The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-19
cubans Entitled TO Recognition.
Mavo w Hazeltine In North American

Mayo w. hazeittne IN 1Noteh
Review for December.
T, ,s well known that the revolutionists
have organized a de facto government
They have adopted q constitution, they
have assumed q national name; they pos
sess a national flag, and they nave as
patched a delegate plenipotenuary 10 treat
with the government OF the United states.
It is true that they possess no navy anu
no seaport but in this respect they are not
much worse off than were the thirteen
American colonies when their independ-
e.nca was recognized by France. They are
quite as we'll of as were their Spanish
American kinsmen when the independence
of the Peruvian and Colombian repupllcs
was recognized by the United states, TOT
at that time the mother country retained
control OF all the principal seaports on the
Spanish Main and on the seacoast or Peru.
They are better off than were the Greeks
when England, France and Russia inter-
posed to assure their deiiverance from the
Ottoman yoke. From another point OF
view the claim OF the Cubans TO be recog-
nized as bellgerents IS even more ire
sistibie How can we refuse TO say that a
state of war exists in Cuba when Spain
herself avows the fact by assembling I'M
der her colors on the island upward or
200 coo soldiers? How can any one describe
as local and transient disturbance an
upheaval which for nearly two years
Spain mas StrlVen IN vain 10 SUPPRESS, al
though she has taxed 10 the utmost her
resources In men and money? Spain is
forced at this moment 10 maintain in Cuba
an army twice as large as the Ottoman
sultan and his vassal Mehemet Ali could
muster IN 1928 for the sub5ugation OF
Greece, and four times as large as the
glo-German force which Great Britain
was able to launch against her revolted
American colonies during our revolution
airy war If II is not war which exists In
Cuba why In the name Of common sense
has Spain sent thlther nearly the whole
of her available navy, and a land force
that will presently number almost quar-
ter Of million troops? Induhitably war
IL Is and as we have shown IL TO be a
righteous one the Cubans are entitled TO
a recognition OF IT'S existence at the hands
OF foreign powers, and especially OF the
American republics. IL is idle TO say that
the Cubans, II they were wise, would not
insist on being recognized as helligerents.
True enough II Is that such a recognition
on the part OF the United States might
subject us TO some Inconvenience. The
parent government would be thereby re-
neved from responsibility for acts done in
the insurgeut territory; TIA blockade OF
Cuban ports would have to be respected,
and Spain would acquire right TO exer-
cIsa against neutral commerce all the
powers Of a party to q maritime war. or
trivial moment TO us. however. would be
the Inconvenience resulting from the
right OF search. compared 70 the damage
wrought by prolongstion OF the struggle
The destruction OF lives and property. the
annihilafion OF agricultural and mining
industries and the Impeachment OF the
islands commerce with this country. Al
ready our interchange OF products With
Cuba has been cut down TO fraction OF
what K was at the beginning OF the war
and investments OF American capital are
seriously threatened