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

! ish sovereignty. This. II Is cId.il WI -
| in investing Cuba with q diStiu t personality
the island to be COVE ned BIZ an .xe utiv M
! By q local council or chamber, rGscrvlhg tC
Spain the control OF the forei N re-a,ions the
army and navy AMI judicial imini ,trdlion. TIC
accomplish this the pre- sent gov ram Mt pro-
| poses o modify legislation by rec:ee leaving
the Spanish cOrtes, with the aid Of CuJal SEN
atOrs and deputies, To solve the economic
problem and properly distribute the existing
debt.
In the absence of a declaration Of the m as
ures that the government prop) ses to IN le in
carrying out its prof II of COOL Offices it sGg-
gests that Spain be lef free TO cOnlu mi ita-
~ operations and grant political Tf1rms.
while the United States for its pa t shall en-
force its neutral obligations and GU of the as
sistance which it is asserted the in SurgantS re-
ceive from this country. The suopo IL on Of
an indefinite DrolOngLtiOn Of the war i Mod
1t is asserted that the stern provinces are
already well nigh reclaimed; that the planting
OF cane and tobacco therein has been resumed
and that by force OF arms and new and an pie re-
forms very early and complete pIcihcaf ion is
hoped for The immediate amelieratjon of ex-
listing conditions under the new administration
OF Cuban affairs is predicted AMI therewithal
the disturbance and all occasion for any change
of attitude on the part Of the United States
Discussion Of the question OF international
duties and responsibilities Of the United
States, as Spain understands them. is pre-
sented with an app trent disposition to charge
us with failure in this regard. This charge is
without any basis in fact. 1t could not have
been made if Spain had been cOgnizant OF the
constant efforts this government has made at
the cost OF millions and by the employment OF
the administrative machinery of the na.ion at
command to perform its full duty according to
the law Of nations That it has successfully
prevented the departure of single military
expeditiln or armed vessel from our shores in
violation Of our laws. would seem to be a suf-
fcient answer. But of this aspect Of the Span
ish note it is not necessary to speak further
now.
Firm in the conviction of a wholly performed
obligation due response to this charge has
BEEN made in diplomatic issues. Throughout
all these horrors and dangers 70 our own peace
this government has never in any way abrOgated
its sovereign prerogative Of pres irving to itself
the determination of its policy ami curse ac-
cording to its own high sense of right and in
consonance with thu dearest interests and
convictions Of our own people should the pro-
lOngatiOn Of the st life so demand
OF the untried measures there remain only:
Recognition OF the insurgents as belligerentS
recognition Of the independence of Cuba; neu-
trail intervention to end the war by imposing a
rational compromise between the contestants
and intervention in favor Of one or the other
n
that cannot be thought Of That, BY or code
Of morality. would be criminal aggression
hecOgn sLsnn UG - -IsIger-BOy.
Recognition OF the bellgerencF OF the Cuban
insurgents has often been eanvassed as a pos
sible il not inevitable step both in regard to
the previous ten years struggle and during the
present war am not unmindful that the two
houses OF congress- in the spring of 1895 ex-
pressed the opinion Oy concurrent resolution
that a condition of public war existed requiring
or justfying the recognition Of state of beliig-
erency in Cuba and during thu extra session the
senate voted joint resolution Of like import,
which hOwev T, was not brought to a vote In
the house. In the presence OF these significant
expressions Of the sentiment Of the legislative
branch it behoOves the executive to sOberly
consider the conditions under which so impOr-
tant measure must needs rest for justiica-
ton II is to be seriously cOnsid- /
cred whether the Cuban insurr .c,iOn pos |
sesses beyond dispute the attributes Of
statehood which alone can demand the recOg- |
milton Of belligereney in its favor. Possession.
in short Of the essential qualifications OF SOW |
ereignty by the insurgents and the conduct Of
the war by them according to the received code |
Of war are no less important factors toward the |
determination Of the problem OF beligerency /
than are the influences and con sequences OF the /
struggle upon the internal policy OF the recog-
nizing state i