The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1896-03-21
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The Da11es Daily Chronicle.
SATURDAY. MARCH q. 1896
THE RECOGNITION BUSINESS.

There seems to be considerable mis-
understanding upon the matter, now
before congress, as to the recognition OF
belligerent rights to the Cubans. The
proposition is not 10 entangle this ma
tion in the least, in any promise to give
NIT US to any policy leading to any pros
pect of hostilities with other nations.
Nor does it in any degree precipitate
action detrimental to the upbuilding of
the cause of the universal adoption of
republics as higher growth for human
ity than the old monarchies; on the
contrary it is in direct line with that
action, course which this nation IS
presumably unalterably committed to.
The recognition is in fact only an ex
preston of sympathy for the cause of
Cubans, and which they certainly have
well earned by the persistent, brave and
determined stand they have maintained
against such fearful odds.
The Globe-Democrat says: "The
rights of belligerents cannot be strictly
defined, SO much depends upon the cir
cumstances of the case. In a general
way, however, they imply a recognition
of the fact that state of war exists, and
that equal consideration should be given
to the two parties engaged in 1t. Thus,
in the present instance, the Cuban in
surgents will be allowed to send vessels
into our ports the same as Spain is per-
mitted to do, and private traders will he
allowed to sell them certain kinds of
goods. But neither side can buy arms,
ammunition, or any other military sup
plies from us. It will also be the duty
of our government to prevent the fitting
out of expeditions in our territory for
the assistance of either party; and our
merchant ships will be open to search
on the high seas for articles contraband
of war. There will not necessarily be a
war with Spain, any more than there
was when she hastened to recognize the
Southern confederacy, but there is pos
sibility of it, and the Cubans will proba-
bly, do all they can to bring about such
a result. They cannot claim assistance
from us as right; there is no obliga-
tion on our part to fight their battles, or
to do anything more in their interest
than in that of Spain, practically speak
ing.
at is great mistake to suppose that
the recognition of the belligerent rights
of the Cubans means declaration OF
war against Spain. Those who indorse
such an expression of sympathy do not
wish to make two wars where there is
now but one. Their desire is to pro-
mote the early conclusion of the one now
IN progress, and to put stop to the tax
ing of life and the destruction of prop
erty. The Cubans have maintained
themselves for a year against superior
numbers, and the proposed inauguration
of policy Of massacre against them is
equivalent to confession by the Spanish
commander that they can not be beaten
by legitimate and justifiable means. II
seems to the people of the United States,
therefore, that the time has come to say
that these struggling patriots are en-
titled to the rights OF belligerents, and
to all the advantages to be derived from
a formal assertion of our desire for theil
success. The charge that we are looking
to the acquisition of Cuba has nothing
to support it. There is no sentiment O
that kind in congress, and no party il
committed to such plan. The feeling
in favor of the Cubans is entirely free
from any expectation of territorial ex-
pansicn in that direction. It pertains
only to the question of right, of justice
OF propriety in the adjustment of the re-
lations of Spain and Cuba. The insur.
gents have waged prolonged and de,