The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-08
THE CUBAN RESOLUTIONS.

Congress has given its moral support
to the Cuban insurgents. 1t remains
to be seen whether thar support will be
of any value. Congress requests Pres
ident Cleveland to exercise his offices
with Spain to secure the independence
OF Cuba.
The resolutions as passed are as fol
lows:
Resolved, That in the opinion of con-
gress, a condition of public war exists
between the government Of Spain and
the government proclaimed. and for
some time maintained by force Of arms
by the people of Cuba; and that the
United States Of America should main
tain strict neutrality between the
contending powers, according to each
all the rights OF belugerelts in the
ports Of the United States.
Resolved, Further. that the friendly
offices of the United States should be
offered by the president TO the Spanish
government for the recognition Of the
| independence Of Cuba.
| This Is a mere expression of sym
pathy for Cuba by congress coupled
with a suggestion TO the president The
president can act upon the suggestion
| or not just as he desires.
There appears to be a doubt as to just
what immediate effect these resOlu
| tons will have The recognition of
belligerency in international law means
that the nation so recognizing becomes
absolutely neutral to the two parties
warning. Having recognized the Gu
bans as belligerents, ordinarily the Gu
bans would at once have the right to
lit out expeditions and cruisers for war
en- American soil. Spain would also
have this right, as the United States
would be perfectly neutral and allow
neither nation an advantage. Ordi-
parily the United States would quit
doing police duty for Spain. 1t would
quit arresting Glibustering parties.
VIII the United States now allow
Cuban expeditions and Cuban cruisers
fitted out on American soil?
A nation recognizing another nation
as a belligerent can also demand that
the two warning nations keep entirely
away from the nation so recognizing.
The United States can either allow the
Cubans and the Spanish equal rights to
the use Of American soil, or it can deny
both Of them the use of the country's
land or water.
1t may be said that the United States
Will not allow either Cuba or Spain to
use American land for the purpose of
preparing for war.
This obligation extends to prohibit
ing the enliSting Of men, the equipping
of vessels and the fitting out of war
like expeditions. The reason that the
United States will enforce this prohi- |
bitiOn now is that such dn international
right was first proposed and enforced |
by the United States.
An act of congress passed in 1894, |
re-enacted in 1918, makes it a INSIDE |
meanOur
For any person within the jurisdic-
ton of the United States to augment
the force of any armed vessel belong
ing to one foreign power at war with
another power with whom they are at
peace, or to prepare any military ex-
petition against the territories of any
foreign nations with whom they ara at
peace, or to hire or enlist troops or
seamen for foreign military or naval
service, or TO be concerned in fitting
out any vessel to cruise or commit
hostiIties in foreign service, ETC."
England violated this law at one time
and the Alabama claims, which were
paid, will not be chicken coming
home to roost to America.
Cuba has been recognized as a bel /
ligerent. Her advantage is merely
moral one. This country is not going
to the active assistance of the CubanS,
but it is not going to render any more
assistance to Spain.
The United States has declared itself
neutral 1t was hitherto an assistant
to Spain. And that is all there is to it