Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-03-06
CUBA'S RECOGNITION.
THE PROBABLE ATTITUDE OF THE
PRESIDENT AND CABINET.

Action OF Congress Makes the spnniards
wildly Angry-American Cousulate at
barcelona stoned by a Mob-Prepara-
tions For War In Madrid.
WASHINGTON. March a.-The president
and his cabinet undoubtedly are strongly
opposed to the present recognition Of the
belligerency of the Cuban insurgents ard
90 any declaration concerning their inds-
pendence as embodied in recent congress
sional resolutions. The following Is not
an official statement, but II is known from
careful inquiry that 1t accurately presents
the administrations view of the matter:
While the president and the members of
the cabinet personally feel the sympathy
common to all Americans with those Gu
bans who are conteDding for self govern
ment they feel that, in their official action,
they should not depart from the well set
tied principles which were followed by
former presidents and secretaries Of state
during prior Instructions in Cuba.
These were clearly set forth by General
Grant in his message Of 1875, in which he
dealt with the question of the recognition
of Cuban Independence and also with that
of recognition of belligerency
Both independence and belligerency are
facts, and their recognition by other pow
ers as the term implies Is merely formal
acknowledgment of a state of things which
rightly or wrongly has come about
| When a people, united under some
known and defined form Of government
which administers its functions by the
usual methods, come to occupy and con-
troll a known territory over which it is
competent to administer Justice and with
in which it affords protection to citizens
and strangers, new state exists.
Its refusal of recognition would not
change the fact any more than premature
recognition" could create it. The for
mer would be merely slight to the new
government, just as the latter merely an
affront to the old one. Tho question neces-
sarily is always, What government is ao-
tually in control Of the country
Don't Think Recognition Warranted.
Recognition of belligerency depends up
on the same facts and is only a modified
form of recognizing independence, though
the latter implies more perfect accomplish
ment The difference between mere in
surrection and war, though in both armed
bodies are in conflict, is that in the former
only one sovereign power is engaged, while
in the latter there must necessarily be two.
|
Substantial political organization, real,
palpable and manifest to the world, hay
ing the forms and capable of the ordinary
functions of government toward its own
people and to other states, F" having a 30
cal habitation," where it may be dealt
with by other nations, then there is a war,
and refusal to recognize belligerency would
be willful.
In the absence of these features there Is
nothing "to take the contest out of the
category of a mere rebellious insurreotiOn
or occasional skirmishes, and place it OF
the terrible footing of war" The pretenst
of recognizing what does not exist sis al
ways-and justly-regarded as an un
friendly act and a gratuitous demonstra
ton of moral support to the rebellion. "
1t is understood that judged by thest
tests, the administration does not thinl
the present stage Of affairs in Cuba justi
fies any change in the attitude of the gov
ernment. Its function is to act and no
to express feeling. The only action nov
proper is to continue to hold responsible,
for injuries to American citizens the only
government which, so far appears, hal
and maintains authority in Cuba unit
some other government succeeds, at leas
temporarily, in supplanting it. "