The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-12-09

The contest, moreover, is solely on land: !:
| the insurrection has not possessed itself
of a single seaport whence 1t may send
forth its flag, nor has 1t any means OF
communication with foreign powers ex-
cept through the military lines of the ad-
versarieS. No apprehension of any of
those sudden and difficult complications
which occur on the ocean is apt to pre-
cipitate upon the vessels. both CONNER
cial and national. and upon the consular
officers of other powers, calls for the
| definition of their relations to the parties
to the contest.
Considered as question Of expediency,
regard the accordance of belligerent
rights still to be as unwise and prema-
ture as l regard 1t to be at present inde-
fensible as a measure of right. Such rec
ognition entails upon the country accord
ing the rights which flow from Il difficult
and complicated duties, and requires the
exaction from the contending parties of
the strict observance of their rights and
obligations. 1t confers the right of search
upon the high seas by vessels of both
parties; it would subject the carrying OF
arms and munitions OF war, which now
may be transported freely and without in
terruption, in vessels of the United States,
to detention and possible seizure; it would
give rise to countless veXatious questions,
would release the parent government
from responsibility for acts done by the
insurgents. and would invest Spain with
the right to exercise the supervision rec
ognized by our treaty of 1875 over our
commerce on the seas, very large part
Of which, in its traffic between the At
lantic and the gulf states. and between
all Of them and the states on the Pacific,
passes through the waters which wash
the shores of Cuba The exercise OF this
supervision could scarce fail to lead. il
ilous to the peaceful relations Of the two
states. There can be little doubt as to
what result such supervision would be-
fore long draw upon this nation. 1t would
ha Hrfh nf hn Tpis TOT in
augurate the possibilities Of such result by
measures of questionable right or eX-
pedlency, or by any indrection.
Turning to the practical aspects of
recognition of belligerency, reviewing its
inconVeniencies and positive dangers still
further pertinent considerations appear.
In the code Of nations there is no such
thing as a naked recognition Of belliger-
en2y unaccompanied by the assumption
OF international neutrality. Such reCog-
milton, without more, Will not confer upon
either party to a domestic conflict status
not heretofore actually possessed or af-
feet the relation of either party to other
states. The act of recognition usually
takes the form of a solemn proclamation
of neutrality which recites the de facto
condition OF belligerency as it's motive.
1t announces domestic law Of neutrality
in declaring the state. It as
of public state OF war 1t warns
all citizens and others within the juris-
diction of the proclaimant that they yio-
late those rigorous obliga tions at their
own peril. and cannot expect to be shield
ed from the consequences The right OF
visit and search on the seas. and seizure
or vessels and cargoeS and contraband Of
war. and good prize under admiralty law,
must under international law be admitted
as legitimate consequence OF procla-
nation of belligerency. While according
the equal belligerent rights defined by
public law to each party in our ports dis
favors would be imposed on both which
while, nominally equal. would weigh
heavily In behalf OF Spain herself Pos
sessing navy and controlling the ports
Of Cuba, her maritime rights could be
asserted not only for the military invest
ment of the island. but up to the margin
dition Of things would exist for which the
Cubans within their own domain could
not nope to create parallel, whila its
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 perforce assume
The enforcement Of this enlarged and
oneroUS code Of neutrality would ONLY be
Influential within our jurisdiction on both
land and sea and applicable TO our own
instrumentalities. 1t could impa,t to the
United States no jurisdiction with Spain
or the insurgents. 1t would give the
United States no right OF intervention 10
enforce the conduct OF the strife within
ing to the interna tional code of war
For these reasons l regard the reccgli-
tion of the beiligerency of the Cuban in
surgents as now unwise, and therefore
inadmissibie. Should that step hereafter
be deemed wise as a measure Of right and
duty the executive will take it.
Intervention upon humanitarian grounds
has been frequently suggested, and mas
not failed to receive my most anxious and
earnest consdera ton. But should such
a step be now taken, when it is apparent
that a hopeful change has supervened in
the policy OF Spain toward Cuba? new
government has taken office in the moth
er country. 1t is pledged in advance TO
the declaration that all the effort in the
world cannot suffice to maintain peace In
Cuba by the bayoEet; that vague prom
ises of reform after subjugation AFFORD
no solution of the insular problem; that
with a substitution of commanders must
come a change of the past system of war
fare foH one in harmony with new pol
.cy winch shall no longer am to urIye
the Cubans to the horrible alternative
Of taking to the thicket or succumbins
in misery; that reforms must be- insti-
-uted in accordance with the leeds ana
circumstances of the time, and that these
reforms. while designed to give full au
tonomy to the colony and to create q vtr-
tual entity and sell controlled adminstra-
ton, shall yet conserve and affirm the
sovereignty Of Spain by just distrib,i-
ton Of powers and burdens upon basis
of mutual interest untainted by methods
of selfish eXDediency
The first acts of the government
lie in these honorable paths. The policy
of cruel rapine and determination that SO
long shocked the universal sentiment Of
humanity has been reversed. Under the
new military commander, a broad elem
ency is profsered. Measures have al
ready been set on foot to relieve the hor
rors of starvation. The power of the
Spanish armies, 1t is asserted, is to be
Used not to spread ruin and desola ton.
but to protect the resumption Of peace
full agricultural pursuits and productive
industries. That past methods are futile
to force q peace by subjugation is freely
admitted. and that ruin without concilia-
ton must inevitably fail to win ior Spain
the fealty Of a contented dependency.
DEGREES in application of the foreshad
owed reforms have already been promui-
gated. The full text of these DEGREES has
not been received, but as furnished In a
teegraphic summary from our ministry
are: All civil and electoral rights OF pc
ainsuIar Spaniards are, in virtue OF ex-
isting constitutional authority, forthwith
extended to colonial Spaniards A scheme
of autonomy has been proclaimed by de-
cree, to become effective upon ratification
by the cortes. 1t creates a Cuban parlia-
ment, which, with the insular executive
can consider and vote upon all subjects
affecting the local order and interests. and
will possess unlimited powers. save as 10
matters of state, war and the navy. as
to which the governor general acts by his
own authority as the delegate of the CEN
trail government This parliament re-
cieye5 the oath Of the governor general to