Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-29
BEI,MGERENCY.

senor castellar, once president of the republic of Spain. holds that the United States should refuse to recognize the Gu bans as belligerents because the northern people in 1862 denounced the recognition by Spain of the Confederates as belliger- ents. Castellar was once an ardent republican. Lately he has become cour- tier and seems willing to shut his eyes to the magnitude and importance of the struggle for freedom which the Cubans are now making. He should have been the first statesman of Spain to plead for the independence of the oppressed col ony. His eloquent voice should have im- itated that of Earl Chatam when the great commoner pleaded for justice to- wards the American colonies. But cas- tellar seems not to be made of the stull of the elder Pitt. He has forfeited hlS place as a republican and will go down in history as a time server-as a scui- lion in the palace where he once moved as chief.
 The Confederates were recognized by the powers as entitled to belligerent rights when they showed themselves with an established government, fixed 
 with all the elements necessary for a strong and independent republic. If the senor had stepped over to the American embassy and smoked pipe for the even ing with our genial minister, Hon. Han his Taylor, with whom we are glad to know he enjoys an intimacy which should result in great good to both countries, he would have learned from Mir Taylor that no power of the earth, under the circumstances, could have justly refused belligerent rights to the Confederates. We had whipped the north in the first great battle, and if General Longstreets book is to be credited our army could have marched into Washington without serious resistance. There was fragrant war between the north and the south and it was right and proper for foreign DOW CTS to declare neutrality as between the contending forces. A declaration of neu- trality is the mode by which contending forces are recognized as belligerents. When thus recognized they are entitled to all belligerent rights; that is, they are not to be treated as robbers and murder CTS on land or pirates at sea, and they may get supplies and coal their war ves- SelS ana secure other important pTlNll- eges of vast benefit to the insurgents. As soon as power recognizes that war eX- ists it has a right to declare neutrality Each power for itself may determine when the conflict has reached the state of war. Applying this doctrine to the case of Cuba it Is very clear that war ex- ists between that colony and the mother country. In men and means and in ag- gression and defense the Cubans are as strong and demonstrative as were the Spanish colonies who threw off the yoke of Spain in 1921. At that time the United States declared neutrality and recognized the colonies as bellgerents. This recog- milton was the most important factor in encouraging our friends to continue their struggle to a successful end. It is not incumbent upon us to wait until the Span ish forces are destroyed, or until the Gu bans acquire a fixed seat of government or a navy. It is sufficient to know that the struggle has passed the condition of sedition or instruction and has come to the arbitrament of battle between the contending armies.
 It is manifestly the duty of congress, as soon as It meets in December, to pass joint resolution declaring neutrality and thus giving the Cubans belligerent rights. It Is a matter of regret that we cannot do more.