The aegis & intelligencer., 1896-12-24
THE PRESIDENT AND CUBA.

THE PRESIDENT AND CUBA.
There is a spirited contest ON hand
at Washington between President
Cleveland and his secretary of State,
Mr.. Olney, on the other side, and
Congress on the other. Mr.. Olney
claims, and we believe rightly, that
the recognition of independence of a
a new State is the function of the Ex-
ecutive and not of Congress. History
bears out this position.
Since the United States achieved
their own independence. Mexico, Peru,
Chill and others have thrown off
Spanish rule, and the question of re-
cognition of independence has repeat
edly come before Congress. The posi-
tion taken on all these occasions was
that the question of recognition is for
the President to decide.
In 1929, when Henry Clay urged the
immediate recognition of the revolted
States, Congress did not for moment
pretend that it had the power to re-
cognize the independence of the re
volted States. The resolution adopted
by Congress at that time was as fol-
lows: THAT the House participates
with the people of the United States
in the deep interest which they feel
for the success of the Spanish provin-
ces of South America which are strug-
/, &, ~,
dependence, and that it will give its
constitutional support to the Presi-
dent of the United States 1chenecer
he mag deem it erpediem to recognize
the sovereignty and independency of
any of the said provinces"
Henry Clay was the author of this
resolution, and James Monroe was
President of the United States at the
time.
When the question of the recogni
ton of Texas came up, Andrew Jack
son was President, and Henry Clay
was in the Senate. The Senate and
House of Representatives passed sep
srately the following resolution:
"Resolred, That the independence
Of Texas ought to be acknowledged
iy the United States whenever salts
tctory information shall be received
ttdt it has IN SHcces$fu operation q
rjCH government capable Of peIJorH1-
zag the duties and tulfhing the obi
aations Of an independent p0,cer.'
In the following December, at the
opening session of Congress, President
Jackson, in a special message, gave
his view of what had been and should
he the policy of the United States in
matters of this kind. In the contest
between Spain and the revolted colo
ries we stood aloof, and waited not
ouly until the ability of the new States
to protect themselves was fully estab-
lished, but until the danger of their
being again subjugated had entirely
passed away. Then, dld not until
then, 1Uefe they recogHized. Such was
our course in regard to Mexico herself.
The same policy was observed in all
the disputes growing out of the sepa-
ration into distinct governments of
those Spanish States, who
began or carried on the contest with
the parent country, united under one
form of government, We acknowl-
edged the separate independence of
New Grenada, of Venezuela and of
hair inHannT1 n
existence was no longer a subject of
dispute, or was actually acquiesced i'll
by those with whom they had been
previously united. 1t is true that with
regard to Texas the civil authority of
Mexico has been expelled, its invading
army defeated, the chief of the repub-
lie (Santa Anna),himself captured, and
all present power to control the newly
organized government of Texas ami
hilated within its confines. But on the
other hand, there is in appearance al
least, an immense disparity of physi-
cal force on the side of Texas. The
Mexican republic, under another exc
cutive, is rallying its forces under a
new leader, and menacing fresh in
vasion to recover its lost dominion.
Upon the issue of this threatened in
vasion, the independence of Texas
may be considered as suspended, and
were there nothing peculiar in the rel
ative situation of the Unitel States
and Texas, our Acknowledgements of
its independence at such Il crisis could
scarcely be reg arded as consistent with
that prudent reserve with which we
have hitherto held ourselves bound to
treat all similar questions.
Prudence suems to dictate that we
should still stand aloof and maintain
oar present attitute, if not until Mex
iao itself, or one of the great foreign
powers shall recognize the independ
enee OF the new government, at least
until the lapse of time or the course
OF events shall have proved beyond
eavil or dispute the ability of the peo-
pis of thai country to maintain their
separate sovereignty and to uphold
TIE government cOilsIlbuIeu ny GhcLh'
Neither of the contending parties can
Justly complain of this course. BY
pursuing it, we are but carrying out
the long g-established policy which has
secured to us respect and influence
abroad and inspired confidence at
El Elsme.''
This l,as been the settled DOlicv of
TINS government. The present Con
gress is seeking TO reverse this policy,
4Ln thn nnwer frnn the executive