The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-09
CLEVELAND AND CUBA.

lar approval is not the only thing TO
he considered in the treatment of
grave international questions; in fact,
the performance of a strict information
al duty often brings popular disap-
prevail. That the president has en-
| deavoyed to subserve the interests of
the country to the best of his ability
in the Cuban matter there is no
doubt
This is not the first time that the
Cuban question has figured prominent
ly in presidential messages. President
Grant had considerable to say about it
in his annual message in 1862 A few
passages from it will show how con-
servatiye he was. Speaking of bellig-
erency, he said:
The question of belligerency is one
of fact, not to be decided by symDa-
! thies for or Drejudices against either
party The relations between the
parent state and the insurgents must
amount, in fact, to war in the sense of
| international law. Fighting, though
fierce and Drotracted, does not con-
| Stitute war; there must be military
| forces acting in accordance with the
| rules and customs of war-iags of
!
| etc-and TO Justify an act of belliger
| ency there must be, above all, a de
facto political organization of the in
! surSents sufficient in character and
resources to constitute it, if left to
| itself, state among nations capable
! of discharging the duties of a state
| and of meeting the just responsibilities
it may incur as such toward other
! powers in the discharge of its national
| duties.
Applying the best information which
have been enabled to gather, whether
| from official or unofficial sources, in
| Guiding the very exaggerated state
| ments which each party gives to all
| That may prejudice the opposite or
| give credit to its own side of the cues
! ton, am unable to see, in the present
| condition of the contest in Cuba, those
| elements which are requisite to con-
! stitute war in the sense of internation-
| al law. The insurgents hold no town
| or city; have no established seat of
| government; they have no prize courts;
| no organization for the receiving and
! collecting of revenue; no seaport to
| which a prize may be carried or
| through which access can be had by
a foreign power to the limited interior
! territory and mountain Businesses
which they. occupy. The existence of
| legislature representing any popular
| In the uncertainty that hangs
| around the entire instruction there IS
| no Dalpable evidence of an election, of
any delegated authority or OF any gov
| eminent outside the limits of the
/ camps occupied from day to day by
| troops. There is no commerce; no
| trade, either internal or foreign; no
| manufactures. 1t is a well estab lished
principle of public law that a recogni-
] ton by a foreign state of belligerent
! rights to insurgents under circum-
| stances such as now exist in Cuba if
| not justified by necessity, is a gratui-
| tous demonstration of moral support OF
| the rebellion. Such necessity may yet
hereafter arrive. hut it has not vet ar
rived, nor is its probability clearly to
be seen
If it be war between Spain and Cuba
| and be so recognized, it is our duty to
provide for the consequences which
| rIay ensue in the lbarrassment of
our commerce and the interference
( with our revenue. If belligerency be
recognized the commercial marine of
! the United States becomes liable to
| search and to seizure by the commits
stoned cruisers of both parties-they
| become subject to the adjudication of
| prize courts.
Compare this with what Mr. Cleve-
land has to say upon the same subject.
He SAYS:
If Spain has not yet re-esta blished
her authority. neither have the insur-
| gents yet made good their title to be
! regarded a an independent state. In
deed, as the contest has gone on, the
Dretense that civil government exists on
! he island, except so far as Spain is
able to maintain it, has been practical
w i.ar nd
such a government, more or less inn
perfectly, in the large towns and their
immediate suburbs; but, that exception
being made, the entire country is either
given over TO anarchy or is subject to
the military occupation of one or the
other party. 1t is reported, indeed, on
reliable authority, that at the demand
Of the commander-in-c chief of the in
surgent army, the putative Cuban A@lv-
eminent has now given up all attempt
to exercise its functions, Leaving the
government confessedly (what there IS
best reason for supposing it always to
have been, in fact,) a government
merely on paper. Were the Spanish
armies able 10 meet their antagonists
in the open, or in pitched battle,
prompt and decisive results might be
looked for, and the immense superiority
# the Spanish forces in numbers, dis
cipline and equipment could hardly
fail to tell greatly to their advantage.
General Sherman once said that
War is hell" That there is hell in
Cuba no one doubts. And why is hell
in Cuba not war in Cuba?
If affairs in Cuba as they are at
present continue but long enough,
devastation will be the fate of the is
land and humiliation the destiny of
The people This being the case, the
people will agree with the president
that a time may arrive when a cor
rect policy and care for our interests
as well as a regard for the interests of
other nations and their citizens joined
by considerations of humanity and a
desire to see a rich and fertile country
intimately related TO US saved from
complete devastation, will constrain
our government to such action as viii
subserve the interests involved and at
the same time promise to Cuba and its
inhabitants an opportunity to enjoy
he blessings of peace When VIII
arrive?
We repeal, thA mere the presi tents
message on the Cuban question is con-
sidered, the more general will h. al
Droval OF Il be.
SILVER AND TARIFF.