The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-01
THE CUBAN REsOLUTiON-IHEC oN-
SEoIE<(Es.

| THE CUBAN REsOLUTtON-ihb' oN-
SEQUENCES.
We do not see how the Senate could
| have done less than to pass the resoiu-
lions IT did pass concerning Cuba, ana
,yo do not see how the House can fail TO
pass them also. as it no doubt VIII. O"-
ing to the Spanish censorship of the press
II has been very difficult for this country
to get reliable information Of what Is
Transporting in Cuba, but we have learned
enough 10 know that Spanish rule there
is nothing but one unending programme
Of pillage, robbery, murder and oppres-
sion; that the new Captain-General, Wey-
Ter, is a brute, fend in human form,
and that the Instruction is Of such pro-
portions that it has in its ranks, or
amongst its sympathizers, practically the
whole population Of Cuba. In answer TO
a question from Senator Lindsay as TO
what proportion, If any, Of the people Of
| cuba are in sympathy with Spain in her
attempt to suppress this revolution Sen
ator Vest said in his speech last Thurs
day:
"None FROM my information. and I
| have read from the Spanish press. for
| the Cubans have no press. From the
| Spanish, under the espionage Of the Span
ish authorities, II can be proven that
every Cuban is in sympathy with the
patriotic endeavor TO achieve independ-
ence and self-goyernment upon that is
| land"
The case is clearly one, therefore, calling
for the resolutions that have been passed.
An idea has gone out that the passage
Of these resolutions by Congress must
produce war between this country and
Spain. and Senator Morgan, the chairman
of the Committee on Foreign Relations,
said, i'm reporting the resolutions, that
he had been greatly embarrassed in reach
ing his conclusions by the fixed belief
that they would cause Spain to declare
war against this country. Mr. Morgan
said that he had concluded, however,
that it was our duty to discount the
future and to draw our sword and lay
it upon the table, and say 10 Spain. II
you want to take it up, take It up"
We do not see that there is anything in
the Senate resolutions tending to war
with Spain. They contain two PROPOSE
tions-one recognizing state Of war in
Cuba, and that the insurrectionists are
not mere rioters. but belligerents; the
other directing the President TO offer the
friendly services Of this country TO the
Spanish Government with a view TO Sc
curing the recognition of the independ-
20 ~, 4. -,
tended by these resolutions, and she
must go out of her way to take offence
at them. She can. Of course. make any
thing whatever a casus beli. But We have
the plainest right 10 recognize the bel
heerency Of the Cubans if we please and
we have the plainest right TO request
Spain, respectfully. to recognize their in
dependence.
She can, Of course, take offence at this
action. as she can take offence at any
act but il would be without reason, and
the consequences would have to be upon
her own head.
A good deal Of loose talk is going on
as to what will be the effect of recognize
ing the Cubans as belligerents, and we
think it well. therefore, TO state some Of
the most pronounced results.
1t will have this for one: While the
war retains the status of an insurrection
only, it is the duty of Spain. under inter-
national law, 10 guard the property OF
Americans in Cuba, and many Ameri-
cans own valuable sugar plantations
Ill.
and their owners could show that the
Spanish Government might have prevent
cd the destruction, our Government would
have the right TO call upon Spain to re-
imburse our injured citizens. But IL the
Cubans destroy them after we have ac-
Anowledged them as belligerents, Spain
is released from all liability and our in
jured citizens must look TO the Cubans
for recompense. They are not likely 20
destroy the property Of many Americans
after our recognition Of them.
in the second place, recognition of bel
ligerency entities Spain 10 search our
vessels upon the high seas 10 see whether
they are or are not carrying articles that
are contraband Of war to the Cubans. 1t
il not very clear what vessels she may
and what she may not search under in
ternational law. but it is very clear that
our Government will never concede her
the right to search any that are not
bound to Cuban ports, and when she
searches she does so at her own proper
peril Any citizen may arrest felon
without d warrant. but when a citizen
stops another he must be a felon in fact.
II it turns out that the party arrested i
no felon, the citizen arrestng him VIII
be liable TO the injured man. And so OF
Spain. She will arrest our vessels at
her own proper peril. If they are VIC
lating the laws Of war she will be held
justified in the arrest. But if they are
not violating the laws of war she will be
in the position OF the man who arrests
the other that turns out TO be no felon.
This is the view of the case from the
standpoint of international law
But We have "A special treaty with Spain,
made In 1885. which regulates now her
right TO search our vessels. This treaty
provides that her ships shall not APP
proach an American ship nearer than
within gunshot. and there she shall stop
and call upon the American ship TO stop.
She shall then send out boat with not
mara than fOsar para.po axox,fro tho