The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-02-13
Cuban Recognition.

While the people Of the United States
are almost unanimous il. desiring con-
gress 20 accord belligerent rights to
Cuba, there are some obstacles in the
way with which the majority Of them
are not acquainted. These exist in GER
tain articles Of an old treaty with Spain,
a treaty made 1O1 years ago. sf sf35s5a.
I'M One Of the stipulations, and a trou-
blesome one to get over, is that when
either the United States or Spain is at
wary with another nation, the cruisers Of
the contracting nation which is at war
shall have the right to search the mer-
chant vessels Of the other contracting
nation for goods contraband Of war.
What these goods are is specified in the
treaty. That is to say, if we should ad--
cord belligerent rights to Cuba, we
would virtually pronounce her an indie
pendent nation at war with Spain. Then
| Spanish cruisers would have the right
to stop our merchantmen anywhere on
the high seas and search them for con-
traband goods. This would not make
much difference anywhere outside OF
the West Indies, for outside Of that re-
gion we have no foreign commerce, but
unfortunately it is just there that we
have several lines of merchant ships
plying. Under the same treaty if a citi-
zen OF the United States should fit out
vessel to engage in service against
Spain, he shall be punished as a pi-
rate. -
It is trade considerations which most
~ deter this government from recognize
ing Cuba. When it becomes a question
of common humanity, however, consid-
erations of the dollar are not to be en-
tertained. r.:s...G
! Americanism Not Jingoism.
Nobody wants any jingoism in this
country. But the resolution of Senator
Cushman K. Davis is not jingoism. It
| is just good, plain Americanisnl. It
simply sets forth in clear words the pres
ent understanding Of the Monroe doc
trine, which is that any attempt on the
part Of any foreign power whatsoever to
get a foot more Of territory on this
hemisphere, whether by conquest Or by
insidiously stretching out it's boundary
lines to include more than the law al
lows, will be considered an act hostile
to the United States. So will the at
tempt to gain any protectorate over a
power on this; hemisphere or to get con-
troll over any canal or other means OF
transportation across "the American
isthmus. :" The New York Journal puts
it as follows and puts it exactly right:
| We fail to see what offense it can give Great
Britain for Uncle Sam to specify that European
powers (mostly monarchical, our excellent
friend, France, always excepted) shall not try
sfthrough force, purchase, cession, occupation
pledge, colonization, protectorate, or by. con-
troll of the easement in canal or any other
means Of transit across the American 18TH
mus, y to seize and convert to it's own uses
| any South American territory.
The world is wide and this is our side of it.
| We propose to control the Nicaragua canal,
! which will furnish the shortest waterway be-
| tween our Atlantic and Pacific coasts. We do
| not intend to be hemmed in or harassed by
| foreign fortresses. Why not have the courage
| to say so? There is not q single one Of our
trade interests which will be permanently in
| jured by any such declaration. If we are not
bold enough to seize our opportunity now. we
shall miss it forever and shall deserve our fate