Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-16
nEr11aERnNrs FOR CUBA.


 The widespread and popular sugges- Spain makes speedy headway to sup press the Cuban rebellion 1t will be our duty to recognize the Cuban patriots as belligerents and extend them all bellig- erent rights appears to have aroused the British lion. That formidable animal has been flashing his tail for so long a time in all quarters of the world that he imagines himself to be the arbiter of all questions and all countries. The Briton has reason to believe that the United States will now COW before him like the Zulu Afi- can, the Coolie and the Egyptian. All he has to do, in his opinion, is to send his fleet of iron-clads to show themselves before a foreign port, and the enemy is at his feet. It happens, however, that Great Britain for eighty years has not had to deal with a first-class power. She always allies herself with other pow= CTS if possible, when she consents to war. Alone she fights only half armed and half starved savage races. When Napoleon III set up a government in Mexico the Briton quietly withdrew and left the Austrian prince to his fate. Great Britain dares not make q breach with the United States. That very mo- ment .her commerce would be destroyed by hundred Alabamas and another hundred kindred Kearsages. Not only so, but the Canadian empire would be overrun and annexed to this republic. Our loss in such a contest would be small compared to that of Great Britain. She cannot afford to interfere and stop the manifest destiny of Cuba. That island must and will be free, and her freedom will come about by the recognition ot her belligerency when Congress meets In De cember
 A recognition of their rights as beliig- erents would be followed by important results. The patriots would at once put priyateers in commissions to prey upon and destroy Spanish commerce. These swift cruisers could easily evade the heavy iron clads, could land men and ann munitions upon the island at will and could keep open many ports which the heavy Spanish vessels cannot blockade. Tn short belligerent rights mean untold opportunities to harass and wear out the forces of Spain. What Admlral semmes did in our civil war to the com merce or the NOIlH WOuiu pS "oiiN N-N tenfold degree to the commerce of Spain. As an indica tion of public sentiment es to the stand the United States should take it is interesting to refer to recent interview at Washington with Hon. Don NJ Dickinson, a late cabinet officer of MT. Cleveland. MT. Dickinson was asked for his views of Venezuela and Cuba, as 1t has been stated of late that he represent ed an advanced position on these ques- tons among the leaders of his party. He said he did not care to go into them at length. The developments of no distant day would speak more eloquently than words He referred to the fact that Dan- iel Webster had recognized the independ- ence of Greece many years before that country had actually secured complete independence, and in those days even Webster had been accused of "jingoism."
 Ex-Congressman Weadock, who was in the Michigan party, added to MT. Dickin- sons statement that 1t was a recognized principle of international law that struggling people should be recognized as belligerents as soon as they showed their ability to resist the established govern ment. This was not a recognition of them as a nation, but as people entitled to the rights of civilized warfare. The Cubans were entitled to it now, and the question of their freedom as a nation would come afterward.