The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-22

gents. after Organizing q gcvsrnnent snd
declaring tnefr Independence. Gained rec
o-zzlsson from ne Lslsss1 $50 q g..
regarded czta within the sphere Or -
most arEfve and serious interests AS ear
~ as fs2S when they recognized the States
os Colombia ard Mexico. ts<y were sup
rozsH - - r,-e1zrzng an expedition 70
rewslu-fonfxe Cuoa ard Porto Rico. and Is
TfuSfe1 states government tnrsrpoSed It,
friendly osfices stir tnose goseE ili1l 81 -
r%qre~t their foTb@zranee.
-srhe actual condition Of spain seemed
20 make her retension OF cuba trslTsossi e
In which eass me United States wouad
10 prevent rae STAND from falling into the
hands Of a stronger power IN klro2e.
That this emergency did not occur ulaF
have been partly due 70 me energy alt =
which Monroe pronounced our right and
our rover 10 prevent IT. his deternar1a-
zion 10 NE al the means wsThir DIS CON-
fSsr.-sscy 70 guard against and torfend x
This right Of Intervention In matters re-
jaFlrx 10 the external relations OF Ceoa-
aszarFed and exercised seventy years ago.
kas been asserted and exercised AZ every
crisis II which the island has been an
vuived.
.syynen the Cuban insurgents I'm 1853 ap-
rtian "a the United States for recognition
President Grant admitted the justice o.
the claim and directed ne minister OF 90
United Ssates st Msdrfa 20 fntSrpose cur
good Offices with The Spanish government
e order Is obtain BY 3 friendly arrange
ment the Independence Of the tsiand. Ire
story Of that Intervention - Isfhi5aar to
every member Of fffe senate and was
made the basis OF IT. resolution last sss-
zion requesting the president once more
"a fnterToss MS friendly offices with tno
EnS nfsh g8Vernnent FOR the recognition
al tire Independence OF Cuba The reso-
luton then adopted by congress- was IN
dersfo0d 70 carry with * all the con~c-
Qnences which necessarily would follow
- a fr~f 4Ef trsc-
ON this point the situation needs no fur
Their comment The action taken oy con-
gress. In the last session was taken on
great consideration ard on just pf1nei,
pies. on a right OF intervention exercised
twenty-seVen years ago, and after pa
tlent delay unexampled IN history
THE interval OF nine months watch mas
elapsed since that action OF congress has
proved the necessity or carrying IL out 70
completion. In the words OF the pres
dents annual message. the stADAlty OF
two years duration has gwen 20 ne ii "a
~ ERECTION the feasibility or It's indeani =
proIouga ton In the nature or tnlngs ana,
as SHOWN by past experience, the utter
and imminent ruin OF the bSiAnd uhAeS
the present strife is sp~e1As coilp -.
are, in our opinion. conclusive stlaetlcs
that the ira oiiCv OF spain TO deal sue
cessfuny with the insurrectfon has D.
come manifest, and il is demonstrated
that her sovereignty Is extinct IN Cuba
for all purposes OF It's rightfui existence
a hopeless struggle for It's re-sss tanaish n
nent mas aegenerateJ into strife wnich
nt ais nothing more IMAM the useless sae-
r.fsce OF human life. and the utter dezstree-
ton OF the very subject matter OF Inc
ccEfiict.
Although the president appears TO have
reached "A different conclusion tnan our
seIves. We believe this 10 be the actual
situation of Cuba, and being unable 10 see
that further delay could lead TO any otheF
actton than that which the president an
ficlpated We agree with the conclusion OF
the message. that in such ease our obi
cations to the sovereignty OF spain are
superseded by higher Obligations when
we can hardly hesitate 10 recognize and
discharge
.FoIlewing closely the action OF Presi-
deaf Monroe In ISIS. congress mas ALREADY
declared IN effect its opinion that there
can be no rational Interference except on
the basis OF Independence. In ls22. as now,
but with more force. X was OBJECTED. as
We have shown. that the reNoited states
had no government 10 be recognized. De-
visions and even civil war existed among
the insurgents themselves.
Among che Cubans no such difficulty
IS known to exist. In September. ISIS, az
We know by official documents printed
on the spot. the .nsurgsnt government VAS
regularly organized. q constitution adopt
ed. president elected. and In due course
the various branches Of admins tratlon
set Ia motion. Since then. so Tar as We az :
Informed this government has continued
10 perform It's functions unuisturbed
ION the military side, as We officially
know, they have Organize. eaaifs,pea anu
battle the exertions OF 800. 600 Spanish sol
oiers. On the civil side they have organ
lied their system OF adEnlnisfFalfon IN ev-
cry province. for, as we know officially,
they roam at will over at least two-thirds
III the Inland countTy
''Diplomaticaliy, they have maintained
a regularly accredited representative ia
the United States for the past year. who
has never ceased TO ask recognison. and
10 offer all possible Information. There =
no reason TO suppose that any portien OF
the Cuban people would be dissatisfied ~
our recognizing their representative IN
this country. or that they disagree in the
earnest wish for that recognition.
The same thing could hardly be said
OF all the countries recognized by Monroe
IN lS22; Greece had no such stability when
Il was recognized by England, Russia and
France; Belgium had nothing OF the sort
when she was recognized by all the pow
ers In 1880. or the states recognized by
the treaty OF Berlin In 1878 We need hardly
to cay more Than that they were the
creatures OF Intervention.
The only question that properly re-
mains for congress TO consider is the
mode which should be adopted for the
step which congress Is pledged next "a
take.
entertains mona but the friendliest feelings
toward Spain. Its most anxious wish Is
10 avoid even the appearance OF an un-
friendliuesa. which Is wholly foreign 20
years, amidst divergent or clashing inter-
ests, and under frequent and severe
strains tho TWO governments have sue
cceted IN avoiding collision. and there IS
no friendly office which Spain could ask
which tho United States. within the limits
or their established principles and policy,
would no< be glad 70 extend. In the pres
eat instance they are actuated by an
earnest wish 70 avoid the danger 81 seem
ing 20 provoke . conflict. The practice Of
Europe ia regard 10 intervention. as in
The Instances cited. has been almost Inva-
ylahly harsh and oppressive. The practice
of the United States has been aim st In.
VariAhiy mild and forhearing- Among The
precedents which have been so numer-
ously cited. there can be no doubt as 10 the
choice. Tine most moderate Is the best.
Among these ehe attitude taken bs Presi-
dent Monroe ln iS&2 as The only attitude
which can properly be regarded as oblfE8-
tory for a similar situation today. Tire
course pursued by the United States in
the recognition Of Colombia Is the 1rIy
COURSE which congress can consists ngt }
adept 80