Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-01-21
RECOGNIZE CUBANS

RECOGNIZE CUBANS
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND WILL AC-
CORD THEM BELLIGERENT RIGHTS,
And Ho Will DO 1t Right Away, 1t ID
Said Rumored Negotiations fer Sale
OF the Island to Great Britain Said to
Have Hastened His Action.
ST. LOUIS. Jan 2o.-The Republic, in
summarizing dispatches from Florida,
New York and Washington says: A
Crisis has been reached in the Cuban
war. Recognition of bell gerency of
the patriot army by the United States
IS imminent. President Cleveland is
| said to have prepared a proclamation
which may be issued any time in the
Immediate future. The president, it
is declared, intended to recognize the
| insurgents last week when he learned
of the recall Of Marshal Campos, but
under the circumstances the executive
thought that such recognition would be
regarded as inopportune and unfriendly
to Spain, and he, therefore, withheld
the important document pending the
appointment of successor to Campos.
Within the past 4S hours, however,
President Cleveland is said to have
learned that Spain, despairing of a sue"
cessful termination Of the war, had
offered to Sell Cuba to Great Britain.
Rumors to this effect were circulated
in the East and spread like wildtire
over the country. The rumors seem to
have been confirmed by dispatches from
Florida The governors Of the South.
| ern states, according to these adv1ces,
have been requested by the war de-
partment to prepare the state militia
men for immediate service. Troops are
already beginning to move in Florida.
The belief in some quarters is that the
flying squadron of Great Britain is DIES.
tined for service in American waters.
If this is so war will result. The ces.
sion of Cuba to Great Britain would be
resisted by the United States to the last
ditch. Official information from the
White House is lacking, but it is evi.
dent that serious complications are at
hand.
The Cuban Case is Complete.
Senior Palma, head of the Cuban party
in the United States, wires from Wash
ington:
"Our case is complete. The presi-
dent and congress will recognize the
insurgent cause"
Senior Palma adds that it is not neces.
sary that the insurgents should hold
port, but that, as a matter Of fact, Gen.
eral Gomez has taken half a dozen
ports in the past week, leaving the
Spanish army penned up at Havana
The president, it is said, will issue a
proclamation Immediately. Authori.
ties agree that the executive, and not
congress, should take the initiative.
Congress will support the president
heartily.
Olney Would Have Acted Sooner.
President Cleveland has hesitated to
take so important steps while the off,
Cial head of the revolution in this coun-
try is enjoying the protection of Amer.
lean citizenship. Secretary Olney has
not felt so mach embarrassment from
this cause. He has been for some time
in favor of immediate recognition and
has been urging the president on, but
Mr.. Cleveland, being naturally eau
tious, has moved with great delibera.
ton. The report that Spain had lost
all hope Of subduing the insurgents and
that she was negotiating the sale of the
island to Great Britain has caused the
president to take action.
Might Recognize Cuban Independence.
A report has it that the president
may go beyond the original proposition,
and recognize the independence Of
Cuba. This, however, may be taken
with large grain of salt There is
distinction between independence and
belligerency. Belligerency can be
recognized when insurgents have es.
tablished a form of government. In.
dependence, on the other hand, accord
ing to the principle and invariable
practice of the United States, is recog-
nized "only when the legal government
Of another nation, by its establishment
or the exercise Of power, is supposed to
have received the express or implied
assent of the people,
Decided to Nip the Scheme.
The president, according to this yer-
sion of the story, learned of the pro-
posed deal and, after conference with
Senior Palma, determined to nip it in
the bud by recognizing state war in
Cuba and enforcing belligerent rights
as laid down in the international law.
The hasty orders for troops, if they
really have been given, can mean but
one thing, to-wit: That the United
States will resist any attempt on the
part of Spain to emerge from the war
by ceding Cuba to Great Britain or any
other European county.
If the crisis is as acute as it would ap.
pear to be from the reports circulated,
Admiral Bunce will doubtless be in
structed to leave Hampton Roads on
short notice with an expedition to Cuba.
American interests on the island would
afford ground for the landing of troops
in event of an emergency.