Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-18
The Sober Second Thought of the People
Will Demand the Facts

From an able and sensible article of
tie N. Y. Herald of March nth, we
make the following extract which de
serves consideration
"Belligerency for the insurgents is
the jngo cry. Do the people of the
country know what recognition of
Cuban belligerency at this time would
mean The Herald will tell them.
1t would mean the right of Spain to
overhaul every American merchant
man on the high seas, the right to
blockade the whole island of Cuba,
and exemption from liability for all
American property destroyed and all
American rights Violated by Cuban
insurgents. 1t would mean no materi-
al advantage to the Cubans and very
decided disadvantage to the United
States and the interests of it's citizens.
Apart from these considerations, does
the Cuban situation call for, justify or
excuse recognition of belligerent
rights Belligerency is matter of
fact and law, not of emotion or clamor.
By the consensus of publicists and the
usage of nations there must be a
situation to warrant tan organized
army, established government, occu
patton of territory, power OF resistance,
chance of success, sc. When Spain
recognized the belligerency of the
no
army and navy. 1t held an enor
nous territory and numerous ports.
1t had 10 regularly established govern
ment in active operations President,
Cabinet, Congress. courts and State
Legislatures. It performed all the
functions of government, making laws,
administering justice, leyying taxes,
issuing money, providing postal SER
vice, and so on.
Are any of these essentials OF bel
ligerency found in the Cuban stu
alton /? Have the insurgents navy or
any ports Have they a government
in active operation, or even a seat OF
Have they Congress
or courts Do they make laws or ad
minister justice? Do they exercise
any government functions ? These
vitality significant questions were
by President Grant IN the
latter part oflthe last3'rebellion as fol-
lows
Applying to the existing conditions
of affairs in Cuba the tests recognized
by publicists and writer's on inter
national law, and which have been
observed by nations of dignity. honesty
and power when free from sensitive or
selfish and unworthy motives, l fail to
find in the insurrect1on the existence
of such a substantial political organi
cation. real, palpable and manifest to
the world, having the forms and
CAPABLE of the ordinary functions OF
toward its own people and
to other States, which courts for the
of justice, with local
habitation. possessing such Organl
cation of force, such material. such
of territory. as to take the
contest out of the category OF mere
rebellious insurrectiOn or occasional
skirmishes. and place it on the terrible
footing OF war TO WHICH EoCOSui1ioA
Of beIligerency would aim to elevate 1t.
The contest, moreover, is solely on
land; the insurrection has not possessed
itself Of single seaport whence 1t may
send forth it's flag, nor has it any means
Of communication with foreign Powers
except through the military lines of its
adversaries.
Suci, was the situation when Presi-
dent Graut warm Cuban sympathizer,
regarded recognition of belligerency
as ..unwise and premature as matter
If exped;encv and ''indefenslble as a
measure of right" Is the situation
different to-day? That is question
70 be determined by Mr. Cleveland
rom facts, not by a lingo Senate from
emotion or clamor.
EVERYBODY MUST REGISTER ON OR
BEFORE THE End TUESDAY IN MAY, in
no xynrTH AT THE SPRING