The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-03-19
Why He Did Not Recognize the
Cubans as BeIIigerents.
DIARY OF SECRETARY FISH
Grant Would Have Sent in n
Bel1igerency Message.

debate on the Cuban question in the
United States senate many illusions
were made both by Senator Sherman
and Senator Hill as to the attitude of
President Grant and the then secretary
of state, Hamilton Fish. Senator Sher-
man declared there was a conflict of
opinion over Cuban affairs between the
president and his secretary of state.
The speaker of the New York assem-
bly,, Hamilton Fish, son of the late Sec
retary, Is in possession of information
upon this subject contained in the dia-
ries kept by his father that is of great
importance in the controversy.
On the authority of these diaries it
is shown that President Grant had at
one time. under the circumstances of a
pending negotiation at Madrid, been in
clined to recognize the belligerency of
Cuba, but on June 10, 1870, the opinion
of the president and the cabinet was
unanimous that there were no facts to
Justify the declaration of belligerency,
and that the satisfaction of the presi-
dent with the Cuban policy of his ad-
ministration and it's effects upon the
country and the republican party found
expression a few weeks later in thanks
share in it may have been due to his
wisdom and Judgment.
During his eight years service in the
state department Mr. Fish kept, chiefly
as a reference. a record for his own
eyes, a diary in his own handwriting
containing a statement of his important
transactions with President Grant, the
members of the cabiner, senators and
n In, nrd to 70
prominent foreign questions with which
he had to deal.
From May 81 to June 10, 1870, the date
of President Grants special message to
congress on Cuban belligerency, the en-
tries in the diary are many and very
full in regard to the origin preparation,
discussions in the cabinet and final COM
pletion of the special message. Some
of these entries have a peculiar interest
in the light of recent events, and were
shown today to the correspondent of the
Associated Press.
Under date of February 49, 1870, there
is q suggestion of a rift in the unity of
the republican party in defense of that
policy respecting foreign affairs, which
policy the president had announced in
his annual message of the previous De-
ctIlDtI. Inc tIllly IL do lOliOWS.
called this morning (by appoint
menD to see Senator Sherman on the
subject of the unit of coinage After
conversing on that question I referred
to his resolution introduced in the SEN
ate and his speech in favor of recogniz-
ing the belligerency of Cuba, and asked
if he had recently examined the treaty
with Spain of 1895. He said he had not,
4 80 1, .f
such treaty. I referred to its provisions
and to the probable consequence of the
exercise by Spain of the right of visit
or of search, thought our people
would not submit to it, and that the
consequences would soon develop in
war: said that fighting was not bellig-
erency; there is fighting but not bellig-
erency in Cuba; there is no government
of the insurrectionary party; no politi-
cal organization etc. He admitted he
had not examined the subject closely,
but said there is a good deal of excite
ment in the country on the subject. Ad-
vised him in connection with the pass
age of his resolution of belligerency to
prepare bills for the increase of the
public debt and to meet the increased
appropriation which will be necessary
for the army, navy, etc.
An evident solicitude among republic
cans lest the party, in the presence OF
| the approaching autumn election,
| should be divided on the Cuban ques-
| ton by reason of representations to the
| country in regard to the presidents real
attitude, is indicated on June 10 by this
| entry:
"Judge Orth and General Butler called
| in the evening to urge the sending OF a
message by the president on the ques-
ton of Cuban belligerency. Orth says
| the vote will be close. Banks will make
! the closing speech, but there are some
20 or 80 members who may be decided
| by his speech, but would not go against
the presidents views"
on June u there is this entry:
"Stay at home and prepare a message
| on the Cuban belligerency question, to
be submitted for the presidents consid-
| Grafton in case he agrees TO send one.
| He has not yet returned from his fish
| ing excursion"
OF the discussion in the cabinet on
the 18th, the day on which the special
message was sent to congress, the diary
| says:
"It was generally admitted that if war
/ Is to be resorted to, it would be by di-
rect declaration and not by embarrass-
ing Spain by a declaration of belliger-
ency; agrees unanimously that no con-
dition of facts exists to Justify belliger-
ency. Finally the president amends his
| sentences by referring in general terms
| to seizures on the high seas, embargoes
| of property and personal outrage
|. Robson adds the concluding sentences
| claiming the question of belligerency Is
| distinct from those questions of wrongs
which are being pressed for indemnifi'
/ cation, and If not satisfied they will be
made the subject of a future message
And thus it is agreed that the message
shall be sent in"
Speaker Fish said that the origina
draft Of the message, with It's many
erasures and interlineations. is all II
| Mr.. Fish's own hand. The message sent
to congress and printed as ex doce No
90 is verbatim as In that draft down tt
following paragraphs or near the end
"There is no de facto government II
the island OF Cuba sufficient to execute
law and maintain just relations witt
other nations. Spain has not been abl'
to suppress the opposition to Spanlsl
rule in the island, nor to award SPEEDY
Justice to other nations. or citizens o
other nations. when their rights hav'
been invaded"
! Those sentences were written and In