The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1897-12-09
Operations Leading TO Autonomous Gov
ernment.

w pOlltittl tcbhOn tOudiht W bhC a0tohouJ Vi
Cuba while guarding Spanish sovereignty.
This IL Is claimed, will result In investing Cuba
With q distinct personality; the island to DE
governed by an executive and by local council
DR. chamber preserving TO Spain the control OF
me foreign relations the army and navy ana "a, ne
present government proposes to modify exist
Ing legislation by decree. leaving the Spanish
cortes, with thesaid OF Cuban senator's and dep,
uties, TO solve the economic problem and
properly distribute the existing debt.
Tho Spanish Proposals.
In the absence OF d declaration OF the meas
ures that the government proposes 10 take In
carrying out It's prefer OF good offices, II sug-
gests that Spain be left free TO conduct military
operations and grant political reforms, while the
United States, for ats part, shall enforce
the " assistance O Which, it Is asserted,
NE Insurgents receive from this country.
The superstition OF an indefinite pro-
longaton OF the war Is denied. II is asserted
that The western provinces are already well.
nigh re- lined; that the planting OF cane and
tobacco .Ncrein has been resumed and that by
force OF arms and new and ample reforms very
early anu clmplete pacifcation Is hoped for.
Amelloration of Existing Conditions.
The immediate amelioration OF existing con-
dit lons under the new administration OF Cuban
affairs Is predicted, and therewithal the dis
turbance AM all occasion for any change OF at
titude on the part OF the United States. Dis
cuss0n OF the question of the international
duties and responsibilities OF the United
states, uS spain understands them. Is prevent
ed, with IN 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 made cognizant
OF the constant Efforts this government has
made, at the cost OF millions and by the en-
plOyment OF the administrative machinery OF
the nation at command TO perform Its full duty
according to the law OF nations.
Our Duty Wholly Performed.
That It has successfully prevented tine de-
parture OF single military expedition or armed
vessel from our shores In violation OF our laws
would seem 10 be SUFFICIENT answer. But OF
this aspect OF the Spanish note II is not neces-
sary TO speak further now Firm in the con-
viction OF wholly performed obligation due
response 10 this charge has been made In diplo-
matte course.
Throughout all these horrors and dangers to
our own psace this government has never 10
any way abrogat ,s us sovereign preroys,lye Of
Icy and course according to It's own high sense
OF right. and In consonance with the dearest In
terest and convictions OF our own people should
the prOlOngatiOn OF the strife so demand
UntrIed Measures Remaining.
OF the untried measures there remain only:
Recognition OF the insurgents rs belligerents
recognition Of the independence OF Cuba; neu-
trail Intervention to end the war by imposing q
rational compromise between these contestants
nd Intervention In favor OF one or the other
party. speak not OF forcible annexation for
that can not be thought .of That by our code
81 morality, would be criminal aggression
Recognition or the belligerency OF the Cuban
Insurgents has often been canvaSsed as a posi-
bic. II not Inevitable step both In regard to thu
ten years struggle. and during the present war
A Former Opinion OF Congress.
lam not unmindful that the two houses o.
congress- in the spring OF 1919, expressed the
opinion By concurrent resolution that condi.
ton OF public war existed requiring or justify
Ing the recognition OF state OF bel
ligercncy In Cuba. aud during the ex
Ira session the senate voted
Joint resolution OF like import which however
..e ). t-f.fo In.
presence OF these significant EXPIRE Sions OF tn,
legislative branch. IL behOoves the executive /,
sobcrly consider the conditions under which 81
important measure must need rest for justin
cation.
A Matter to be Seriously Considered.
IL IL 10 b. seriously considered whether tn
Cuban insurrection passes beyond dispute tn
attributes OF statehood which alone can de
mani the recognition OF belligerency In IL
favor Possession, Ia short. of the esscntia
qualifications OF sovereignty by the insurgcnt
and the conduct Of sie war by them ACCORDING
TO the received code OF war, are no less tmpor
tant factors toward the determination OF tn
problem Of Oelligereney than are the influence
and consequences OF the struggle upon the in
tcrnal policy OF the recognizing state
PRESIDENT Grants Wise Utterances.
