Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-07

dCCOEu Will pEccSucntS cStduHcucu III
this country and the consensus of opin-
ion of authorities on International
law this government should giant
belligerent rights to the Cuban insur-
gents. He says: II regard the accord
ance Of belligerent rights still to be as
unwise and premature as l regard 1t to
be, at present, indefensible as a meas
ure Of right" Those who criticise
this position will be compelled to ad-
init that it is in accord with precedent,
and that. while the contrary at
titude need not and should not
occasion hostility between this
country and, Spain, it would be likely
to do so. The President dwells at
considerable length on this. He be-
lieves, Such recognition entails upon
the country according to the rights
which flow from it difficult and compli-
Gated duties and requires the exaction
from the contending parties of the
strict observance of their rights and
obligations. 1t confers the right Of
SSdISA uPOu lIC Ll6H SSdS NY Vessels
of both parties it would subject the
carrying of arms and munitions of war,
which now may be transported freely
and without interruption in vessels of
the United States, to detention and
possible seizure; it would give the rise
to countless vexatious questions, would
release the parent government from re-
sponsibility for acts done by the insur-
gents and would invest Spain with the
right to exercise the supervision recog-
nized by our treaty of 1895 over our
commerce on the high seas very large
part of which in it's traffic between the
Atlantic and the Gulf states and be-
tween all of them and the states of the
Pacific passes through the waters
which wash the shores of Cuba. The
exercise of this supervision could
scarce fail to lead, if not to abuses,
certainly to collisions perilous to the
peaceful relation of the two states
There can be little doubt as to what re-
suit such supervision would before long
draw this nation. 1t would be uE-
worthy of the United States to inau-
gurate the possibilities of such results,
by measures of questionable right OF
expediency or indirection''
Furthermore the fact cannot be
overlooked that about all the advan-
tage that could accrue to the insur-
gents would consist in the expectation
that this government would become
embroiled in war with Spain. The
President Of course, does not allude to
this directly but such an inference
seems deducible from the conditions
he points out.
Referring to the claim that we
should intervene upon humanitarian
grounds he asks whether such a step
should be taken now when the new
government in Spain has recognized
that peace cannot be maintained in
Cuba by the bayonet; that genuine re-
forms must be granted. AS to the like
lihood of the proposed autonomy being
accepted he expresses no opinion, nor
as to it's merits. He considers that the
Sagasta ministry has made earnest of
the sincerity of it's professions" and
adds, Il shall not impugn it's sincerity
nor should impatience be suffered to
embarrass it in the task it has as
sumed." He recognizes the possibility
of our forcible Intervention but urges
that 1T shall be without fault on our
part and only because the necessity for
such action will be so clear as to COM
mand the support and approval of the
civilized world
Regarding the annexation of Hawaii
he believes the treaty should be con-
| firmed ''as every consideration Of dig
nifty and honor requires" He, says the
difficulties between Hawaii and Japan
are in a satisfactory stage of settle
ment by negotiation, also that nothing
but spirit of friendliness exists be-
tween Japan and this country.
The President hopes that the labors
of the bimetallic commission may re-
suit in an International agreement rel
alive to bimetallsm but how conf
| OenC he may DE IN tndt expressed nope
does not appear.
He announces that he shall remain
constant in his support of proper arb
tration; he believes armor for our new
battle ships should be provided for
Immediately; approves in the main
Secretary Longs recommendations;
advocates relief for the distress re-
ported in the Yukon territory if it shall
be found the reports are not exagger-
ated. He agrees with secretary of the
interior that there is no. cure for the
conditions in Indian territory save the
| government take possession. He fav-
ors commission to determine exact
cause of yellow fever.
And it should not be overlooked
that he has no sympathy with the
efforts to kill civil service reform. He
says. THE system has the approval Of
the people and it will be my endeavor
to uphold and extend it," Nor does