The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-04

nizing independence may be a truly friendly
aer. In cases almost precisely parallel. where
Spain was al war with her dependencies on
this continent. in the early part OF this cen
fury, our government did, in fact, take the
very step proposed In this second resolution.
During the presidency OF Madison Spain was
at. war with her American colonies Tie
colonies refused 10 open any negotiations m
less the acknowledgment of their independ-
ence was made its basis, and little later
President Monroe said: To promote that re-
suit independence by friendly counsels with
other powers, including Spain herself, has
been the uniform policy of this government
In mis- message of 1921 he repeats this Ian
Suage a second time-almost the language or
this second resolution. Again, during the
ten years struggle between Spain and the
people OF Cuba, from 1868 10 1873. General
Grant. through our minister at Madrid Of
prlng that war to close on the 2asis OF
Cuban independence, Spain TO be paid an In
demnity which the United States would guar
THE IMPORTANT QUESTION.
THE recognition of the belligerency of the
7 struggling Cuban people right now is far
more important and Immediately practical
question. That Is the point covered by the
| first resolution, both of the Senate and Of
the House. and transcends everything else
| II Is to the question Of recognizing their
| belligerency that our people have given their
| earnest attention everywhere throughout the
| United States. They have sent to this House
petitions and memorials beyond number,
coming from legislatures, chambers Of COM
merce boards OF trade churches, societies
and Individual citizens by tens of thou
sands. On the other side individual members
| have received letters from citizens deprecat-
ing any action whatever These letters are
almost always from those who call them
selves business men-brokers and financial
men-who are opposed to any agitation or
discussion Of a foreign question and seem
to care very little. about either the Cu6ans
The unmstakable voice of the people OF
the United States, as expressed In the enor-
nous majority given In this House, 262 to
Ia. is in favor of recognizing the beIliger-
ency OF the Cubans. 1t Is against this that
all the Spanish influences in this country
are most strenuously exerted- 1t is TO this
hope Of the recognition of belligerency that
all Cubans and friends of Cuba turn The
reason is plain They know 1t would be of
/ Importance and inestimable assistance to the
Cuban cause 1t would give them a flag; 1t
would give them a status in the world: III
they procured a vessel and entered New
York harbor tomorrow with their lone-star
| flag, they would be liable to be treated as
| pirates. The Spanish minister would i'm
medately claim that this should be done
as the. ships from all countries do. They
could buy munitions OF war openly; they
SO openly. if not. in armed expeditions, to
join them. They could negotiate loans-ne-
gotiate them as openly as the Spaniards can
munitions of war at Hartford. and at Phila-
deiphia buys supplies loads ships, in fact.
The United States Is to-day the base of
operations in furious war to crush those
who are struggling for liberty, and our gov
eminent has been busted for year in obey
ing the fntimations of the Spanish minister.
Is this fairness? Is this justice? L. this OBJ
serving neutrality in. this struggle? Either
In spirit or in fact are we not efficient OPP
pressors of the Cubans? Such has not been
the policy of our government in earlier
days.
I'm 1875 the Spanish minister. Deonis
Une re- in herr
struggling just as the Cubans are now, de-
manded that our ports should be closed TO
Ayres. Carthagena and other places which
have, he says. 'revolted against the authori-
Y of the King. my master He denounced
that they should be so treated. President
Madison disregarded his naughty demands
and recognized the belligerency of the
struggling colonists.
CUBAN SUCCESS PROBABLE.
THE success of the Cubans is now probable
For year they have baffled the armies of
Spain. In a recent statement by the Spanish
minister. addressed to the people of the
United States. he said that Spain had sent
l25, 900 men to Cuba. With this great army
more than forty war vessels have been CO.
operating TO shut the Cubans in and subdue
them. Far from beng subdued, they have
fought on successfully for a year, each
month and each week pressing forward.
bringing province after province under their
power until their authority has extended
over six hundred miles from the eastern to
the western end of the island and the Span
ish forces are to-day largely penned in the
cities
ut is sometimes stated that we ought not
to encourage the Cubans to separate govern
ment as they would simply enter on an
archy and successive revolutions has
often happened with other Spanish-Amer.can
colonies But, In fact, Cuba differs from al al
OF its population are of European origin.
Chile and Cuba are the only two spots in
colonized in the fashion in which the Anglo
Saxons co,onized by transplanting their peo-
PIE and building up their own race. Chile
has been for fifty years conspicuous in South
America for ability and energy. Her Sc
curities were good in European markets
forty years ago. The people of the other
Spanish-Amercan countries were largely
Indian in blood. and ruled by a small pro-
portion. of people of the European race. The
million white people Of Cuba once organized
into an independent government VII soon
settle into stable conditions and enter on a
career of prosperity. IL is our duty TO treat
them to-day with fairness: to observe a
neutrality that Is real. Americans who are
descendants OF those who struggled through
contest against tyranny like that of to-
day in Cuba should not be false to the
memory Of their fathers. nor to the tradi-
tons and spirit of their history. We are
under no obligations to favor Spain and
oppression against Cuba and freedom.
fleneI0DeT nOW SPAIN lHtducu duu cci1cu
upon Santo Domingo when the United States
was engaged N the war OF the rebellion.
IL was disclosed in the debates in the Span
ish Cortes afterward that occupation of
Santo Domingo was entered upon expressly
to thwart the influence of the United States
and prevent our obtaining a station at
Semana. IL was in this spirit that Spain
so early recognized the bell.gerency of the
Confederates. a month before blood was
shed In battle. 1t was done in. cooperation
with Louis Napoleon. who also. pursuing the
same scheme of oppression. took advantage
Of our troubles TO overthrow the republic
Of Mexico and set up an empire there.
1--WE have debt of gratitude and should
be influenced by no sentiments but those OF
Justice and that enlightened self-.nterest
which is the true guide in the policy OF ma
TONS When this vote has been given, as
it will be. overwhelmingly, by this House.
will OF the people of the United States We
cannot doubt that the executive will act
and obey the voice of the Nation, and that
we will speedily hear that the President
has recognized the be,ligerency OF the strug-
Cling Cubans. The waning cause OF Spain
has been apparent from week TO week for
two months past. It Will not be long until
we shall have an end OF all the bombastic
pretensions and denominations OF Weylers
savage operations. and the Cubans, having
INDICATED their rights with their arms, VIII
enjoy the liberty they have earned"
Mr.. Hit several times vigorously ap-
plauded.
Mr.. Swanson asked If these resolutions
would carry with them the recognition OF
Cuban beEigerency.
Mr., Hit replied that they would not of
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