The record-union., 1896-12-21
SOME HISTORICAL PARALLELS.


Thare Is a marked resemblance be-
tween the present condition of senu-
ment dn the United States concerning
Cuba. the attitude of congressman and
Senators and the President towards the
recognition question, and the conditions
in 1817-1S21, when the South American
Colonies were in revolt against Span
ish domination. and Henry Clay was at
tempting to drive the administration Of
President Monroe to recognition Of the
Independence of the South American
States.
Clay claimed then, as do gentlemen
In Congress now. that a state of war
was on Of a character TO awaken the
interest Of and compel action by the
Congress of the United States. He in
sisted that 1t was our duty to recog-
naze not merely the belligerent charac-
ter Of the insurgents, but to acknowl-
edge them as free and Independent
States. For that reason he bitterly op-
posed the Presidents action In send
ing Commissioners to, South America to
report back the actual state of affairs,
but favored an appropriation to salary
Ministers to be sent at once to the
States in revolt
That opposition falling and Congress
standing with the President, Clay in
1921 introduced and secured the pas
sage of resolution declaring that Con-
gress stood ready to cooperate with the
President In any step looking towards
recognition OF the independency of the
revolted Spanish colonies In South
America Still President Monroe de-
cHned to be Influenced by these Con-
gressdonal appeals, calmy pursued his
inquiries and when they were COM
pleted, and he was satisfied that all
the conditions necessary to justifable
recognition had developed, he sent to
Congress q message stating that the
snAependency Of the colonies should be
recognized.
Congress Immediately approved, and
ever sinoe that time the States Of South
America that were then In revolt have
been free countries. Independent and
maintaining governments.
O1ay's name became a household word
In South America, as 1t was at home His
speeches on the sub ject We're translated
tnto Spanish and read at the head of the
South American insurgent armies and
cheered Justify. Then, as now, Spain
was accused OF barbartty and of prose-
orting the war with tnhumanity and
greater cruelty than was justifable
and on those grounds. among others, in
tsrfsreloe by the United States was
urged as Q humane action.
On the other hand the Spanish
charged that the South Americans were
conducting their strugg1eon bushwhack-
ing lines, would not come out into the
open and fight, but followed the prac-
t1ce OF some ancient warriors of as
saulting from cover and in small bodies
from several points, and when confront
ed Dy IN AIlLy, Ok hCcAAf, ~ dllu
scattering 80 as to render pursuit by a
disciplined and large force quite out of
the question
Concerning this method Of fighting
by revolving people. by the way, in a
recent number Of "Macmillan's Maga-
zine" there 10 . deeply interesting arti-
ole In review Of . recent book composed
of the diary entries of young English
officer who was on the staff Of General
Bursoyne in his famous campaign of
l777 against the Americans. Burgoyne
marched from Canada for Albany, via
Lakes Champlain and George. expect
ing to form junction with body Of
troops to be moved up the Hudson un-
der Clinton, troops that never came.
It will be recalled that this nisadvent-
ure led to the defeat of Burgoyne, and
escape being hopeless he surrendered
aA Saratoga to the American revolu-
tsonists one OF the finest equipped
auraaas ever sent out by England. This