St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-04
PRESIDENT AND CABINET DO NOT
FAVOR RECOGNIZING CUBAN
BELLIGERENCY.
STAY IN THE BEATEN PATH.
WILL FOLLOW THE SETTLED PRIN-
CiPLEs LAID DOWN BY FORMER
PRESIDENTS.
MERE WASTE OF WORDS AT BEy<.
Only Action Now Proper Is to Hold
Spain Responsible for Injuries
to Americans In Cuba.

WASHINGTON, d. c., March g.
The president and his cabinet are un-
doubtedly strongly opposed to the pres
ent recognition of belligerency of the
Cuban insurgents and to any declara-
ton concerning their independence as
embodied in recent congressional reso-
lutions. The following is not an off,
cial statement, but it is known from
careful inquiry that it accurately repre-
sents the administrators views of the
matter:
While the president and the men,
bers Of the cabinet personally feel the
sympathy common to all Americans
with those Cubans who are contending
for self-government. they feel that in
their official action they should not de-
part from the well settled principles
which were followed by former presi-
dents and secretaries of state during
prior instructions in Cuba. These
were clearly set forth by Gen. Grant
in his message of 1875, in which he
dealt with the question Of the recogni-
ton of Cuban independence, and also
with that of the recognition of bellig-
erency. Both independence and bellig-
erency are facts, and their recognition
by other powers, as the term implies,
is merely formal acknowledgment of a
ly, has come about.
When people, united under some
known and defined form of govern
ment, which administers its functions
by the usual methods, come to occupy
and control known territory, over
which 1T affords protection to citizens
and strangers, new state exists. Re-
fusal of recognition would not change
the fact, any more than premature rec
ognition could create. The former
would be merely slight to the new
government, just as the latter
IS MERELY AN AFFRONT
sarily is always what government is
actually in control Of the country?
Recognition of belligerency depends
upon the same facts, and is only
modified form Of recognizing inde-
pendence, though the latter implies
more perfect accomplishments. The
difference between mere insurrection
and war, though in both armed bodies
are in conflict, it that in the former
only one sovereign power is engaged,
while in the latter there must neces-
sarily be two. If an armed conflict be
carried on by substantial political
organization, real, palpable and mani
fest to the world. having the forms
and capable of the ordinary functions
VI government TOWARDS 1IS own peO-
pie and to other states" having a 30
cal habitation,' where it may be dealt
with by other nations, then there is a
war and refusal to recognize belliger-
ency would be willful. In the absence
of these features, there is nothing "to
take the contest out Of the category
of mere rebellions insurrection or oc-
casional slirmishes and place it on the
terrible footing of war"
The pretense Of recognizing what
does not exist 'is always, and Justly.
regarded as an unfriendly act and a
gratuitous demonstration Of moral
support to the rebellion"
1t Is understood that judged by these
tests, the administration does not think
the present stage of affairs in Cuba
Justilies any change in the attitude of
the government. It's function is to act
and not to express feeling. The only
action now proper is to continue to
hold responsible for injuries to Amer
lean citizens the only government
which, so far as appears, has and main
tains authority in Cuba, until some
other government succeeds, at least
temporarily, in supplanting it.