The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-22
CUBRS CLAIMS ON CONGRESS.
(ContInued from FIrst Page.l


gers that threatened the United States
during the ciVil war from the interview
ton OF England and France and through
the action of Louis Napoleon in sending
an army into Mexico, after which it says;
mo serious question was again raised
with any European power in regard to the
instruction or independence of their
American possessions, unIil 1869. a rebel
lion broke out in Cuba, and the insur-
gents, after organizing a government and
dec airing their independence claimed re-
cogniton from the United States The
government of the United States had al
ways regarded Cuba as within the sphere
Of its most active and serious interest.
This right of intervention in matters
relating to the external relations of Cuba
asserted and exercised seventy years ago
has beeen asserted and exercised a every
crisis in which the island has been in
VolVed
When the Cuban insurgents in 1869 ap-
pealed to the United States for recogni-
ton, President Grant admitted the justice
OF the claim, and directed the minister of
the United States at Madrid to interpOse
our good offices with the Spanish govern
ment, in order to obtain by a friendly ar
rangement the independence of the is
land, The story of that Intervention is
familiar to every member of the Senate,
and was made the basis of ats resolution
last session, requesting the President once
more to interpOse his friendly offices
with the Spanish government for the rec
ognition of the independence of Cuba"
The resolution then adopted by congress
was perfectly understood to carry with il
the consequences which necessarily would
follow the rejection by Spain of friendly
orilces. On this point, the situation needs
no further comment. The action taken by
congress-, in the last session, was taken
on the great consideration, and on Just
principles, ION a right of Intervention ex-
: erc.sed twenty-seVen years ago. and after
patent delay unexampled in history"
The interval of nine months which have
elapsed Since that action of congress has
proved the necessity of carrying it on to
completion.
IL
the cuban insurgents have better status
Tor recognition than had any of the revolt
ed people named in the long chapter of
precedents whose independence has be-
The only question that properly remains
IOr congress to consider is the mode
which should be adopted for the step
MIlch congress is pledged next to take.
The government of the United States en-
tertains none but the friendliest feelings
toward Spain. Its most anxious wish is
70 aVo:d even the appearance of an UNI
friendliness which is wholly foreign to it's
thought. For more than hundred years.
AMIDST divergent or clashing interests and
under frequent and severe strains, the
Two governments have succeeded in avoid
ing COLLISION and there is no
friendly office which Spain could
within the limits of their esta plished prin-
ciples and policy, would not be glad to
extend. In the present instance they are
actuated by an earnest wish to avoid the
The practice of Europe in regard to
Intervention, as in the instance cited, has
been almost invariably harsh and oppres-
sive. The practice of the United States
has been almost invariably mild and for
bearing. Among the precedents which
have been so numerously cited, there can
be no doubt as to the choice. The most
moderate is the best. Among these, the
attitude taken by President Monroe, in
1922, is the only attitude which can proper
ly be regarded as obligatory for a similar
situation to-day. The course pursued by
the United States in the recognition of
Colombia is the only course which con-
gress can. consistently adopt
We recommend, therefore, the joint
resolution with amendments, to read as
follows:
Resolved, by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America, in congress assembled, that the
independence of the republic of Cuba be
and the same is hereby acknowledged by
the United States of America.
BE it further resolved, That the United
States will use its friendly offices with the
government of Spain to bring to a close
the war between Spain and the republic
of Cuba -