The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-08-29
SHOULD THE UNITED STATES
RECOGNIZE THE CHILIAN
REVOLUTI0NISTS7

The Congressional party has been
successful from the first, and now oc-
cuples the territory comprising the
northern half of Chill, which yields
more than two-thlrds of the revenue
of the republic. 1t has well-organized
government, which commands the
respect of foreigners as we'll as Chilians.
The territory under its rule is held in
undisputed possession, and commercial
relarions are maintained with all the
nations of the world. The peace and
order which prevail under the govern
ment of Congress are in bold contrast
to the reign OF terror existing under
the military regime of the Dictator,
Here all the courts admin ster justice,
while under the rule of the Dictator
there is only martial law. The charac.
ter of the government the extent OF
territory occupied ; the amount OF rev.
enue derived the wealth, character,
and intelligence of Its supporters; the
strength OF Its naval and land forces ;
its foreign commerce-all taken to.
gether are a combination of circum.
stances which entities this government
to be recognized as belligerent.
The late Francis Wharton, than,
whom, l think, l can cite no higher
authority, in a learned opinion thus ex-
pressed himself in regard to the recog.
milton of belligerency:
"We ought not in cases of insurrec.
ton in foreign countries to acknow'
ledge insurgents as belligerents unit
the insurrection establishes itself or
such a basis of apparent permanency
as to put it, at least for time, on an
apparent parity with the parent state
When such a condition of things i:
manifest, then a proclamation of neu
trality should be issued, and the in
surgent vessels admitted to the same
rights in our ports as those of the gov
eminent which they assail."
This opinion is likewise held by such
high authorities on international law as
Woolsey, Dana, Wheaton, Bluntschli
Hall, Phlllimore, Fiore, Calvo, anc
others.
There are also many precedent
showing that the United States have
repeatedly recognized belligerency il
cases where the insurgent governmen
did not begin to possess the characte
nor the strength possessed by the
Congressional government of Chill.
In the Soulh American revolutions
says Woolsey, "the concession of belli'
gerent rights were given freely by neu
trails, most freely by the United States
and as for proclamation, our govern
ment went so far as to issue one il
1898 for the prevention of unlawful
interference in the civil war of Cana da
where no civil or military organization
had been set up"
The government of the United State
also recognized the belhgerency
Texas and in the civil war in Mexico
while recognizing the government o
Jusrez as the rightful government, tn
United States recognized both th'
parties to the conflict as belligerents
Bolivia long ago recognized our bel
ligerency. Why should the othe
governments longer refuse to do u
justlcea
The sympathy of the American
people has always gone out to thos'
struggling against tyranny and oppres
sion, and it has been gratifying t
Chillans to know that in the presen
conflict their sympathies have beel
decidedly in favor of those fghtinI
gainst the Dictator Balmaceda.
know of no struggle so deserving of tn
sympathy of those interested in tn
success of republican institutions. Thl
revolution was forced on the countr
by usurper, who was bent on destroy
ing the constitutional prerogatives of
Congress, which asked that the cleo
toral rights of the people should b
respected. The people were force'
to take up arms in defence of thei