The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-12-10

lomatic course.
The Untried Measures.
OF the untried measures there remain
on.y: Recognition Of the Insurgents as
beIiigerents; 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 forcible annexation, Tor that can
not be thought of. Ihat by our coae OF
Recognition of Insurgents
Recognition of the belligerency of the
Cuban insurgents has often been can
Vassed as possible if not inevitable step
SHrm and during the present war. lam
not unmindful that the two houses OF con-
gress in the spring of 1896 expressed the
opinion by concurrent resolution that
condition of public war existed, requiring
or justifying the recognition of the state of
belligerency in Cuba, and during the ex-
ira session the senate voted joint resolu-
ton of like import, which, however, was
not brought to vote in the house OF repre-
sentatives. In the presence OF these sig
nificant expressions of the sentiment of the
legislative branch, it behoOves the execu-
tive to soberly consider the conditions I'M
der which so important measure must
needs rest for justification. 1t is to be
seriously considered whether the Cuban
insurrection possesses beyond dispute the
attributes of statehood, which alone de-
mand the recognition of belligerency in its
favor. Possession, in short, of the es
sential qualification of sovereignty by the
them according to the received code Of
war are no less important factors toward
| iigerency than are the Influences and con-
sequences of the struggle upon the internal
! policy OF the recognizing state.
Quotes President Grant.
The utterances of President Grant in his
| memorable message of December z, 1875.
| are signally relevant to the present situa-
| ton in Cuba and it may be wholesome now
to recall them. AT that time ruinous
!
neighboring island. During all those years
an utter disregard of the laws of civilized
manity, which called forth expressions of
| condemnation from the nations of chris
tendon continued undated. Cesolation
enormously affecting the commerce of all
| commercial nations, but that of the United
States more than any other by reason of
At that .juncture Grant uttered these
| words, which now as then sum up the ele-
ments of the problem; "A recognition OF
| opinion. impracticable and indefensible, the
question which next presents itself is
that of the recognition of belligerent rights
in the parties to the contest. In a former
| message to congress 1 had occasion to con-
slider this question. and reached the con;
cluSion that the conflict in Cuba, dreadful
and devastating as were its incidents. did
not rise to the fearful dignity Of war
ut is possible that the acts of foreign
powers, and even acts of Spain herself, OF
this very nature might be pointed to in de-
Tense of such recognition. But now, as in
it's past history, the United States should
i carefully avoid the false lights which might
lead it into the mazes Of doubtful law anC
of questionable propriety and adhere rig
idly and sternly to the rule which has beer 7
right and honest and Of good report. The
question of according or of withholding
rights Of beigeTiency must nus be 2TdIged T.
tending facts. Unless justified by necessity
1t is always and justly regarded as an un
friendly act and gratuitous demonstra
ton of moral support to the rebellion. i
is necessary, and 1t is required, when the
interests and rights of another government
pending civil conflict as to require {
definition of its relations to the partie!
thereto. But this conflict must be on'
which is recognized in the sense or IN
ternational law as war.
Recognition Not Justified.
"Belligerence, 100, is fact: The mer
existence of contending armed bodies an(
war in the sense referred to-. Applying t.
the existing condition of affairs in Cubs
the tests recognized by publicists and writ
ers on international law, and which haV'
been observed by nations of dignity, hon
esty and power, when free from SENSITIVE o
selfish and unworthy motives. l fan I
such a substantial political organization .I
world. having the forms ana .o oapan1 e.
toward its own people and to other states
with courts for the administration OF jus
tice with, local 9orca ecb
such occupation of territory as TO take TN
contest out of the category OF mere re
mishes, and place it on the terrible foot
ing of war, to which recognition OF bel
ligerency would aim to elevate 1t. -
1.-The contest, moreover, Is solely Of
land; the insurrection has not possesse
itself of single seaport whence 1t ma,
: send forth it's flag, nor has It any means
, 1ioot ion Will
, cept through the military lines or its al
: | VerSaries. No apprehension or any o
those sudden and difficult complication
which war upon the ocean is apt to pre-
: cipitate upon the vessels, both commerce.
and national, and upon consular officers o
other powers, calls for the definition o
their relations to the parties to the contest
Considered as question OF expediency,
regard the accordance of belligerent right
still to be as unW1Se and premature, as re
gard it to be, at present, indefensible as
measure of right.
y Such recognition entails upon the coun
{ try according the rights which flow from l
! difficult and complicated duties, and re
, quires the eXaetioh from the contendini
parties of the strict observance of thei
! rights and obligations. 1t conferS the RICH
| of search upon the high seas by vessels O
both parties; it would subject the carrying
: of arms and munitions of war, which nov
may be transported freely and without in
! corruption, in vessels of the United State
! to detention and to possible seizure;
would give rise to countless VeXatiouS Ques
tions, would release the parent government
from responsibility for acts done by the in
surgentS, and would invest Spain with tn
right to exercise the supervision recognize
+ by our treaty of 1875 over our commerce o
. the seas, a very large part of which, in it
: traffic between the Atlantic and the gul
! states and between all of them and tn
: states on the Pacific, passes through tn
. waters which wash the shores of Cuba
y | The exercise of this supervision cOul
scarce fail to lead, if not to abuses, Ger
tainly to collisions perilouS to the peacefi
relations of the two states. There can b
, little doubt as to what result such super
= vision would before long draw this nation
, 1t would be unworthy of the United State
= to inaugurate the possibilities of such re
: suit, by measures of questionable right o
. cXpediency, or by any indirectiOn."
! What Recognition Would Mean.
= Turning to the practical aspects of a rec
e ignition of ,DelliGerency and reviewing il
n inconvenience and positive dangers, Sti
t further pertinent considerations appear
= In the code of nations there is no such thin
= as a naked recognition of belligerency IN
, accompanied by the assumption of interna
= tional neutrality. Such recognition wi
e not confer upon either party TO domeSti
4 conflict a status not heretofore actuali
D possessed or effect the relation of ethe
= party TO other states. The act of recogn
l ton usually takes the form Of Il SOem
e proclamation of neutrality which cecite