St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-16


NOR of a belligerency proclamation
having been signed by President Grant
1t is true that in the summer of 1869,
and while the proffer of mediation
suggested to the president by Paul s..
Forbes as coming from Gen. Prim,
was pending at Madrid, the state de-
partment had, on request of the pres
ident. prepared a draft of a proclama-
ton of belligerency. Some time after
the president signed it, went on jour-
ney to the West, and on the way wrote
the following letter:
PROCLAMATION ORDERED.
Kane, Pa, Aug. IA, 1S69.-Hon. Hamilton
Fish, Secretary of State-Dear Sir: On refec-
ton l think it advisable to complete the neu-
trality proclamation which / signed before
leaving Washington, and to issue it if Gen.
Sickles has not received an entirely satisfac-
tory reply to his proposition to mediate be-
tween Spain and the Cubans; in fact, l am
not clearly satisfied that we would not be
justified In intimating to Spain that we would
look with some alarm upon her proposition to
send 20 900 more troops to Cuba to put down.
as Americans believe, the right of self-gov-
ernnent on this continent. Not that Spain
has not a perfect right to prosecute as Wig
orous war as she pleases upon her own SOIL
observing the rules of civilized warfare, but
that the rights of our citizens have been so
wantonly invaded by Spanish troops, or vol
unteers, that such course would arouse the
sympathies of our citizens in favor of the
Cubans to such degree as to require all our
vigilance to prevent them from giving ma
terial aid. The question might we'll be asked
whether Spain would not be weaker with 90
600 more troops in Cuba; and also by u.s.
whether we would be justified by our own
people to let them do so without at least put
ting the Cubans upon the same footing with
their adversaries first Except the issuing
Of the proclamation, l do not give this as in
struction, but as something to think Of
whether 1t is not sound. If deemed so, the
policy of acting upon it will be discussed
afterwards. l will be in New York city on
Thursday next on my way to Newport; will
be at Mr.. Corbins few hours before sailing.
Yours truly, u. S. Grant
GRANT INDORSES FISH.
On the 10th Of July, 1870, in a CONVEX
sation in which Mr. Fish had ex-
pressed to the president his desire to
retire from the Office, which he had
accepted on the understanding that he
was to hold it only till the president
could perfect plans in regard to it.
Mr.. Fish was strongly urged by the
president to remain through his term,
and assured him that his course was
not only entirely satisfactory to him,
but gave satisfaction and confidence
to the country. These are the words
of the diary upon the subject:
The president said, without referring to
other instances-on two important occasions
at least, your steadiness and wisdom have
have fallen. On one of these occasions you
led me against my judgment at the time:
you almost forced me, in the matter of sign
ing the Cuban message. I now see how
right you were, and desire most sincerely
to thank you. The message was right and
the whole country acquiesces in it."
He repeated that he wished to thank me
especially for these two occasions. They
were: One preventing the issuing, last Au-
gust and September, of the proclamation of
Cuban belligerency which he had signed, and
ho ntl inct tr1Int no IN
sign (Which I did and to issue (Which l did
not and, second, the Cuban message of June