Abilene weekly reflector., 1897-12-09

\ bpeih tne cOntsOi VI tuo iViotsn 'sf"s'"H'' 80
army and navy and judicial administration 10
accomplish this the present government rro-
poses 10 modify legislation by Decree leaving
| the Spanish cortes, with the aid Of Cuban SEN
stors and deputies, to solve the economic
problem and properly distribute the existing
debt
In the absence OF declaration Of the meas
ures that the government proposes to take IN
CARRYING out Its profier Of good offices II sug-
gests that Spain be left free to conduct militia
nv operations and grant political reforms
while the United States for Its part shall en-
force It's neutral obligations and cut on the as
sstance which II Is asserted the insurgents re-
ceive from this country The supposition OF
On indefinite prolongatlon OF the war Is denied
| 1t Is asserted that the western provinces are
already we'll nigh reclaimed; that the planting
| OF cane and tobacco therein has been resumed,
and that by force Of arms and new and ample re-
forms very early and complete pachcatlon is
| hoped for The immediate amelieration Of ex-
| listing conditions under the new administration
OF Cuban affairs Is predicted and therewithal
| the disturbance and oil occasion for any change
OF attitude on the part Of the United States
Discussion Of the question Of international
duties and responsibilities Of the United
States, az Spain understands them. Is pre-
| sented. with on apparent disposition to charge
us with failure In this regard This charge Is
without any basis in fact 1t could not have
been made II Spain had been cognizant Of the
constant efforts this government has made OF
the cost OF millions and by the employment OF
the administrative machinery Of the nation OF
command to perform Its full duty according to
the law OF nations That 1t has successfully
prevented the departure Of single military
expeditIln or armed vessel from our shores In
violation OF our laws would seem to be suf-
fcient answer. But Of this aspect Of the Span
ish note II Is not necessary TO speak further
now
Firm In the conviction Of wholly performed
obligation due response TO this charge has
BEEN made In diplomatic issues. Throughout
all these horrors and dangers to our own peace
this government has never In any way abrogated
It's sovereign prerogatlve Of preserving to Itself
the determination OF It's policy and course ac-
cording to It's own high sense OF right and In
consonance with the dearest interests and
convictions Of our own people should the pro-
longaton Of the strife so demand
OF the untried measures there remain only:
Recognition OF the insurgents as belligerents;
recognition OF the independence Of Cuba; neu-
tral Intervention to end the war by imposing
rational compromise between the contestants,
and intervention In favor OF one or the other
party. speak not OF forcible annexation for
that cannot be thought OF. That by our code
Of morality, would be criminal aggression
Recognition Of Belligerency.
Recognition OF the belligerency Of the Cuban
Insurgents has often been canvassed as pos
sIble II not Inevitable step both In regard to
| the previous ten years struggle and during the
present war, am not unmindful that the two
houses Of congress In the spring OF 1898 ex-
pressed the opinion by concurrent resolution
| that condition Of public war existed requiring
or justifying the recognition Of state Of bellig-
erency In Cuba and during the extra session the
senate voted joint resolution Of like import,
| which, however, was not brought to vote In
| the house. In the presence Of these significant
expressions OF the sentiment Of the legislative
branch 1t behooves the executive TO soberly
consider the conditions under which so impor-
tant o measure must needs rest for justiflca-
tion, II is TO be seriously cOnsld-
cred whether the Cuban insurrection pos
sesses beyond dispute the attributes Of
statehood which alone can demand the recog-
ni,,on n, he,lioeroncv In it's favor Possession.
l., s,,or, a, tho o.oentio, qualifications of SOW
n.ai1,,,,,, hy Tho lneurgants and tho conduct nj
| the war by them according to the received code
Of war are no less important factors toward the
determination OF the problem OF belligerency
,h' ,,a,orcoe and con shouennes NJ the
saa w. 49,, ,ho Internal nolicv NJ the recop-
atauss .'t.te' ~ e,a,a ate
him'us s'".o ..,.a, ..., =, .ooo,,,i
iu'n'ps W. '.o p."o',e"' WY 'lis,,I IT,, ,san
V'onol ue'sG'o"os snu da s, 10 ,"rtIa,
Vehlehucs anu pos,tsu u"nsv's 1., w. 49,, a"''"sa ona'
per'lnon' oVns''ei "'''"s %pp,%' ,si ." W, ,,ad
VI n".'ous Wv y, naaeo,n,,ar,ad hy
,V0oe'i''VA y, eV'ns s'iss i,.,,,aant nan,ro,,t,
lhe assuinpeoh VI ,n'o' nas'o"a ,, n.a's NV, ,o,'
sum roVosn''ion "'v'.ous a,i, a,,a,a, =
ler upon oithor puiVs w u,'iea'u 'iua eo,'es
STATUS NOV .ncroVoio'u "ouu'ils poe'.,'ou y. W
lect lhe reiaVion VI u'.nVi p"is w. o'nV. .,
The act OF recoshi'ioh usually '"Neo ,a vn'
form OF u solemn procia'na'iui vi nsu,,a'iVs
whlch recites 'he ue iau.o conu'''on VI Doi'eoi,
ency as lts motlVeS ~ anhou'oos uoi,o''' "
law OF hou'raii'y III ,no u'o,"i,ns n,,, es" ~, a,,
SqfS f n ,e @ ,rnsahce Of pubic state OF war
II warns nil citizens and others within the
iurisdictlon Of the proclamant that they vio-
iate those rigorous obligations at their own
nerl, and cannot expect to be shielded from the
conseoucnccs The right of visit and search
nm tho seas and seizure of vessels and cargoes
and coutrnhand of war and good prize under
admiralty law must under nternationa
law be admitted a. a legitimate con.
yeorencc of proclamotion OF bel
ligerencv While according the equa
helligerent rights defined by public law tC
eaeh Marty IN our ports disfayors would be i'm.
noeed an both which while nomlnally equal
ronld weich heavily in behalf Of Spain herself
possessnrn n navy and controlling the ports
NJ Cuho ber mnritme rights could be asserted
M, onlv for tho military investment of the
iSlanJ hut nm to the margin of our own terri.
,orlol waters and condition Of things would
cvlst for which the Cubans within their owf
domain could not hone to create a parallel
while its creation through aid or sympathy
from within o,lr domain woull be even NOR,
|