The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-22

action taken by Congress, in the last ses-
sion was taken ''on great consideration
and on just principles" on a right of in
teryention, exercised 27 years ago, and
after patient delay unexampled in his
tory.
THE interval OF nine months which
has elapsed since that action of Con-
gress has proved the necessity of carry
ing it out to completion. In the words Of
the Presidents annual message: The
stability two years duration has given
to the insurgents; the feasibility of its
indefinite prolongation in the nature Of
things and as shown by past experiences,
the utter and imminent ruin of the island
unless the present strife is speedily com
posed are, in our opinion, conclusive evil
dence that the inability Of Spain to deal
successfully with the insurrection, has
become manifest and it is demonstrated
that her sovereignty is extinct in Cuba
for all purposes Of it's rightful existence.
A hopeless struggle for its re-
establishment has degenerated into q
strife which means nothing more than
the useless sacrifice of human life and
the utter destruction of the very subject
matter of the conflict Although the
President appears to have reached a diff
fercnt conclusion from ours, we believe
this to be the actual situation Of Cuba,
and, being unable to see that further
delay could lead to any other action than
that which the President anticipates, we
agree with the conclusion of the message
that in such cases our obligations to the
sovereignty of Spain are superseded by
higher obligations which we can hardly
hesitate to recognize and discharge
Following closely the action of Presi-
dent Monroe in 1918. Congress has al
ready declared in effect it's opinion that
there can he no rational Interference ex-
cept on the basis of independence. In 1922,
as now, but with more force, it was objec-
ted, as we have shown, that the revolted
states had no governments to be recog-
nized. Divisions and civi3 war existed
among the insurgents themselves.
Among the Cubans no such difficulty is
known to exist II Septcf11er, 1885,, IFS
we know by official documents printed on
the spot. the insurgent goyernment was
regularly organized; il constitution
adopted; President elected, and, in due
course the various branches of admins
tration set in motion Sinae then, so far
rs we are informed this government has
continued to perform its functions undis-
turbed. On the military side, as we Of
fially know, they have organized, equip
ped and maintained in the field sufficient
forces to battle the exerttons of 100000
Spanish soldiers. On the: civil side they
have organized their system of admins
tration in every province, Tor as we know
officially, they roam at will over at
least two-thirds of the inland country
Diplomaticaily, they have maintained 81
regularly accredited representative in the
United States for the past year. who has
never ceased to ask recognition and to
offer all possible information. There is
no reason to suppose that any portion Of
the Cuban people would be dissatisfied
by our recognizing their representative in
this country, or that they disagree in the
earnest wish for that recognition. The
same thing could hardly be said of all the
countries recognized by Monroe in 1922
Greece had no such stability when it was
recognized by England Russia and
France Belgium had nothing of the sort
when she was recognized by all the pow
ers in 1880. Or the States recognized by
the treaty Of Berlin, 1878, we need hard
ly say more than that they were the ere
atlres of Intervention.
The only question :that properly re-
mains for Congress to consider is the
mode which should be- adopted for the
step which Congress is pledged next 10
take.
THE government of lhe United States
entertains none but the friendliest feel
irgs toward Spain. It's most anX
ions wish is to avoid eyen the
appearance Of unfriandliness, which
is wholly foreign TO its thought.
For more than a: hundred years.
amid divergent or clasAing interests and
under frequent and severe strains the two
governments have succeeded in avoiding
collision, and there is :no friendly office
which Spain could ask which the United
States, within the limits of their establish
ed principles and policy would not be
glad to extend. In the present instance,
they are actuated by an earnest wish to
avoid the danger OF seeming to provoke
conflict.
The practice of Europe in regard to in
teryention, as in the instances cited, has
been almost invariably harsh and OPP
pressive. The practice of the United
States has been almost invariably mild
and forbearing. Among the precedents
which have been so :numerously cited,
there can be no doubG 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 properly be regarded as obli-
gatory for a similar situation to-day. The
course pursued by the United States in
the recognition of Colombia is the only
course which Congress can consistently
adopt"
Mr.. Hill Dem., New York;, who had
been seeking to secure recognition, now
asked if either of the reports by Mr.. |
Cameron and Mr.. Morgan discussed the
power Of Congress to pass
the resolution as reported, or whether
the reports were confined to the pfopriety |
Of passing the resolution.
Mr.. Cameron responded that the con