Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1896-03-21
GEN. GRANT AND CUBA
Why He Did Not Recognize the
Cubans as BeIIigerents.
DIARY OF SECRETARY FISH
Had 1t Not Been for the Secretary,
Grant Would Have Sent i'm IA
BeIIigerency Message.

Albany, N. A1dTCn 10.-OuIluS the
debate on the Cuban question in the
United States senate many illusions
were made both by Senator Sherman
and Senator Hill as to the attitude Of
President Grant and the then secretary
of state, Hamilton Fish. Senator Sher-
man declared there was a conflict of
opinion over Cuban affairs between the
president and his secretary of state.
The speaker of the New York assem-
bly,, Hamilton Fish. son of the late Sec
rotary, is in possession of informant ton
upon this subject contained in the dia-
ries kept by his father that is of great
Importance in the controversy.
On the authority of these diaries it
is shown that President Grant had at
one time, under the circumstances of a
pending negotiation at Maurid, been in
clined to recognize the belligerency of
Cuba, bnt on June 10, 1870, the opinion
of the president and the cabinet was
unanimous that there were no facts to
justify the declaration of belligerency,
and that the satisfaction of the presi-
dent with the Cuban policy Of his ad-
ministration and it's effects upon the
country and the republican party found
expression q few weeks later in thanks
to the secretary of state for whatever
share in it may have been due to his
wisdom and judgment.
During his eight years service in the
state department Mr.. Fish kept, chiefly
as a reference. a record for his own
eyes, a diary in his own handwriting
containing a statement of his important
transactions with President Grant, the
members Of the cabinet, senators and
other leading men in regard to more
prominent foreign questions with which
he had to deal.
From May 81 to June IS, 1870, the date
of President Grants special message to
congress on Cuban belligerency, the en-
tries in the diary are many and very
full in regard to the origin, preparation,
discussions in the cabinet and final com
pletiOn of the special message. Some
of these entries have peculiar interest
in the light of recent events, and were
shown today to the correspondent of the
Associated Press.
Under date of February 10, 1870, there
is a suggestion of a rift in the unity of
the republican party in defense of that
policy respecting foreign affairs, which
policy the president had announced in
his annual message of the previous De-
cember. The entry is as follows:
Called this morning (by appoint
menO to see Senator Sherman on the
subject of the unit of coinage. After
conversing on that question l referred
to his resolution introduced in the sem
ate and his speech in favor of recognize
ing the belligerency of Cuba, and asked
II he had recently examined the treaty
with Spain of 1895. He said he had not,
and was not aware of the existence OF
such treaty. I referred to its provisions
and to the probable consequence of the
exercise by Spain of the right of visit
or of search, thought our people
would not submit to it, and that the
consequences would soon develop in
war; said that fighting was not bellig-
erency; there is fighting but not bellig-
erency in Cuba; there is no government
of the insurrectionary party; no politi-
cal organization, etc. He admitted he
had not examined the subject closely,
but said there is a good deal of excite
ment in the country on the subject Adj
Vised him III connection with the pass
age of his resolution of belligerency to
prepare bills for the increase of the
public debt and to meet the increased
appropriation which will be necessary
for the army navy, etc."
An evident solicitude among republi-
cans lest the party in the presence of
the approaching autumn election,
should be divided on the Cuban ques-
tlon by reason of representations to the
country in regard to the presidents real
attitude, is indicated on June 10 by this
entry:
Judge Ortiz and General Butler called
III the evening to urge the sending of