The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-07
Recognition Of Cuban Revorusion,-t..

Recognition Of Cuban RevOlutionists.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
/ observe that the Journal advocates a
sensible course in reference to the recosni-
ton of belligerent rights Of the Cuban in
surgents by the United States: but not 80
much can be said of the public meetings
hat are resolving in favor of immediate
action by our government. Ii is natural
that we should ~sympathize with the strug-
gle of Americans for independence from
foreign Interference. 1t is perfectly prop
er that public meetings should be called 20
voice this sympathy; yet those VINO have
the most superficial acquaintance with the
law of nations regulating the recognition
of belligerent rights, and who know any
thing of the capacity of the Cucans for
self-government. ought 10 hesitate before
asking the United States to commit Itself
to a policy certainly absurd and probably
mischievous. Even the newspaper reports,
that have evidently been largely manufac-
tured by Cuban sympathizers. do not indi-
cate that there is any revolutionary gov
eminent in Cuba that would be entitled to
recognition by the most liberal stretch OF
international precedents. We still complain
of the unfriendly haste of European pow
ers to recognize the Southrn Confeleracy;
yet that was from it's creation a better
organized and more powerful government
than the widest flibusterer has had the
assurance to claim for the insurgents.
Even If the revolutionists could make a
decent pretense of government. what can
we expect from a population that IS prob
ably less fitted for self-government thaa
any on this continent?
Andrew D.. White, ex-president OK Cor
nell University, and one OF our aSlssi po-
litical scholars, expressed the opinion. as
the result of a personal Investigation, That
the Spanish-American republics were the
worst-governed states in Christendom. His
estimate was formed several years ago,
without revolutions in one or more OF
them. OF all the attempts at seii-gotern-
ment on either side of the Atlantic; theirs
have been the feeblest. This is not the
result of foreign interference, but of an
apparently hopeless incapacity IN the race.
Mexico, under the rule of President Daz,
may be cited as perhaps the most proffiis-
ing exceptions; yet. according 10 such "A re-
popular elections in Mexico are a farce,
and it's stability is due to its President.
and not to its people
would be complicated by the traditional
animosity of three races that make up the
population-the Spaniards, the Cuoans End
the negroes. If Spanish-American repub-
lies nave uniformly proven failures rnder
more favorable conditions, what couid be
expected of Cuba, where race hatred Ct
the most implacable sort would Re aided
to the obstacles of ignorance, firlsleness
and ~faction? The government of Spain is
doubtless rigorous and uncongen.al TO a
large part of the population, but anarchy
or oligarchy is the most likely result of
a complete revolution. Would it not be
more sensible and statesmanlike Cor the
United States to exert its influence as
Cuba's most powerful neighbor 10 secure
a reform of Spanish rule rather than en-
courage a revolt that has so little 10 rec
ommend it? Public meetings often fail to
reflect the sober common sense of the
American people. FYothy defamation and
political jingoism usually inspire the reso-
iutions; but the serious public opinion of
the country will support Congress and the
country in a rational conservatism. J.
Kingston. Ind. Nov. 8.