The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-12-08

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cucr G win al regaru Ior przyate rights,
being accompanied by political action
Leading To the autonomy ~ Cu1a, while
tzunrusng Spanish sovereignty Ihis Is
claimed, viii result in investing CuDa
with a distinct personality the island 10
BE- governed BIZ an executive anu by a
Local Council or chan-hers reserElng 10
Soain the control Of the foreign relations
tic army and navy and the judicial nd
ministrsIrsOn- To accomplish this tic
present government proposes 10 modify
1,istif,sr leg, station by decree, leaving the
SPIN sh co-tes, with she aid OF Caban
stnatsrs and deputies, 10 solve the econ
olnic problem and properly Distribute the
existing debt
should Let spain Alone.
In the absence Of a declaration of the
measures that this governments proposes
10 take in csrrying out its prOiIer Of good
Offices 1t sugs sts that Spain be left free
to conduct military operations and grant
political refer MS while the United StaieS
furfts part snail enforce It's neutral Obli-
cations and cut OF the assistance which
il is asserted the insurgents receive from
this ccuntry The suppOsitiOn Of an in
definite UruionCariOn Of the war IS denied
1t is asserted that the western prov inccS
are already well nigh reciaimed; that the
plartfng Of cane and tobacco therein has
been resumed, and that by force OF arms
the new AMI ample reforms very early
and comple,s pacilcatiOn is hoped for
The immediate ameIioration Of existing
conditions ur6er the new administration
Of Cl.5an affairs j. predicted, ana there
withal The disturbance and all OCCASION
for any change Of attitude on the part OF
the United States. discussion OF TIE
question OF the international duties and
responsibilities Of the United States cs
SIrlin understands them IS Presented
WIKI an apparent disposition 70 charge Us
with failure in this re gard. This charge
is wifkont any basis in fact. IL could rot
have been made II spain had been eogni-
zant Of the constant efforts this govern
ment has made at the cost OF millons
and by the employment of the admins
tratiye machinery of the nation at COM
mand TO perform its full duty according
TO the law OF the nations. That II has
successfully prevented the departure OF
single nal tary expedition or armed YES
sci from our shores in violation OF our
laws would seem to lie a sufficient answer
But of this aspect OF the Spanish note 1t
j. not necessary % Spsak further now
Firm in the conviction of a wholly per-
formed obligation, due response To this
charge has been made in diplomatic
course
Throughout al these horrors and dan
gers to our own peace this government
La never IN any way abrUgl,sd is SOW
er, ign prer1gativa Of rescreinI u Itself
the determination Of i;s rOlicy and course
accord. NJ u iis own high selse Of right
ana in cunsonance with the dcare.t I inter
ests ana cOnyictions of cur own People
should the EroiUngaticn OF the strife 50
demand.
what This Coaniry should DO.
OF the untricd measures there remains
only: Recognition of the Insurgents AS
bcllisercn1s, recognition Of the inacpcnd-
encc Of Cuha; neutral Intervention To end
Of the war Ey proposing nation cont
promise between tie c,.ntcstants and in
teryenti0n in favor Of ono CT the other
party. speak lot % forc.b.e anneXa-
tion, for that cannot bs Il - ht Of That
by Cur code of morality w0..-A be criminal
aggression. Recognition Of the belligcr-
ency Of the Cuban insurgents has often
been canvasssd as a possible = not inevit-
able step both in egard to tiie previous 10
years struggle and during the present
war l am not unmindtul that the Two
houses OF congress IN the spring OF 1873
expressed the opinion by concurrent rcsO-
lution that a condition Of public war ex-
istcd re lulring or justllying the recognl-
ton OF . st.ts of balliger1ncy in Cuba,
and during the extra ssiOn the senate
voted "a joint resolution of like import,
which, however, WAS not brought to
vote IN the house Of representatives. In
tie presence ut these significant eXpres-
si0ns 0f tie sent IN, ut OF tbs legislative
E.Ulch /. lc.lcO es the executive T. sober
Il clnsitcc ths conditions under which so
important "a meas l-e mast needs rest Tor
jus.s.--- i.-u. IL is 20 b. seriously conSid-
e. q ,vaytEer the Cuban instruction pos
S. O. --vFO4d dispute the attributes OF
sttI- .1Ji which alone can demand the
rsoH :,vsun Of beiigur ncy in its favor.
