The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-03-21
GEN. GRANT AND CUBA
Why He Did Not Recognize the
Cubans as BeIIigerents.
DIARY OF SECRETARY FISH
Had Ii Not Been for the Secretary,
Grant Would Have Sent in
BeIIfgerency Message.

Albany, N. Y. March 15.-During the
debate on the Cuban question in the
United States senate many illusions
were made both by Senator Sherman
and Senator Hill as to the attitude of
President Grant and the then secretary
OF state, Hamilton Fish. Senator Sher-
man declared there was a conflict of
opinion over Cuban affairs between the
president and his secretary of state.
The speaker of the New York assem-
bly,, Hamilton Fish. son of the late sec
rotary, is in possession of information
upon this subject contained in the dia-
ries kept by his father that is of great
importance in the controversy.
On the authority of these diaries 1t
is shown that President Grant had at
one time under the circumstances of a
pending negotiation at MaGrid, been in
clined to recognize the belligerency Of
Cuba. bnt on June 10. 1870, the opinion
of the president and the cabinet was
unanimous that there were no facts to
justify the declaration of belligerency
and that the satisfaction of the presi-
dent with the Cuban policy of his ad-
ministration and it's effects upon the
country and the republican party found
expression a few weeks later in thanks
to the secretary of state for whatever
share in it may have been due to his
wisdom and judgment.
During his eight years service in the
state department Mr.. Fish kept, chiefly
as a reference, a record for his own
eyes, a diary in his own handwriting
containing a statement of his important
transactions with President Grant, the
members of the cabinet. senators and
other leading men in regard to more
prominent foreign questions with which
he had to deal.
From May 81 to June 10, 1870, the date
of President Grants special message to
congress on Cuban belligerency, the en-
tries in the diary are many and very
full in regard to the origin, preparation.
discussions in the cabinet and final COM
pletion of the special message. Some
of these entries have peculiar interest
in the light of recent events, and were
shown today to the correspondent of the
Associated Press.
Under date of February 10, 1870, there
is a suggestion of a rift in the unity of
the republican party in defense of that
policy respecting foreign affairs, which
policy the president had announced in
his annual message of the previous De-
cember. The entry is as follows:
Called this morning Cby appoint
menD to see Senator Sherman on the
subject of the unit of coinage. After
conversing on that question 1 referred
to his resolution introduced in the SEN
ate and his speech in favor of recogniz-
ing the belligerency of Cuba, and asked
If he had recently examined the treaty
with Spain of 1895. He said he had not,
and was not aware of the existence of
such treaty. I referred to it's provisions
and to the probable consequence of the
exercise by Spain of the right of visit
or of search, thought our people
would not submit to 1t, and that the
consequences would soon develop in
war; said that fighting was not bellig-
erency; there is fighting but not bellig-
erency in Cuba; there is no government
of the insurrectiOnary party; no politi-
cal organization, etc. He admitted he
had not examined the subject closely
but said there is a good deal Of excite
ment in the country on the subject. Ad-
vised him in connection with the pass
age of his resolution of belligerency to
prepare bills for the increase of the
public debt and to meet the increased
appropriation which will be necessary
for the army, navy, etc"
An evident solicitude among republi-
cans lest the party, in the presence of
the approaching autumn election,
should be divided on the Cuban Ques-
ton by reason of representa- tions to the
country in regard to the presidents real
attitude is indicated on June 10 by this
entry:
Judge Orth and General Butler called
in the evening to urge the sending of a
message by the president on the ques-
ton of Cuban belligerency. Orth says
the vote will be close. Banks will make
the closing speech, but there are some
20 or 80 members who may be decided
by his speech, but would not go against
the presidents views"
On June u there is this entry:
stay at home and prepare a message
on the Cuban belligerency question, to
be submitted for the presidents consid-
Grafton in case he agrees to send one.
He has not yet returned from his fish
ing excursion"
OF the discussion in the cabinet on
the 18th, the day on which the special
message was sent to congress, the diary
says:
1T was generally admitted that II war
is to be resorted to, it would be by di-
rect declaration and not by embarrass-
ing Spain by a declaration OF belliger-
ency; agrees unanimously that no con-
dition of facts exists to justify belliger-
ency. Finally the president amends his
sentences by referring in general terms
to seizures on the high seas, embargoes
of property and personal outrage.
Robson adds the concluding sentences,
claiming the question of belligerency is
distinct from those questions of wrongs