Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-12-09

ssts and rights Of another government Or
Of IT, people are - far Affected By pend
ss Is 81, s.s ssss; q hs g psss ssro SS
this conflict must be one which 10 rscog-
nised In TIE senss or International law as
war. t+
'sBelligerence. too. L. fact. The mere
existence Of contendiDg armed bodies ana
their occasional conflicts do not constitute
war In the sense referred to. Applying 70
the existing condition OF Affairs In Cuba
the tests recognized BY publicists and
writer's on international law, AMI which
have been observed by nations OF dignity,
honesty and power when free from sensi-
tive or selfish and unwo. thy motives.
fail to find In the insurrection the exist
eRce OF such substantial political organ
ixation. real. palpable and manifest to the
world. having the forms and capable OF
the ordinary functions of government to-
wards its own people and to other states
with courts for the administration OF jus
tice with o local habitation. posses sing
such organization Of force. such material.
such occupation of territory as TO take
the contest out OF the category OF mere
rebellious instruction or occasional skir-
mishes and place 1t on the terrible loot
ing OF war, to which a recognition OF bel
ligerency would aim to elevate It.
THE contest. moreover. Is solely on
land; the insurrecticn has not possessed IT.
self OF a single seaport whence 1t may send
forth Its flag. nor has It any means OF
communication with foreign powers except
through the military lines OF It's adver,a-
ries. No apprehension of any OF those sud
den and dificult complications which war
upon the ocean Is apt to precipitate upon
the vessels, both commercial and national
and upon the consular officers OF other
powers, calls for the definition of the rela-
tions to the partie, to the contest. Con-
sidered as a question of expediency, / re-
gard the accordance OF belligerent rights
still to be as unwise and premature. as l
regard Ii to be. at present, indefensible as
a measure OF right.
"Such recognition entails upon the coun-
try, according the rights which flow
from It, difficult and complicated duties
and requires the exaction from the cen
tending parties of the strict observance OF
their rights and obligations. 1t confers
the right OF search upon the high seas by
vessele of both parties: 1t would subject
the carrying OF arms and munitions OF war,
which now may be transported freely and
without interruption In vessels OF the
United States, to detention and to possible
seizure; ii would give rise to countless
vexatious questions, would release the
parent government from responsibility for
acts done by the insurgents and would in
vest Spain with the right to exercise the
supervision recognized by our treaty OF
| 1895 over our commerce on the seas, very
| large part of which, In It's traffic between
| the Atlantic and the Gulf states and be-
tween all of them and the states on the
Pacific, passes through the waters which
wash the shores Of Cuba. The exercise OF
! this supervision could scarce fail to lead,
| II not to abuses, certainly to collisions
perilous to the peaceful relations OF the
| two states.
suit such supervision would before long
draw this nation. 1t would be unworthy
of the United States to inaugurate the pos
| abilities of such result, by measures OF
questionable right or eypediency. or by any
indirection.
More Humane Methods I'm Cuba.
The first acts of the new government lie
in these honorable paths. The policy OF
cruel rapine and determination that sc
| long shocked the universal sentiment OF
humanity has been reversed. Under the
new military commander broad clemency
is preferred. Measures have already been
set on foot to relieve the horrors OF star
walton. The power OF the Spanish armies
| Ii Is asserted, Is to be used not to spread
ruin and desolation, but to protect the
resumption Of peaceful agricultural pur-
suits and productive Industries. That
past methods are futile to force a peace by
subjugation is freely admitted and ruin
without Cancellation must inevitably fail
| to win for Spain the fidelity Of a cotented
dependency.
DEGREES in application of the foreshad-
owed reforms have already been promul-
| gated The full text Of these DEGREES has
not been received, but as furnished in q
Geographic summary from our minister
are:
"AIl civil and electoral rights of PENN
sular Spaniards, are, In virtue of existing
constitutional authority, forthwith extend
| ed to colonial Spaniards. scheme OF
autonomy has been proclaimed by decree
to become effective upon ratification by
| the Cortes. 1t creates a Cuban Parliament
which, with the insular executive can con-
slider and vote upon all subjects affecting
local order and interests, possessing I'M
limited powers save as to matters of state
war and the navy, as to which the gov
ernor- general acts by his own authority
as the delegate Of the central government
| This parliament requires the oath Of the
governor general to preserve faithfully the
liberties and privileges Of the colony, and
to Ii the colonial secretaries are RESPONSE
BILE. 1t has the right to propose to the
central government, through the governor
| general notifications Of the national char
ter and to invite new projects OF law OF
executive measures in the interest of tn.
| colony Besides its local powers, II 1:
competent, first. to regulate electoral reg
qualifications of electors and the manner
| of exercising suffrage; second, to organic,
| courts Of justice with native judges from
members of the local bar; third to frame
the inSular budget, both as to expendi-
lures and revenues, without limitation o.
any kind and to set apart the revenues t
| meet the Cuban share of the national bud
get, which latter will be voted by the ma.
tional Cortes with the assistance of tn,
Cuban senators and deputies; fourth, Il
initiate or take part in the negotiation!
of the national government for commercial
treaties which may affect Cuban interests
fifth, to accept or reject commercial trea
ties which the national government may
have concluded without the PARTICIPATION
of the Cuban government; sixth, TO frame
the colonial tariff, acting in accord will
the peninrular government in scheduling
articles Of mutual commerce between thu
| mother country and the colonies. Before
introducing or voting upon a bill, thu
Cuban government or the chambers will
lay the project before the central govern
ment and hear its opinion thereon, all thu
correspondence in such regard being mad
public. Finally, all conflicts OF jurisdic
ton arising between the differen
municipal, provincial and insular az
semblies, or between the latter an.
which from their nature may no
be referable to the central government 70
decision, shall be submitted TO the courts
Confidence I'm spnin's sincerity.
That the government OF Sagasta has en-
tered upon course from which recession
with honor is impossible can hardly b
questioned; that In the few weeks 1t ha
existed II has made earnest OF the sin