4. cS-; Iu, in short, Of tho essential quail
i;.c .,i2--s Il -0yCiciguty by the Insurgents
anu ;'5,- conduct OF the war BY hem nc
cor i.g 60 the received code o. war are no
loss Important factors toward the Diet rIn-
inatio1 I tac problem OF bciLgcrency
taau are th- iGLucHces and consequence
OF the struggle uTOn The internal policy OF
Tie re- ogli@iG- state.
Ihe WE atto-tntas OF President Grant
In lis honorable message of December Z,
I,15, arc sl-nsliy relevant 10 the present
situation in Cuba and il may he whole
some now 10 recall them. At that tine a
ru nous conflict had for seven years
wasted the nighboring island. During
al those yclrs an utter dish gard OF the
laws Of els liZcd warfare and of the just
demands Cf humanity, which called for
tie Expressions OF condemnation from the
nations OF Ck-istcnuOm, continued una
bated- De-oiAtion aad ruin pcryaded
that productive region, enormously elect
ing the commcrco Of all commercial ma
til.s, but that Il the United States more
thaa any Other by reason Of proximity
and ar.cr trade and intercourse. At that
junetIre Gca.Ia. Grant uttered these
words. which now as then sum up the ele
meuts uf the prOhlcnI-
what Grant said on Cuba.
az recognition Of the Independence of
Cuba 5cin,. in my opinion. impTacticable
and IN iafvDsiye, tbs question which next
presents Itself is that OF the recognition
OF cli-crent rights 70 the parties 20 the
cont ST. In a former measure TO congress
Ih.d occasion TO consider this question
and r,achcd the conclusion that the con
fict IN Cub1. dreadful and devastating as
were i.s inci1cnis, did not rise to the fear
ful ti-uity of war. Ii is pos
s.b!c tEat the acts OF foreign powers, and
even acts cf Spiin htrself, OF this yery |
naturc, might lie pointed TO in defense OF
such recognition. But now, as in its past |
history, the United States should care
fully ay0ii Tie false light which might |
lead & into the maEes of doubtful law and |
OF questionable prOpriety, and adhere |
rigiGiy ana sternly TO the rule, which has |
been its euice, Of doing only that which |
is rs..t AID honest and of good report |
The question Of &c ording cr of withhold |
ing tights OF bclligency must be judged |
in every case, III view Of the particular |
attending facts Unless justified by neces |
sity, It l. always, and justly. regarded ns |
an unfricnGly act and a grituitOus demon |
sfration of moral support 20 the rebellion |
It is necessary, ard Ii is required, when |
the interests and rights of another gov.
eTnmeEt o. of its pcople are so far affected |
by a Bending civil conflict as To require a i
definition of It's relations TO the parties |
thereto But this ccnEict must be one |
which viii be rccOguized IL the sense OF |
in;s irrational law as war.
Ec iigeteBcc, too, is a fact. The mere |
exis tencs Of conUcndiag armed b adies, and |
their occasional conflicts, DO not consti- /
TUE war in { lac sense rc.Crrcd to. Apply |
ing 70 the existing condition OF affairs in /
Cuba the tests recognized by publicists |
and writers on international law, and |
which have been observed by nations of |
dignity, honesty and power, when free /
from sensitive or selfish and unworthy /
motive; I fail 20 find in the Instruction /
the existence OF such substantial pOliti |
cal organization, real, ralpablc and mani.
fest 10 the wCr.d, having the forms AMI
capable Of the ordinary functions OF gov
eminent toward its own people ami 10 i
other states, with courts for the admins
trJtion Of Justice, with a local hab tIt.on,
Possessing snch organization OF force, such |
material. such occupation of territory as
TO take the contest ont OF the category of 1
q mere rebcliious Instruction, or Occa-
sion n skirminis:,es, and place il on the 1
tcrr Bile fOO;ing Of war, To which rccog-
milton Of beliigcrency would aim to cle-
yatc it.
The contest, moreover, is solely on land;
tho insurT ection has not possessed itself
OF "A single seaport whence il may send
forth its flag, nor has it any means of
communication with foreign powers ex-
cept through the military lines of its ad-
ye-saricS No apprehension of gny OF |