The morning times., 1896-05-18
SPANS REMoSsTRANCE.

II sounds rather funny, but it is never
theIess true, that Spain is going TO address
a remonstrance to the United States like
wise a protest against the attitude Of this
government lin re'' Cuba. Senior DuDuy
DC LONE, the Spanish minister ut Washing
ton, is to present the remonstrance and
file the protest. His Will lie no easy task.
for it is difficult to ina CINE what there is
to demonstrate about. The government OF
the United States has scrupulously observed
the obligations imposed upon il by treaty
International law and usage, and by its
own neutrality laws. In fact, it has several
times gone beyond the ordinary limits and
made seizures OF vessels and crews that
were not justified by the circumstances,
and the more liberal and Just definition OF
what constitutes an armed expedition has
been laid down by our courts ut a Ccmpara-
lively recent date. Even since then our
revenue marine officials. acting under
orders, have kept a vigilant lookout for
anything in the way OF shipment Of arms.
etc. that might transcend the la wful limita-
ton.
Against what can Spain remonst rate?
Surely her diplomats and statesmen must
be so far acquainted with the constitutional
preroSatves and rights Of American citi-
Zens q IS to know that these latter cannot he
prohibited to express sympathy with the
cause Of the Cuban insurgents and to CON
tribute of their means to that cause.
Surely they must also know that our gov
ernnent mas no extra judicial authority,
and that the President and his heads OF
| the various executive departments of the
| government are as much bound by the
| decision Of the courts as is the huniblest
| citizen in the land. No remnnstrance or
| protest will lie against either an ex-
| preston of opinion by Congress, or tie
| actions OF individual citizens so long as
| these are not iufractions of the neutrality
! laws.
In one respect the remonstrance will be
| Of some service. II will tend to show in
a measure in what light the Spanish govern
ment now regards the struggle in Cuba.
| II has declared that n state OF war does
not exist in Cuba, but that it is merely 4
| suppressed. In order to do this It has
been found necessary to send nearly 15O..
600 OF the best soldiers of Spain to Cuba
and even now it is announced that 60.
900 more are to be sent in September
Thirty or forty warships patrol the oasts
of the island; the Spanish treasury has
been emptied and all to wrestle with q
| few bandits in q province in whch-ac
cording to the Spanish governments S version
| peace reigns and not war. In that peace
ful country Weyler butchers helpless cap
tiyes, and even women and children are
not safe from him. He processes to be-
eager for n battle with the insurgent forces
but so far that ca gerness has developed nc
striking results.
Ii Spain goes into the demonstrating
business, it is probable that the reply may
not be to her liking, for the fact may be
thrown into her teeth that a nation which
conducts a warfare in the manner nov
prevailing in Cuba under Weylcr's orders
against people that have rebeled a agains
the most cruel yoke ever placed upon tn,
neck Of freemen, has forfeited the righ
To a patient or even a respectful hearin G
|
The latest news from New York reflects
the impression that Messrs Platt ct al
are casting longing glances toward tn,
Mckinley band wagon.
Despite the various boomers of Presi
Dental candidates the whole question vii
likely be settled by the American elec
| torate.
The High Seas.
The high seas include the whole exten
OF sea so far as it is not the EXCLUSIVE
property of any particular country. Th
rule OF international law is that ever
country bordering on the sea has the ex
exclusive sovereignty over such sea U
The extent of three miles from its shore
but all beyond, and which is not within