The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-20
Our Right to Recognize Cuba.

'uT INte"t W lttcOShhLt suba-
A pretcxt may be found for doing almost
anything. Witness the fable Of the fox and
the lamb. But upon what ground would
Spain go to wal with the United States IL the
authorities mt Washington should recognize
the independence of Cubai Such recogni-
ton would not, of itself, accomplish the in
dependence OF the island. Spain would
still be at liberty to continue her attempt
Mt %subjugation. The United States would
not be Obliged to intervene in the fight. II
Spain should be successful, the recognition
would amount to nothing.
When the United States recognized the
independence OF the South American Span
ish colonies, Spain did not find in this n
cause of war. Why should she find one in
the case Of Cuba ? 1t may be urged that the
South American colonies were SO far distant
from us that we could not be charged with
any selfish designs upon them, whereas Cuba,
separated from us only by the Gulf Stream
in its narrowest part, eXcites our cupidity
and makes us look upon the independence
of the island as the first, but sure, step to-
ward its annexation to this country. II we
admit the argument, II proves nothing. The
question Is not what will become OF Cuba
should she conquer her Independence, but
whether we have the right to recognize her
independence without giving Spain any just
cause Of complaint against us. 1t must be
conceded that should Cuba succeed in sep
arating itself from Spain 1t would he a mat
ter of no consequence to the parent country
what became of the island. The question
Of acknowledging the independence of a
nation is not a question Of proximity to the
nation acknowledged. II Is n question OF
right, and this right has never been ques-
toned. 1t has often been exercised, and
this without the proximity Of the nation
acknowledged being a cause Of war.
\ notable instance Of this is the case OF
Mexico. Mexico was n Spanish colony.
The boundary between hat colony and the
United States was in part IA narrow stream,
and in part an imaginary line. When Mexico
revolted from Spain and her independence
was acknowledged by the United States,
Spain did not consider herself ng2rieved to
such nm extent that the shedding Of blood
alone would satisfy her honor.
When the United States recognized the
independence of Texas, Mexico did not go to
war with MS about 1t. Thus the principle
vi ihNNii ''i'liti ~" thNt " iIhNloll mas IDt
only the power, but also the right, to recog-
nize the independence of n r~evolted colony,
has received the sanction of Spain rs well
as OF other nations.
At the time whcn the independence of the
Spanish colonies above named was rccog-
nized by us, we were, comparatively speak
ing, n weak nation, with an insignificant
army and n very small navy, while Spain
was n formidable power both on land and
sea. These conditions have been reversed.
We arc now the powerful nation of the
two, On land we have the means OF placing
an almost unlimited number Of soldiers in
the field. Our navy is composed OF numer-
Gus vessels, all of the latest construction
and carrying formidable guns. We could
land more men in Cuba within sixty
days than Spain could send there in "A
twelvemonth. Not one of the fortresses
which guard the entrance to her harbors,
not even the Moro or the CabaTas, could
withstand for II day the projectiles which
would be showered upon them from the guns
Of our ships, II her navy met our squadron
in the Gulf, it would disappear.
Spain knows this perfectly we'll. II she
took no umbrage Mt our recognition OF the
independence ul lcr other American prov
inCes when she was powerful and we were
comparatively weak, would she be so mad
ms to rush into n war with us IL we recognize
the independence OF Cuba now, when we are
strong and she Is weak, and when she could
expect to reap nothing from such n war but
disaster
But come what may, should wo he de
TERED from doing what we have the perfect
right to do simply because by doing it we
should run the risk OF having Spain attempt
to do us An injury Is this. in the borrow cd
gibbcrish of the hour, jlngoismy We deny
1t, We have simply called attention to an
undiSputed right which this nation, in com
mon with every other nation, possesses, aud
to the result which would follow amy ut
tempt to do us II harm should we assert
that right, But admit that it is iingoism,
Better be II iingo than u coward, or a grub,
which considers nothing except food.
For nearly half n century the natives OF
Cuba have made successive efforts 10 free
themselves from the domination Of n Gov.
which has bel cruel to their per-
sons, regardless OF their rights, cormorants