The herald., 1896-02-22
Write tho Truth as you SEQ its
Fight tho Wrong A. you find it: Pub
lish all tho News, and Trust tho
Event to the Judgment Of the People
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY A.. 1896.
CUBA IN THE SENATE

R8RO0 IN tn0 COuelOoT6ClOu OF Lne WOos,
wrongs and wickedness Of foreign
lands, The woes, wrongs and wicked
ness of our own land can wait awnlls
yet. No "pent up Utica" will satisfy
the restive, roaming senatorial mind,
but radiant with the light Of world
saving ambition it fits like roostless
bird from the peaks of the Andes to
the minarets of Oonstsntinople, from
the diggings Of South Africa to the
cane f3lds Of the West Indies. Feel
ing the insignificsnce and comparative
unimportance of its constitutional du-
ties, 1t flies to those unknown to the
constitution and undreamed of by the
constitution makers. Noble senate, to
thus break the enslsving chains of
commonplace local business and in
consequential domestic concerns and
blaze a way through the worlds will
derness panoplied with the eloquencs
of Morgan and formidable with the or
atorical thunderbolts OF the only
Lodge e-thunderbolts ru which the
United States senate has exclusive
rights.
Seriously, however, the absorption of
the senate In foreign affairs with which
the United States are not directly
identified would not be an 1nmixed
evil in itself. For it would mean that
this country would be for season free
from the dangers of senatorial legisla-
tion affecting home matters. But it is
the possibility of senatorial action
affecting unfsvorably our foreign rela-
tions that justif1es anxiety on the part
Of thoughtful citizens.
The pending debate on the status Of
TIM Cuban resolution shows that the
senate is loaded with men who are bet
ter speakers than they are thinkers.
The demands Of international comfy,
the interests Of American citizens aud
the suggestions Of plain common sense
fail Of serious consideration at the
hands Of the senators in the forefront
Of the forensic display.
The two propositions supported with
more or less vigor, the one that the
United States request Spain to accord
belligerent rights to the insurrect-
ionists. and the other that Spain be
asked to recognize the independence OF
Cuba, might be expected from cross.
roads convention, but hardly from
body Of statesmen. No more absurd
ideas have ever been ventilated in
either house of congress. They con-
stitute distinct and aggrsvatingly i'm
pertinent interferences with the inter-
nal affairs Of country with which we
are at peace. If carried into execution
nothing but a rebuff can be expected,
for no government could. with self
respect, accede to either demand. No
independent government can admit
the propriety Of another government
suggesting how it shall conduct and
control it's own affairs.
This government might, however,
recognize the belligerency of the rebels
without committing any breach of in.
ternationsl decorum, establishing a
bad precedent in making itself ridicu-
lous in the eyes Of the world. The
matter of this government according
recognition to the Cubans rests with it
alone. and neither Spain nor any other
country could justly take umbrage at
such sction. The objections to such
course are of different character and
were we'll outlined by Senator Camsron
In the senate Thursday. The HERALD
has frequently advertsd to them. In
the first place, when this country con-
fers belligerent rights on Cuba it gives
Spain right she is not now possessed
of-the right to stop and search any
American ship suspected Of carrying
arms and ammunitions for the
Cubans. An inestimable amount of
embarrassment to our merchant ma
rine would Immediately ensue without
really any compensating advantage to
the Cubans. In the next place the
recognition of the Oubans would re.
lieve Spain of all liability for damages
inflicted on the property Of Americans
In Cuba. Since the opening of the war
citizens OF the United States have lost
millions through the destructiveness of
the insurgents. In every dollar of this
Spain can be held liable and will be
bound to pay unless we forfeit our
rights by recognition of the insur-
gents. These things ara entitled to
more serious consideration than the