The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-07

We consider the action of Congress
yesterday regarding Cuba, both unwise
and discreditable. and, although we have
set forth the reasons on more than one
occasion, it is proper to briefly re-
nearse them at this time.
We consider the action unwise because
by acknowledging the ~be1ligerency of the
rebels, we deprive cur own citizens and
their property and our own ships upon
the high seas of the protection which we
are able to afford them SO long al we
coincide with Spain in denying a state of
war. We also deprive ourselves of al,
power of recovering damage for injury
done either by Spanish or rebels, where
as. belligerency not being acknowledged,
Spain is responsible for all damage done
by both.
In support of Our position upon this
point. we cite the remarks of Mr.. Fred
erick r. Coudert, published in a morn
Ing paper
Up to~now the United States Govern
ment has never recognized a condition
of war as existing between Spain and
Cuba. Spain has been in the position
OF a power suppressing an insurrection
among her own subjects; Cuba was
simply the rebel. Under these conditions
the property of every American citizen
was subject to our protection. If in the
course OF the disturbances the property
OF an American citizen was injured we
have the power. under n~ternational law,
to demand satisfaction from the Spanish
government Our ships, our commerce,
al that belonged to US, was fully pro-
ttscted and this was shown when the
gfzed.
But by the resolutions of Congress
We are no longer protected in that way.
We recognize Spain n Cuba as belig-
erentss and under international law the
property and the lives of American cjtf-
zens may be sacrificed and we cannot
interfere. In American citizen NAV be
seized and thrown into prison. but we
cannot protect him. 1t is open to the
spanish government to seize our ships
and overhaul them for c-ontraband Of
war. Thus We must either deliver Am
efican lives and property over to the
mercy CT Spain or we must stuftifv our
eesves and go back on these resolutions.
II seems not unreasonable to think that
II the President puts the resolution OF
~
Congress into effect. war will soon be
pfecipitated, as our people will certainty
ne fntolerant of the exercise OF the rights
which the new status win confer upon
Spain.
So much for the unwisdom Of the reso.
buttons. :.
Secondly. we lave said, they are dis.
creditable. In this the merits of the
Cuban cause are not involved. If thu
Cubans can win their independence. it Is
their right to do SO, and no one can COM
plain. 1t IS even legitimate for those whc
win to sympathize with the so-callad
cause of Cuban freedom. But our inter.
ference az q sovereign power ds a gross
intrusion upon the domestic affairs OF
another nation. a nation friendly to us
nation which has shown a particularly
amicable disposition toward US III many
serious crises. It is just as objectionable
.as If we should thrust our intercessior
upon England for THE sake of Ireland o,
upon Russia for the axe Of Poland ol
Austria for the cause of Hungary. 1t ii
true that the National aspirations Of
ireland. Poland and Hungary have ex-
cited enthusiastic private sympathy ant
support among the American people al
various times. But neither Congress MOI
the Executive has ever taken any. actor
which brought that symna fhv within fht