The Mena weekly star., 1897-12-08


 The act Of recognition usually takes she form Of a solemn proclamation of neutrality which rcctes the de facto condition of belliger- ency as its motives It announces a domestic law of neutrality in the declaring state. It as- sumes the international obligations of a neu- tral in the presence of public state of war. It warns all citizens and others within the jurisdiction of the proclaimant that they Vio- late those rigorous obligations at their own peril and cannot expect to be shielded from the consequences. The right of visit and search on the seas and seizure of vessels and cargoes and contraband of war and good prize under admiralty law must under international law be admitted as a legitimate con sequence of proclamation of bel- ligerency While according the equal belligerent rights defined by public law to each party in our ports diSfavors would be inn posed on both, which. while nominally equal, would weigh heavily in behalf of Spain herself Possessing navy and controlling the ports of Cuba her maritime rights could be asserted not only for the military investment of the island. but up to the margin of our own terri torial waters and condition of things would exist for which the Cubans within their own domain could not hope to create parallel; while it's 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 oner- ous code of neutrality would only be influential within our own jurisdiction by land and sea and applicable by our own instrumentalitv. It could impart to the United States no jurisdic- tion between Spain and the insurgents. It would give the United States no right of inter- ventton to enforce the conduct Of the strife within the paramount authority of Spain ac- cording to the international code of war. For these reasons l regard the recognition of the beligerency of the Cuban insurgents as now unwise and therefore inadmissible Should that step hereafter be deemed wise as meas ure of right and duty the executive will take it.
 Intervention upon humanitarian grounds has been frequently suggested and has not failed to receive my most anxious and earnest con- sideration. But should such step be now taken when it is apparent that hopeful change has supervened in the policy of Spain toward Cuba? A new government has taken office in the mother country. It is pledged in advance to the declaration that all the effort in the world cannot suffice to maintain peace in Cuba by the bayonet; that vague promises of reform after subjugation afford no solution of the insular probem that with a substitution of commanders must come a change of the past system of warfare for one in harmony with new policy which shall no longer aim to drive the Cubans to the horrible alternative of taking to the thiclSet or succumbing in misery;'' that reforms must be instituted in accordance
 
 and that these reforms while designed to give fuil autonosay to the colony and to create virtual entity and sef-eontroted administrs- tian. shall yet conserve and affirm the sover- eiglty of apain bga jus stfi iButfoa of pow CTS and burdens upon i G8sis Of ma ual inter- est untainteI by methods of selfish expediency.
 Policy eF AxtermmAiipn Reversed.
 The first acts of the new government lie ia these honorable paths. The policy of cruel ra- pine and axterminafion lhat so long shocked the universal sentimen of humanity has been reversed Under tho 4H military commander broad clenleneg is pro1eTsd Measures have already been set on f9Jt to T. h we tho horrors of starvation The power Of the Spanish armies, if IS asssrtea- is to be used not to spread ruin and desalatlon but 10 protect the resumption of peae ful agricultural pursuits and productive in5ustrtes That past methods ore futile to force peace by subiugation is freely admitted, and that ruin without concilia- tion must inevitably fail to win for Spain tho fidelity of contanted dependency. Decrees in application Of the fcreshaaowed reforms have already been promui -ale1,
 The Near Euture Wfi Tell
 Not single American citizen is now under arrest or in confinement in cuba. of whom this government has any Knowledge The near future will demonstrate whether the indis- penSable condition of q righteous peace, just alike to the Cubans and to Spain as well as equitable to all our interests intimately n- volved in the welfare of Cuba is likely to be attained If not. the exigency of further and other action by the United States will remain to be taken. When that time comes that action will be determined in the line of indis- putable right and duty It will be faced with out migivings or hestancy in the light of the obligation this government owes to itself to the,people who have conhded to 1t the protection of their interests and honor. and to humanity
 Hawaiian Annexation.
 By n special message dated the 18th day of June last, 1 laid before the senate q treaty signed that day by the plenipotentiaries of the United States and of the republic of Hawaii having for it's purpose the incorporation of the Hawaiian islands as an integral part of the United States, and under it's sovereignty. The senate having removed the injunction Of se- crecy. although the treaty is still pending be- fore that body, the subject may be properly re- ferred to in this message because the necessary action of the congress is required to determine by legislation many details of the eventual union should the fact of annexation be accom- plished, as believe it should be
 While consistently disfavorng from a very early period any aggressive policy of absorp- tlon in regard to the Hawaiian group a long series of declarations through three-quarsers of century has proclaimed the vital interests of the United States in the independent life of the islands and their intimate commercial de- pendency upon this country. At the same time 1t has been repeatedly asserted that in no event could the entity of Hawaiian statehood cease by the passage of the island under the domina- tion or influence of another power than the United States. Under these circumstances the logic of events required that annexation before offered but declined, should in the ripeness of time come about us the natural result of strengthening the ties that bind us to those islands and be