The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-04
THE PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE
OPPOSED TO RECOGNITION OF
THE CUBANS.
Thinks There is Not at This Time Suf-
fcient Ground For Such


Washington. March 3.The Presi-
dent and his Cabinet undoubtedly are
strongly opposed to the present rec
ognition Of the belligerency of the
Cuban insurgents and to any declara-
ton concerning their independence us
embodied in recent Congressional reso-
lutions. The following is not an off
cial statement, but it known from care
full inquiry that it accurately repre-
sents the administrations views Of the
matter:
While the President and members Of
the Cabinet personally feel the sympa-
thy common to all Americans with
those Cubans Who are contending for
seif-eoyerumcnt. they feel that in their
official action they should not depart
from the vell-settled principles which
were followed BY former Presidents
and Secretaries Of State during prior
instructions in Cuba.
These were clearly set forth by Gen-
eral Grant ia his message Of 1875 in
which he dealt with the question Of
beIligerency.
Both independence and befIigerency
are facts and their recognition by 9th
er powers as the term applies, is mere
~ formal acknowledgement Of a state
of things which rightly or wrongly has
come about.
When a people united under some
e
ment which administers its functions
by the usual methods, comes to occupy
and control a known territory over
which ii is competent TO administer
justice and within which it affords pro-
lection to citizens and strangers, a new
State exists. Refusal of recognition
would not change the fact any more
than premature recognition" could
create it, The former would be mere
" slight TO the new government just
as the latter is merely an affront to
the old one. The question necessarily
is always what government is actually
in control OF the country?
Recognition Of belligerency depends
upon the same facts, and is only a
modified form of recognizing independ-
ence, though the latter implies more
perfect accomplishment. The diner
ence between mere insurrection and
war, though when both armed bodies
are in conflict, is that in the former
only one sovereign power is engaged
while in the latter there must necessa-
rily be two. If an armed conflict be
carried on by a substantial political
organization or real power, manifest
to the world as having the forms ant,
capable of the ordinary functions of
government towards its own people
and to other States," having a local
habitation where it may be dealt with
by other nations, then there is a war;
and refusal to recognize belligerency
would be wilful. In the absence of
these features there is nothing ito take
the contest out Of the category OF q
mere rebellious insurrection, or occa-
sional skirmishes, and place il on the
terrible footing Of war" The pretense
of recognizing what does not exist is
always, and justly, rewarded as an un-
friendly act and gratuituous demon
stration Of moral support Of the re-
bellion."
1t is understood that, judged by these
tests, the administration does not
think the present stage OF affairs in
Cnba justifies any change in the at
titude of the government. It's func-
tion is to act and not TO express feeling.
The only action now proper is to