The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-30
The Minority Report.

The Minority Report
Mr.. Cameron presented minority report
on the Cuban resolution from the commit
tee on foreign relations. Mr.. Cameron's
resolution follows:
Resolved, That the President is hereby
requested to interpose his friendly ofhces
with the Spanish government for recogni-
ton of the independence OF Cuba.
Mr.. Cameron submitted long report on
the substitute, reviewing the historical part
of the affair and the course OF President
Grant during the Cuban revolt wnen ne
was President. He recites the striking con-
trast between the action of Spain In rec
ognizing the Confederate States during the
American civil war and the failure to rec
ognize the Cuban insurgents as beliigerents.
Referring to the insurrection In Cuba soon
after the close of our civil war Senator
Cameron says 1T Is said that early in
the year 1859 a proclamation was I actually ny
Cubans as belligerents, although the TACT
was known to very few persons This proc
lamation was not promulgated owing to
the opposition of Secretary Fish" The Sen
ator also quoted at some length from the
message of President Grant for 1869, in
which the President predicted that in due
time Spain must find 1t to her interest TO
establish the independence of her depend
ent. He refers to the diplomatic enorts
made at that time by this government 10
be on the following basis: First. independ-
ence of Cuba to be acknowledged by
Spain: second Cuba to pay Spain for the
abolition of slavery. Our government was
to guarantee the payment or the Indemnity
Mr. Cameron attributes the fact that our
government failed at that time to recognize
the belligerency of the Cubans to the prom
ises of reform made in Spain and to the
internal strife In Spain which rendered our
government loath to press an outside COM
plication. He says also that Mr.. Fish was
irritated by the operations OF the Cuban
junto in this country. which at times IN.
that time had troubles of our own in the
South The action OF our government was,
he says. in striking contrast to that OF
Spain in recognizing the Confederates as
belligerents.
Mr.. Cameron also refers to other revolu-
tons during which our government r, nv. was on
OF international requirements" he says,
cannot fail TO perceive that provocation
from Spain was overlooked by our govern
patience than any other government OF equal
power would have tolerated" After
quoting at length the report made by Gen:
highest Spanish authorities have been
Obliged to confess that the grievances of
the Cubans are just and their aspirations
ism government in Cuba is an armed mon
archy. THE danger and the scandal OF the
Cuban situation" he says have been such
condition of Armenia" He asserts that a
state of war exists and that with that
alone we have to deal The precedents, for
action were to be decided by precedent
alone we should not be able to hesitate"
Mr.. Cameron asserts that the insurgents
have made a record which entities them to
recognition. and adds: IF the government
OF the United States still refrains from rec
ognizing the belligerency of the insurgents
after this conclusive proof OF the facts the
reason doubtless is that in the absence of
legal complications the question becomes
wholly political. and that its true solution
must lie not in a recognition OF bellgerency,
but i'm a recognition of independence" He
says in, conclusion that he is confident that
no other action accords with our friendly
relations with Spain. our just sympathy
with Cuba and our dignity and consistency.