The Portland daily press., 1897-12-07
measures of questionable right or expe-
dienoy or by any indirection.''
FURTHER OBJECTIONS

dienoy or by any indireetion.''
FURTHER OBJECTIONS.
Turning to the practicable aspects of a
recognition of belIigerency and reviewing
its inconveniences and positive dangers
still further pertinent considerations an.
lear. In the code Of nations tbere il no
such thing as naked recognition of bel.
ligerency unaccompanied BY the assilmp-
tlon OF International neutrality. Such
reooghlolon, without more, will not con-
a; ter upon eitner party of q domestic con-
iilot status not heretofore actually pos.
sessed or affect the relation of either
party TO other States. The act of recog-
nltlon usually takes the form of a solemn
proclamation of neutrality which recites
she oe Tactic condition of belligerenoy as
its motive 1t announces a domestic
law Oh neutrality in the declaring state
s as assumes the International obligations
VI neutral IN the presence of puDllc
| state OF war. 1t warns all citizens and
otners Within the jurisdiction of the proc
ialmant that they violate those rigorous
opAgatlons at their own peril, and cannon
expect to be shielded from the conse-
quences. The right o. visit and searcn
on the seas and seizure of vessels ana
cargoes as contraband of war, under al,
mlralty law must under international
law, De admitted as Legitimate conse-
quence of a proclamation OF beillgerenoy.
| While according the equal belligerent
rights defined by public law to each
party i'll our ports, disfavors would be
imposed on both which while nomlnally
| equal would weigh heavily in behalf of
Spain herself. Possessing navy and
controlling the ports of Cuba, her mari
time rights could b as 'rted not only for
the military inve, me 1t of the island,
but up to the margii. vi our own terrific
rial waters and condition of things
would exist for which the Cubans, with
in their own domain, could not hops to
create a parallel. while its creation
through aid or sympathy from within
our domain would be even more impos-
sible than now with tbs additional ob]i-
cations of international neutrality we
| would perforce assume.
The enforcement Of this enlarged and
onerous code of neutrality would only
he Influential within our own jurisdic-
tion By land and sea and applicable by
| our own instrumentalities. 1t could
| impart to the United States no jurisdio-
tion between Spain and the insurgents.
| 1t would give the United States no right
of Intervention to enforce the conduct of
ty OF Spain according to the international
| code Of war.
| For these reasons l regard the recog.
milton of the belligerenoy of the Cuban
| insurgents as now unwise and therefore
| inadmissible. Should that step hereafter
be deemed wise as a measure Of right and
duty. the executive will take it,
| Intervention upon human itarian
grounds has been frequently suggested
and has not failed to receive my most
anxious and earnest consideration. But
should such a step be now taken when it
is apparent that a hopeful change has
superyened in the policy of Spain toward
Cuba? A new government has taken
Office in the mother country. 1t is
pledged in advance to the declaration that
all the effort in the world cannot suffice
to maintain peace in Cuba by the bayo-
net; that vague promises to reform after
su biugation afford no solution of the
| insular problem that with substitution
of commanders must come change OF
the past system OF warfare for one in
harmony with new policy which shall
no longer aim to drive the Cubans to the
''horrible alternative of taking to the
! thicket or succum bing in misery" that
reforms. must be instituted in accordance
with the needs and circumstances of the
time and. .theseareforms while designed to
give full autonomy to the colony and to
create virtual entity and self-controlled
administration shall yet conserve and
affirm the sovereignty Of Spain by a just
distribution Of powers and burdens upon
a basis of mutual interest untainted by
methods of selfish expsdiency.
The first acts of the new government
lie in honorable paths. The policy of
cruel rapine and determination that so
long shocked the universal sentiment OF
humanity has been reversed. Under the
new military commander broader
olemeney is proffered. Measures have
already been set on foot to relieve the
horrors Of starvation. The power of the
Spanish armies, 1T is asserted, is to be
-~4G - &4xxr4
but to protect the resumption of peaceful
agricultural pursuits and productive in.
dustries. That past methods are futile te
force peace by subjugation is freely
admitted and that ruin without conoilia
tion must inevitably fail to win for Spain
the fidelity of oontented dependency.
SPAIN'S PROMISES.
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 s
telegraphic summary from our minister
| are:
"All civil and electoral rights of penin
sular Spaniards are in virtue of existing q
constitutional authority forthwith OK
tsnded to colonial Spaniards. A scheme
of autonomy has been proclaimed by de
cree, TO become effective upon ratifca
tion by the Cortes. 1t creates Cubar
parliament, which with the insular exec
utive, can consider any vote upon al
subjects affecting local order and interest
possessing unlimited powers save as to
matters of state, war md the navy, as te
which the governor general acts by hil
own authority as the delegate OF thu
central government. This parliament re
ceives the oath Of the governor general t,
preserve faithfully the liberties and privil
eges of the colony and to it the colonia
secretaries are responsible. 1t has the
right to propose to the central govern
ment through the governor general modi
fications of the national charter and to
institute new projects OF law or executive
measures in the interestsof the colony
Besides its local powers 1t is competent
first, to regulate electoral registration
and procedure and prescribe the qualif
cations of electors and the manner o.
exercising suffrage; sesond, to organize
courts ofFjusticeswith native judges from
members of the local bar; third, to fran,
the ins lar budget both as to expenditure
and revenues without limitation of any
kind and to set apart the revenues tt
meet the Cuban share of the nationa
budget which later will be voted by tn,
L