The herald., 1895-10-26
WHAT SPAIN is PREPARING FOR

Dispatches from Madrid assert that the
Spanish government is strengthening its
naval forces in anticip alton of the recog-
milton of the Cuban insurgents as bellig-
erents By some of the governments of the
American continent. 1T is said that Spain
would regard such recognition as n viola
tion of International law and therefore an
unfriendly act. If Spain actually takes
that view of recognition, and the unusual
naval preparations are connected there
with 1t would seem that she intends to
resent the alleged lnfraction OF the inter-
national code in warlike manner. But
il is altogether improbable that she takes
any such unwarranted view. The recog-
milton OF the bellieerency of rebellious
province or people is in no wise demon
stration Of unirien dliness to the govern
ment rebelled against or a violation OF
the laws of nations, so long as the people
thus recognized measure up to the status
Of the belligerent as SET forth in common
ly accepted international law, and that
in effect requires the esta blishment and
successful maintenance against all agrees
sion of regular form of government for a
reasonable length of time. When they
have done this they are sovereign, and
Justly entitled to the rights of sovereign
ty. That is the cold proposition OF inter-
national law. The latter takes no cogni-
zance OF the merits of the contro eersy be.
tween rebels and the government rebelled
AGAINST. 1t respects on y the self-sustain-
ing ability.
1t is more likely, however, that in
stead of contem plating hostile dem onstra-
tions against governments according the
rank of belligerency to insurgents, that
Spain is adding to her naval force for en-
tirely different purpose, and that will
be to take advantage of a certain right
that WILL accrue to her when any country
recognizes the Cubans-the right to stop
the vessels carrying the flag of the coun-
try according belligerent rights to the in .
surgents, and search them for contra ba n d
of war. If this country Should recognize
the Cubans every American merchant
vessel on the high seas would be subj ect
! to detention and inspection by Spanish
cruisers, and whatever they might be
carrying to the rebels could be lawfully
| seized and carried away by the SPANS h
commander. The according of belliger-
ent rights to the insurgents. therefore,
means an equal bestowal of the same on
their oppressors. This fact is not gener-
ally known, else the knowledge would
operate to dampen the enthusiasm of
some of those people who are i'm pulsivey
and loudly calling for the i'm m edate rec
ognition by this government of the Gu ban
rebels. For while such recognition would
enable the Cubans to buy munitions and
equipments of war in the United States
with impunity, and we could sell the
same freely without violating our treaty
obligations with Spain, something We
cannot do now, there would be but little
hvps of the consignments ever reaching
the Cubans. 4 Gordon of Spanish cruisers
would encircle the 5gem Of the Antilles
and subject every merchantmen flying
the Stars and Stripes to the annoyance,
and We might say humiliation, of a rig
orous search.
This right of search is we'll settled in
international law and the Uniteo States
has stoutly contsnded for and exercised
the right; the most notable instance OF
its exercise by this government being the
detention and search by Commodore
Wilkes of the British mail steamer Trent,