The Monte Vista journal., 1897-12-11

fG1httOnS cOucer1S It8 uUty tOKuFO
Spain and the Cuban ipsurrection.
Problems md c0nditions more OF less
IN common with these now existing
have confronted this government At
various times In the pnst. The story
OF Cuba for many years has been one
OF unrest and growing discomfort. an
effort toward larger en1oyfnent %
liberty and self-control. Of organized
resistance to the mother country, Of
Depression after distress and warfare.
ana Of settlement to be followed by
continual revolt. For no enduring
period since the enfranchisement, OF
the continental possessions Of Spain In
the Western continent has the condi-
tion Of Cuba or the policy Of Spain to-
United States. -Eef
The existing conditions cannot but
fill this government and the American
people with the gravest apprehension.
There liz no desire to profit by the mis-
fortunes of Spain. We have only the
desire that the Cubans he prosperous
and contented. enjoying that measure
OF self-cOntrol which is the innliena-
BILE right OF man. protected In their
rights to reap the benefit of the ex-
The offer made by my predecessor
In April. 1896. rendering the friendly
offices OF this government. failed, and
mediation Oh our part was not accept.
ed. In brief. the answer read: There
Is no eaectunl way TO pacify Cuba un-
less 1t begins with the actual submis-
sion Of the rebels to the mother coup-
try"
Then only could Spain act In the
promised direction OF her own motion
and after her own plans.
The cruel policy of concentration
was initiated February III. 1896. The
productive districts controlled by the
Spanish armies We're deprecated, the
agricultural Inhabitants We're horde,
In and about garrisoned towns. their
lands laid waste. and their dwellings
destroyed. This policy the late cabi-
net of Spain justified ms n necessary
measure Of war and as a means Of cut
ting on supplies from the insurgents,
II has utterly failed as n war measure.
II was not civilized warfare. 1t was
determination.
CThe President goes on at length to
detnil the message OF Minister Wood
lord and the reply thereto. which have
heretofore been made public. The
President warmly defends this govern
ment from 6imin's charge that the
United States has helped the insnr-
gents.)
EoFcsbie Annexation Cannot ne Considered.
Throughout nll these horrors and
dangers to our own peace. this govern
ment has never In any way abrognted
It's sovereign prerogative Of rescrving
to itself the determination OF its policy
and cOurse. according to its own high
sense Of tight, and In consonancc with
the dearest Interests and convictions of
our own people. should the proloaga-
tiOn OF the strife 80 demand
or the untried measures there rcmn in
only:
Recognition of the insurgents as bel.
ligcrenis. recognition OF the independ-
cnce OF Cuba. national intervention to
end the war by imposing national
compromise between The contestants.
or prevention in favor Of one or the
other parties.
speak not of forcible annexation.
for that cannot be thought OF. That.
by our code of morality, would he Grim
inal aggression.
Recognition Of the Cuban Insurgents
has often been canvasscd ns a pOssI.
BILE. II not an Inevitable step. both In
regard TO the previous ten years strug-
gle and during the present war. I am
not unmlndful that the two houses of
Congress In the sprin. Of 1890 express.
ed the opinion by concurrent resolution
that condition OF public wnr existed.
requiring or jusfIfying the recognition
OF bclilgcrcncy In Cuba. and during the
extra session the Senate voted a Joint
resolution OF like import. which. how.
ever. was not brought to 4 vote In the
House Of tsi,. ercntntivcs.
The presence OF these great express.
sions bchoovcH the executive 10 SOLELY
consider the conditions under which no
Important n measure must need rest
for Justification. II Is to be xeriously
considered whether the Cuban insur.
+rcctlm posscsstd beyond dIs quite the
attributes or statehood. which alone
can demand the recognition OF t.liig-
crcncy In It's favor. Possession. In short,
Of the essential qualifications Of SOW
ercisn,y by the insurgents aud the con.
duct OF the wnr by them according 10
the rsSOGnixcd code Of war are no hess
Important facts toward the determine
tlon OF the problem than are the in-
nucnces and cOiiseuncns< Of the strug-
gle upon the internal policy Of recog-
nis!ng tho stare.
[ The wise uttcrnncc~ Of President
Grant In his memorable message OF
december :. 1875. arr sIgnally relevant
~ the present situation In Culsi. aud II
n,ny IL whoscsome now to recall them.
AZ that time a ruinOlis conflict had for
s~ven years wasted the neighbovIng
ishnd. During MI those years an utter
disregard OF civilized warfare AMI the
Demands OF humanity. which called for
tho expression Of condemnation from
the nations of aiI Chrlstcndom. contin.
utsl unalntsd. lpc~olntiOn and ruin
pcrvnticd Tint productive region, cnor-,
mously affecting the commerce. Of all
nations. hut that of the United States
more than any othar by reason Of
proximity aud larger tsadc and intw>
'cour~c. ir,f0ls ra.as -
Al that junctIrc General Graut ut-
srrcd tbera. words which now, o. tf,wa.
sum up the elements Of the protAcl,: !
. ~ recognitlon ~ the Inds.pspeD1nce
of Cubn tclng. In my opinion. imprac-
ucnble aud iiiticfcnsIblr. the as,Sstioa
That next prr~cMts itprif N that os.a
recognition of tcljisrrrnt rights Of. fhc
parties. Such rccognitios fatkNi dfMl
rult and fimls0rfant duti13 Il t1infees,
the right Of search upon I'M HIGH NAN
Il would subject tht carfyaas .k-shns
md munitions In vessels ekfhe CniteA
States to dct~ntion and poesihoa ,sela.
urr: II would gtsc rise " co1aosss'
'vsxattoss Gas~sionS; would ,rsiieye ~
rArrAt SOvcrnmrnt FROM kanossajtNs
lac fnR aras senspa lao lt,ss,r~s.s.A~ ...N