The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-07

| force its neutral OOHgattons, and cut 4
off the assistance which il Is asserted.
| the Insurgents receive from this coun-
/ try The suppositiun of an indefinite
/ prolsngatiom If the war is denied 1t I
/ Is asserted that the western provinces I
/ are already we'll night reclaimed: that
/ the planting of cane and tobacco there |
! in has been resumed. and that by force
Of arms and new and ample reforms /
very early and complete pacification is |
hoped for.
An Unjust Accusation.
The immediate amelioration OF exist 1
/ ing conditions under the new admins
tration of Cuban affairs is predicted
and therewifhal the disturbance and
! all occasion for any change Of attitude
on the part OF the United States. Dis
cussion of the question of international
duties and responsibilities of the Unit
ed States, as Spain understands them.
is presented. with an apparent DISPOSE
ton 10 charge rs with failure in this
| regard This charge is without any
basis in fact 1t would have been made
| If Spain had been cognizant Of the
constant efforts this government has
| made at the cost of millions of dol
lars and by the employment of the adj
! ministrative machinery at the national
| command, to perform its fun duty ae-
cording 10 the law of nations. That 1t
| has successfully prevented the depart
ure of a single military expedition or
lation of our laws. would seem to be a
sufficient answer.
But on this aspect Of the Spanish
note ii is not necessary to speak fur
Their now Firm in the conviction Of
! a wholly performed obligation. due re-
Spouse to this charge has been made
in diplomatic issues. Throughout all
these horrors and dangers 10 our own
| peace this government has never in
! any way abrogated its sovereign pre-
! az n sal 10
termination to adhere to its course and
| policy according to its own high sense
of right and in consonance with the
deepest interests and convictions OF our
own people should the prolongation OF
the strife so demand.
Forcibie Annexation Impossible.
of the untried measures there re-
main only: Recognition of the insur-
gents as belligerents recognition of the
independence of Cuba; neutral inter-
vention to end the war by imposing
a rational compromise between the con
testants, and intervention IN favor OF
one or the other party | speak not
of forcible annexation, for that can
not he thought of. Tsat by our code
of morality would be criminal aggres-
sion. Recognition Of the belligerency of
the Cuban insurg ITS has often been
canvassed as a possible. If not newt
able step, both in regard to The previous
ten years struggle t.ld during the pit".
ent war | am not unminG al that The
two houses of congress IN the spri; z
of 1896 expressed the opiasoa hs con-
current resolution that condition ~
public war existed requiring or tsti
fying the Recognition ~ Il state IT bel
lgerency in cuba and during the fAtfa
session the sena-a voted Joint ieso-
luton of like inioors, which however.
was not brought 20 a vote in the house.
In the presen 81 tnese significant eN-
pressions Of the sentim mt ot til iasis-
lative branch 1t belo1ses the excel Sc
to soberly consider he conditions nm
der which so impo.. aat a measure must
needs rest for iuSttiie1ti Da. e II To be
seriously considered NH ethar thc Gu
ban insurrection possesses beyond ..s-
pute the attributes of statehood winch
alone can demand The recognition Of
belligerency in its favor. Possession.
short OF the essential qualifications of
sovereignty, by the insurgents and the
/ conduct of the war by them according
to the recognized code of war are no
less important factors toward the de-
termination of the problem of helliger-
ency than are the influences and con-
sequences of the struggle upon the in
ternal policy of the recognizing state.
The wise utterances of President Grant
/ in his memorable message of Dec. =
1875, are signally relevant 20 the present
situation in cuba and ii may be whole
some now To recall them. At that time
a ruinous conflict had for seven years
wasted the neighhoring island. Dur
ing all those years an utter disregard
/ of the laws of civilized warfare and Of
the Just demands Of humanity. which
called forth expressions of rondemna-
ton from the nations of Ghfistendam,
continued undated. Desalation and
ruin pervaded that productive region
i enormously affecting the commerce of
all commercial nations. but that Of the
United States more than any other by
reason of proximity and larger trade
and intercourse At that junrtnre Cen
eral Grant uttered these words. which
now as then sum up The elements Of the
problem:
General Grants Words.
A recognition Of the independence
of Cuba being in my opinion imnrac-
ticable and ndefensibie. the question
which next presents itself is that of
the recognition Of bellgerent rights in
the parties IL the contest. In "A former
message to congress / had occasion to
consider this question and reached the
dreadful and devastating as Mere It's
incidents. did not rise to The fearful
| dignity of war.
1t is possible that the acts If FOR
eign powers, and even acts Of Spain
herself Of this very nature might be
pointed to in defense Of such recaeni-
ton. But NOW, as Ia its past history, the
United States should carefully avoid
the false lights which might lead IT into
the maZes of doubtful law and of utIes-
tiona bile propriety, and adhere rig
idly and steadily 10 The rule which has
been its guide. of doing only that which
is right and honest and of good repute.
, The question of according OF of with
i holding rights Of beiligereney must be
Judged in every case in view Of the
particular attending facts Unless JUS
tilted by necessity it is always and just
III regarded as an unfriendly act and
! a gratuifuus demonstration of moral
support to the rebellion. IL il necessary
[ and il IS required. when the interests
J and rights OF another government, or
il it's people are So far affected by a
! bending civil conflict as To require a
: definition Of It's relations to the parties
: thereto. But this conflict must be one
| which will be recognized in the sense
1 = ...tl.,t.a La ii ~ VA.