The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-30
GRANT SIGNED IT.
Secretary Fish Prevented Recognition o.
O'ubanS Years Ago.


Washington, January 29.-ln his minor
ity report from the committee of foreign
relations. submitted to the senate today
Mr.. Cameron, referring to the insurrec-
Z on in cuba soon after the close of our
civil war; said; at is said that early In
the year 1850 n proclamation was actually
signed by President Grant recognizing the
Cubans as bel,igorents, although the fact
was known to very few persons This
proclamation was not promulgated, owing
to the opposition of Secretary Fish,
The senator also quoted al some length
from the message of President Grant In
1862. in which the pl esident predicted that
In due time spain must find 1t to her in
terest to establish the independence OF
her dependencies. He refers to the diplo-
mate EFFORTS made at that time by this
government to secure Cuban independ-
cuce which were to be ON the follow ing
| basis.
1. Independence of Cuba to be aclsnowl-
| edged by Spain.
:, Cuba u pay Spain for the relinquisn-
! mint of her rights
3. The abolition of slavery.
our government was to guarantee the
| payment OF the indemnity
MI Cameron attributes the fact Of the
failure at NAT TIM" TO recognize the bel
| form made by Spain and to the internal
| strife In Span which rendered our govern
mcnt 10Th 70 press an outside complication.
| lie says also THAI Alr. Fish was irrtated
| by the operations of the Cuban junth in
| this country, which at tines !ufringed our
| neutrality laws. We also at THAI dine mad
| troubles OF our own in the South. Inc
| action uf our government was. he said, in
| striking contrast TO that OF spain In recos-
n2trs the Coutederates as beliIEercnls.
| Mr.. Cameron also refers to othef reHo-
| lutlcns during which our government was
| on tho point of intervening. The incest
sense OF international requirements, he
says can not fail to perceive that provo
cation from Spain was overlooked by our
government Tor "a longer period and with
greater patience char any other soeNru-
ment of equal power would have tolerated.
After quoting at length from the report
eron saws: The highest Spanish authori-
ties have been obliged 10 confess that tho
grievances of the Cubans are Just aud
Their aspirations for liberty legitimate. He
says the spanish government IN CUBA Is
an armed monarchy.
"1he danger aud the scandal OF the
Cula an situation he Save, have pee II
such as can hc compared with nothing
but the condition OF Armenia"
lie declares that a state Of war exists
and with that alone we should not be able
10 hesitate. He asserts that the inSur-
rcuts have made records which entities
them to recognition, and adds II N, gov
eminent of the United States still re-
trains from recognizing tho bclligoIcncy
&c tho Insurgents after this conclusive
fact stat the reason doubtless Is that In
the absence Of legal compllcaton the ques-
iiun becomes wholly polittcal ana that us
! t,u, situation must lie not In recogni-
ton Of belligercncy but In n recognition
OF Independence.
lie says in conclusion that he Is coxl-
dent that no other acton accords with
our friendly relations with Spain, our
Just cympathy with cuba and win our
| dignity and consistency.