud
IN the instruction fhe existence of such a sub
sianim political organint0u--re palpable and
manifest On tfr world. having rho forms and cana
bio ni the ordinary functions of government
toward iis own people and 90 other states with
courts i'r Che administration of Justice with lu-
.h hnNiluOu. possessing such organization of
force. tuoh material, such occupation OF tcrr-
tory AS io take tAu contest ont of the category of
mere reheiious nsurrection with occasional
-kirmlshea aud place DO ou the terrible footing OF
war. 30 which recognition of beNcereucy would
aim 90 elevate b. The contest, moreover Is solely
ON land The iu-uucotion has not possessed IL
self of single senpor whence It mav send forth
is ihg Nor has DO any means of communication
with foreign powers. except through the military
lines of its adyersaries 40 apprehension OF auy
81 these sudden and difficult complications which
a war upon the ocean is apt 10 prccipItate upon
the vessels both commercial and National and
upon The consular ofiices OF the powers calls for
the definition oi our relations % the parties 10 ne
contest
Considered rs n question Of evpedieucy. re-
gard the accofdanceni helligerrnt rights still Ia be
rs unwise and premature ] regard il 10 be az
present ndciensible Asa me5sure OF right. such
recognition entails upon the country according 20
the rights which TOW from IL. difficult aud COM
phcated duties, and requires from the cuntending
parties strict observance of their rights aud OBJ
legations lt confer. the right OF search upon the
I high seas by vessels of both rarties. Il would
subject the carrying pi guns and ammunition Of
war, which now may hc transported freely and
without interruption to the vessels of the United
States, to detention aud 90 possible seizure it
/ would give rise % countless yexatous questions.
and would release the parent government from
the responsibility for acts done hy the insurgents
and would invest spain with the right 70 exercise
the supervision recognized by Our treaty of 1885
over the commerce on the high seas very large
| part of which in it, traffic between the Atlantic
[ and Gulf states. and between ali OF them and the
states upon the Pacific, passes through tine waters
which wash the shores OF Cuba. The exercise of
this supervision could scarcely fail tn lead II not
I to abuses, certainly 70 collisions, perilous 10 the
/ peaceful relations Of the two states There can
[ be little doubt 10 what result such supervision
would. before long, draw this nation Il would
/ be unworthy OF the United States TO iuaugurate
/ the possibilities of such results by measures of
questionable rights OF cXpodiency. or hs any indi-
recton, apart from any question Of theoretical
right
/ / am satisfied th1t while the accordance Of bell
! ligereut rights 90 the insurgents ln Cuba might
/ give them a hope and inducement 10 prntract the
struggle, DO would be bat decisive hope, and
would not remove the evils which this govern
nont and boz people are experiencing, bat would
draw the United states INTO complications which
/ il has waited long and already suffered much %
/ avoid. Tho recognition ul The Independence, or
{ of bellgefeucy being thus la my judgment,
/ equally inadulissihle IL remains TO consider what
Z course shall ne adopted, should Tie conflict not
Z soon be- brought t1 au end by acts of the parties
] themselves, and should evils which result there
from affecting 400 nations and particularly this,
I continue In such an event am Of the opinion
3 thar other nations viii 10 compelled 70 assume
] the responsibility which dctolyes on them, and
consider the only remaining measures possible
Z mediation and Intervention. Each party seems
/ quite capable Of working great injury and dam
age % the other a. well as To all Both have thus
/ far failed OF achieving any success whereby one
I party shall possess and control the island TO the
I exclusion of the other Under these circumstances
81 .a 81 HN...a .NH..H.. aa
teryentioD seems to be the only alternative which
must sooner or later be invoked for the termina-
ton Of the strife But while thus impressed,
! do not at this time recommend the adoption
+ of any measure Of Intervention ] shall be ready
al an timesand as the equal FREUD of both parties
10 respond 10 n suggestion that the good offices OF
| the United States will be acceptable 70 aid In
bringing about peace honorable 10 both. Il is
I due 20 Spain 30 far az the government L. con-
! cened, that the agency OF q third power TO which
] ! have reverted shall Dc adopted only a. a last
! expedient. Had IL been the desire OF the United
States 10 interfere n the aifairz Of Cuba, repeated
/ opportunities for so doing have been presented
/ within the last few yeaiSi bat we have remained
passive and have performed our whole duty and
all international obligations 20 spain, with friend
ship, fairness and fidelity, and with spirit of
I patience and lorbearince. which negatives every
possible suggestion of desire 20 interfere or 10 add
70 the difficulties with which she has been sur
rounded
Tho government Of spain has submitted TO our
minister az Madrid certain proposals, which, II Is
I hoped, may be the basis. II not the actual sub
1 mission OF terms, 10 meet the requirements Of the
I particular grieis which this government has felt.
/ These proposals have not yet reached me In their
I full text On their arrival, they will be taken
/ into careful examination and may, hope, lead 10
a satisfactory adjustment OF the questions To which
I they refer, and remove the possibility Of future
occurrences snch a. have given rise TO our just
! complaints It IL understood, also, that renewed
efforts are being made to Introduce reforms In
/ the internal administration of the island. Per-
.l..4 a. rH Ha
terests Of the United States, and OF its citizens,
entitle It 10 relief from the strain 10 which it has
been subjected by the difficulties OF this questions,
and the wrongs and losses which arise nom the
] "a a. al hat IA n Al