The evening times., 1897-12-06

| sovereignty. This, Il ~ Claimed, will re-
suit tn Investing Cpba Mieh distinct per
| soIality; the Island TO be gov erned by an
Executive and by Locat Council or Cha II
ber, deserving to srain the control Of the
| o.e;gn relations, tile army and navy and
TIE Judicial admintstratiun. To accom-
plish thia the present Government proposes
| to modify existing Legislation by decree.
| leaving the Spanish Cortcs, with the aid
of Cuban Senators and Deputies, to solve
the economic problem &ad, properly dis
tribute the existing debt:
War Not to Be Prolonged.
In the absence OF q declaration II tn.
| mea sures that this Goternment proposes
to take In carrying out tts proffer OF good
| offices it suggests that epain be left fr,;,
| to conduct military operations aud grant
| political reforms, while the United States
! for its part shall enforce it's neutral obii-
| cations and cut off thu assistance whicn
| it IL asserted the Insurgents receive from
| this country. The suppnsition OF an in
defiuitc prolongation Of the war is denied.
| It is asserted that the western provinces
| are already well nigh reclaimed; that the
| planting of cane and tobacco therein has
| been resumed, and that; by force of arms
and new aud ample reforms very early and
| complete pacification II hoped for.
The Immediate aii,elioraticn OF exist in.
conditious under the new administration OF
| Cuban affairs is predicted. and tlerew it'i.l
| the disturbance and all nccasiOn for ans
| change of attitude on tile part of the
| United States. Discussion Of the ques
| ton of the International duties and respon-
| sibilities Of the United. States as Spain
unde' stands them is presented, with an
apparent disposition to charge us with
| failure in this regards This charge is
without any basis. in fact. 1t could not
have heen made II Spain had been cog
INFANT of the constant efforts this GOV
| erL,::ent has made at the cost of millions
and ty the employment of the admins
trative machinery of the nathn at com
nand to perform It's fun duty according
to the IL W of nations. That it has sue
cessfully prevented the departure Of a
single military expedition or armed YES
sci from our shores in violation III our law;
vuuld seem to lie sufficient ans xer.
But OF this aspect of the Spanish note 1t
is not necessary 10 speak further now
Firm in the conviction or e wholly per
formed obligation, due response 10 this
charge has teen made in diplomatic course.
a"eFt0d's SoEeTelSu Might.
Throughout ell these horrors and dangers
TO our wn peace this Government hasneyer
in any way ahrogated its sovereign pre-
rogative nf reserring 10 itself the determina-
| ton OF its policy and course according TO
its own high sense OF right and in consO-
nance with the dearest interests and Con
victions Of Our own people should the pro-
longatiuii nr the strife SO deiuami.
OFT untried measurest there remain only:
Recognition of I he einsurgentsas belligerents.
recognition of the independence OF Cuba;
neutral Intervention to end the war by
imposing Il rational compromise bet ween
the contestants, and intervention In favor
of cne or the other party. / speak not OF
forcible annexation, for that can not be
thought OF. That by our code of morality
would he criminal aggression.
Recognition OF the belligercncy of the
Cuban insurgents has ofteI been canvl ssed
as possible If net inevitable step both in
regard to the previous ten years struggle
and during the present war. 1 am not un
mindful that the two Houses Of Congress i'll
the sping o: / sa6 expressed the opinion
by concu, rent resolution that condition
OF public war existed requiring or justify
ing the recognition of a state of belliyerency
in Cuba, and during the extra session the
Senate voted joint resolution OF Ike i'm
port, which, however was not brought to IA
vote In the house OF Representatives.. In
the presence Of these significant express
sions Of the sen tiinent Of the Legisl t-i-e
branch 1t behooves the Executive to soberl;
consider the conditions under which SO i'm
portant a measure must needs rest for
tustifica tinn. 1t is to he seriously o,nsid-
cred whether the Cuban insurrection pos
sesses beyond dispute the attributes IF
Statehood which alone can demand the
recognition of hclIigerency in its fa-o-.
Poss es sion. in short OF the essential qI Iiifi.
cations OF sovereignty y by the insurgents IND
the conduct of the war by them accor ling
to the received code of war are no less i'm
portaut fGctOrs toward the determination
of the problem of bellicerency than are the
Influences and consequences of the struggle
upon tie internal polity OF the recognizing
State.
Grants Ctterances Recalled.
The wise utteranccs of President CIR mt in
his memorable message OF December .,
1873 are signaiiy relevant to the present
situation in Cuba and it may be wholesome
now L. recall them. At that time ruinous
conflic. had for seven years wasted the
neiGhboring Island, During all those yea-s
an utter disregard OF the laws of civilized
warfare and of the just demands OF human
ity, which called forth expressions of Con
demna lion from the nations CT cfChristendOn.
continued unabated. Desolation and ruin
pervaded tnat productive region, enormously
affecting the commerce Of all commercial
nations, but that of the United States more
than :,Iy other by reason of proximity and
larger trade and intercourse. At that juno
ture General Grant uttered these words.
which now as then sum up the elements Of
the problem:
"A recognition of the independence Of
Cuba being, in my opinion, impracticablc.
and indefensiDlc, the question which next
presents Itself is that of :he recognition Of
bellipcrent rights in the parties to the
contest. II former message to Congress
had occa sion to consider this question, and
reached the conclusion that the conflict in
Cuba, dreadful and devastating as were its
Incidents, did not rise tn the fearful dignity
of war. 1t is possible that the
acts OF foreign powers, and even acts of
Spain herself, of this very nature, might
be pointed to in defense Of such recogni
ton. But now, as in its past history, the
United States should carefully avoid the
false lights which might lead it into the
;naZes of doubtful law and of questionable
rropriety, and adhere rigidlyi and sternly
to tire rule. which has been its gnide, ii
doing only that which is right and honest
and OF good report. The question of ac-
cording OF Of withholding rights of belliger-
ency rust he judged in every case, In
view of the particular attending facts.
Unless justified by necessity,i lit is always.
and justly, regarded as an unfriendIy act