The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-12-10

Turning to the pract1caI aspects OF a recogui-
ton Of belligerency and reviewing its incon-
veniences and positive dangers. still further
pertinent considerations appear. In the code
of nations there is no such thing a. a naked
recognition Of belligerency unaccOmpanied by
the aSsumpt on of international neutrality
Such recognition without more will not con-
fer upon either party to a domestic conflict a
status not theretOfOrs actually possessed or az
feet the relation Of either party to other states
The act OF recognition usually takes the
form of solemn proclamation Of neutrality
which recites the de factO condition Of belliger-
ency as its motives 1t announces domestic
law Of neutrality in the declaring state. It as
sumes the international obligations OF q neu-
trail in the presence Of q public state OF war;
1t warns all citizens and others within the
jurisdiction OF ths prOclaimant that they VIC
late those rigorous obligations at their own
peril and cannot expect to be shielded from the
consequences The right Of visit and search
on the seas and seizure Of vessels and ea-goes
and contraband Of war and good prize under
admiralty law must under International
law be admitted as a legitimate con-
sequence OF proclamation Of bel
ligerency While according the equal
belligerent rights defined by public law to
each party in our ports disfavors would be i'm
posed on both which, while nominally equal
would weigh heavily in behalf Of Spain herself
Possessing navy and controlling the ports
OF Cuba her maritime rights could be asserted
not only for the military investment Of the
island but up to the margin Of our own terri
tOrial waters, and a condition Of things would
exist for W hich the Cubans within their own
domain could not hope to create parallel:
while it's creation through aid or sympathy
from within our domain would be even more
impossible than now. with the additional
obligations Of international neutrality We
would perfOree assume
RecoCnitfOn Novv Deemed Vnwlaa
The enforcement Of this enlarged and Oner-
Gus code Of neutrality would only be influential
within our own jurisdiction by land and sea
and applicable by our own instrumentality. Il
could iInpart to the United States no iurisdic-
tinn between Snain ard the inSDr0snrS II
wouId give the United States no right Of inter-
vention to enforce the conduct Of the strife
within the paramount authority Of Spain &C
cording to the international code Of war For
these reasons 1 regard the recognition Of the
beligereney Of the Cuban insurgents as now
unwiSe and therefore inadmissible Should
that step hereafter b. deemed wis. as a meas
ure of right and duty the executive will take It
Intervention upon humanitarian grounds has
been frequently suggested and has not failed
to receive my most anxious and earnest con-
sideratiOn. But should such a step be now
taken when il is apparent that hopeful change
has supervened in the policy of Spain toward
Cuba? new government has taken office in
the mother country. 1t is pledged in advance
to the deciara, ion that all the effort in the
world cannot suffice TO maintain peace in Cuba
by the bayOnet: that vague promises Of reform
after subjugatiOn afford solution OF the
insuiar p-Ob:em; 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 thiclle: or Succum bing in misery;'
that reforms must be instituted in accordance &
with the needs and circumstances OF the time
and that these reforms while designed to give
full autonomy to the colony and to create
virtual entity and Sc f-contrOlled administra-
tion. shall yet conserve and affirm the sover-
eighty OF Spain by just distribution Of pow
erS and burdens upon basis OF mu ual inter-
est untaintec by Il .thodS of sslhsh expediency. !
Policy of ExIefminari "a Reversed.
The first acts Of the new government lie il
these honorable paths The policy Of cruel "a
pine and extarminati1n that 50 long shocked
the I'm verSal sentiment Of humanity has been ]
reversed Under tie military commander I
a broad clemancy * p-Of1r,d Measures have
already bean set on foot 10 relieve the horrors
of starvation. The power OF the Spanish
armies, it is as, rte1, Is to be used not to
spread ruin and dsS5latiOn. but to protect the
OF pslc ia. agricultural pursuits
and productive in tuStr. eS. That past methods