Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-12-14
OF Z wholly performed obligation, due re-
Spouse 70 this charge has been made In Dip
inu4Iic course.
The URfPfed NaeaauReA

4Ae I3tR4S0 MG000RS8s
OF the untr1ed measures there remain
beIHsefents; recognition OF the independ-
ence OF Cuba neutral 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 foreibIe annexation, for that can
morality VOID be- crii a os ss Sae saaa
Recognition of insurgents
Recognition Of the beiliserency OF the
Cuban insurgents has often been can
vassed as a possible If not inevitable step
struggle, and during the present war am
lot uum,ndfu that the two houses OF con-
sress in the spring OF 1886 expressed the
condition OF public war existed, requiring
or justifyins the recognition Of the state OF
ira the senate vo1ed 5ost resoin
ton OF like import, which, however, was
not brought to vote in the house of repre-
SentativeS. In the presence Of these sig
nif1cant expressions Of the sentiment of the
Legislative branch, it behooves the execu-
der which so important a measure lla1 must us=
needs rest for Justification 1t is to be
seriously considered whether the Cuaun
attributes of statehood, which alone de-
mand the recognition OF beiligerency in It's
t tavi;, poSsession. in short, Of the es
insurgents and the conduct OF the war BY
them according to the received code OF
the determination OF the problem Of bel
lserency than are the influences and con-
sequences OF the struggle upon the internal
policy OF the recognizing state.
Quote. President Grant.
The utIerances of President Grant in his
memorable message of December I. ISL.
are slsnally relevant TO the present situa-
10 recall them At that time ruino,is
neigaDeri4g island. Puring all those sy years a1s
n Scr -r-|~
warfare and Of the just demands Of hu-
manly, which called forth expressions of
tendon CONTINUED, ey ra os fhGS
and ruin pervadeG that productive region.
enormously affecting the commerce Of ali
Commercial nations. but that Of the nired
States more than any other by reason of
proximity and larger trade and Intercourse.
At that juncture Grant uttered these
rents Of the problem: a recognition OF
the Independence Of Cuba being. in my
question which next presents itself is
that Of the recognition of belligereat rights
in the parties 70 the contest. IN former
message to congress had occasion to con-
slider this question, and reached the con-
clusion that the conflict in Cuba. dreadful
and Devastating as were its incidents. die!
not RI se to 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 de-
its past hister-. the United States should
carefully vs.. the false lights which mis- ht
Of objectionable propriety and adhere rig
idly and sternly to the rule which has been
its guds h Of d9isg "a only nj roo that which
rights OF belliserency must be judged in
5erdias facts. UnlesS justified by ~ nec cess
It is always and justly regarded as an ur-
friendly act and Sratuitous demonstra-
ton OF moral support to the rebellion. 1t
IL necessary, and II Is REQUIRED. when ne
in terests and rights Of another government
or Of Us people are so far affected by
definition Of its, relations to the parties
thereto. But this conflict must be ore
which is recognized in the sense OF in
terDational law as war.
Recognition Not Justified.
''BelliSereuce, TOO, is a fact The mere
existence OF contendins armed bodies ard
their occasional conflicts do not constitute
war IN. the sense referred TO- Applying 10
the tests recognized by publicis and writ
ers on International law, and which have
esty and power. when free from sensitive or
selfish and unworthy motives, I fail to
find in the insurrection the existence Of
real, palpable and manifest to the
world. having the forms and capable Of
the ordinary functions ~ Of +
with courts for the administration of JUS
tice. with local habtation, .possessin g
such organization OF force. such material "a
contest out OF the category OF a mere re-
bellious insurrection or occasional Skin
mishes, and place it On the terrible foot
hgerency would aim to elevate it.
The contest moreover. Is solely Ga
Itself OF a single seaport whence it may
send forth its tag. nor has it any means OF
eepi through the miltary ines Of its ad
versaries. No apprehension Of any Of
those sudden and difficult comp lica tons
which war upon the ocean is apt to pre-
cipitate upon the vessels, both commercial
and national, and upon consular officers Of
other powers. calls for the definition of
Considered as question Of expediency, L
regard the accordance Of belligerenr rights
still to be as unwlse and premature, as re-
gard it to be, at present. iudefensihle as a
measure of right
Such recognition entails upon the coun-
Try s acctoru5as the r1ghts which aow from it
GHires the exacticn from the contendinS
parties OF the strict observance OF their
of search upon the high seas by vessels of
both parties: it would subject the carrying
OF arms and munitions Of war, which now
may be transported freely and without IN
Lerruptiou, in vessels Of the United States
to detention and to possible seizure: it
would give rise to countless veXarious ques-
tons, would release the parent government
from responsibility for acts done by the in
surgents, and would invest Spain with the
T1Sul 10 GASTC1SG The SUPERVISION RECOGNIZED
by our treaty of lbs over our commerce on
the seas, very large part Of which, in its
traffic between the Atlantic and the gulf
states and between 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
tainly to collisions perilous to the peaceful
relations OF the two states There can be
little doubt as to what result such super
vision would before long draw this ma ton
It would be unworthy Of the United States
to inaugurate the possibilities Of such re-
suit, by measures OF questionable right or
expediency. or by any indireetion-"
What Recognition Would Mean.
( Turning to- the practical aspects OF a rec
ignition OF belIigerency and reviewing its
inconveniences and positive dangers. stiIl
further pertinent considerations appear
In the code Of nations there is no such thiue
;.s a naked recognition OF belltgerency uu-
accompanied by the assumption of futerua-
tional neutrality Such recognition will
not confer upon either party to domestic
conflict a status not heretofore Actually
possessed or effect the relation Of eirher
party to other states. The act of recoRni-
ten usually takes the form Of a soIen1n
proclamation of neutrality which recites
the de facto condition Of beuiserency as
its motive It announces a domestic law
OF neutrality in declaring state. It assumes
the International obligations Of neutral
In the presence OF a public state OF war It
warns all citizens and others within the
jurisdiction Of the procIain1aht that thew
Violate those righteous obligations at their