The wise utterances OF President Grant 4
his memorable message OF December :, 1877
are signally relevant 10 the present situation
IN Cuba. and IL may be wholesome now TO recall
them At that time rulnous conflict had
for seven years, wasted the neigh
boring island. During all those year
an utter disregard OF the law
OF civilized warfare, and OF the Just demands o
humanity, which callci forth expressions o
condemnation from the nations of Chrlstendom
continued undated. Desolation and ruin per
vaded the productive region. enormously affect
ing the commerce OF all commercial nations
but that OF the United States more than an
other BY reason OF proximity and larger trad
and intercourse. Al that juncture Gen. Gran
uttered these words which now, as then, sun
up the elements OF the problem:
Elements of the Problem Summed Up.
"A recognition OF the independence OF Cub
being, IN my opinion, impracticable and indie
fensible. the question which next presents itsel
Is that OF the recognition OF the beiligeren
rights TO the contest In a former message 4
congress had occasion To consider this ques
ton and reached the conclusion that the confilc
ia Cuba. dreadful and devastating as were 1t
Incidents did not rise to the fearful dignity o
war
ers, or even OF Spain herself, OF thi
very nature. might be pointed 4
In defense of such recognition. Blu
States SHOULD carefully avoid the false light
which might lie "a II into the mazes OF doubtful
law aud OF que stlonable proprlcty, and adher
rigidly and sternly to the RUE. which has beer
It's guide OF doing only that which is right ant
honest and Of good report. The question OF ae
cording or withholding rights OF belligeracJ
must be judged In every case, In view OF th'
necessity Il Is always, and Justly, regarded al
an unffiendly act and gratuitous demonstra
ton OF moral support TO the rebellion. L
Is not necessary, and IL is required, whei
the interests and rights OF another government
or OF its people are so far affected by q pending
civl conflict as TO require definition OF its re
lations to the parties thereto. But this con
fiict must be one which will be recognized Il
the sense OF international law as war.
"Belligerence too, Is q fact. The mere exist
ence OF contending armed bodies and their oc
artH Lot a tint. .
sense referred to- Applying to the existing con
dition OF affairs In Cuba, the tests recog
nized by publicists and writers on inter
observed by nations OF dignity, hon
esty and power, when free from sensitive o
selfish and unworthy motives fail to find In
surrection. the existence OF such a substantial
political organization, real, palpabe and mani
fost TO the world, having the forms and capabl
of the ordinary functions OF government to
ward its own people and TO other states, wit
courts for the administration OF justice, with
local habitation. possessing such 0rganizatio
OF force. such occupation Of territory as to TAX
the contest out OF the category OF n mere re
bellious Instruction, or occasional skirmishe
and place Il upon the terrible footing OF war L
which recognition OF oeliigereny would all
to elevate IL.
insurrection has not possessed itself OF u singl
seaport whence ~ may send forth its flag. nc
has II any means OF communicating with foreig
powers except through the military lines OF i
those sudden and difncult complication
which war upon the ocean Is al
to preclptate upon the vessels. bot
commercial anu national, and upon III
consular officers OF other powers calls for u
definition OF their relations TO the parti,
TO the contest. Considered as o QuestiC
OF expediency l regard the accordance
belligerent rights still TO be as unwise and pr
mature as | regard II to be, at present indefens
BILE as q measure of right
"Such recognition entails upon the COUNT
according TO the rights which flow from 1t din
cult and complicated duties. and requires u
| exaction from the contendlng parties OF u
strict observance OF their rights and obligation
1t confers the right OF search upon the high SCI
/ by vessels of both parties, IL would subje
| the carrying OF arms and munitions of wa
which now may be transported freely and Will
| out interruption, In vessels of the Unite
| States TO detention and to possible seizure;
would give rise to countless vexatious que
/ lions; would release the parent governmeI
| from responsibility for acts done by the insu
| gents. and would Invest Spain with the rigl
| TO exercise the supervision recognized by o.
treaty OF 1905 over our commerce on the hie
seas, very large part OF which, In Its tran
between the Atlantic and the gulf state
and between all OF them and u
| states ON the Pacific, passes throup
the waters which wash the shores Of Cuba. III
exercise OF this supervision could scarcely ia