The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-07

be governed by an executive and by {
local council or chamber, reserving tx
Spain the control of the foreign relation:
the army and navy and the judicial ad-
ministration. To accomplish this the
present government proposes to modify
existing legislation by decree, leaving
the Spanish cortes. with the aid of Gu
ban senators and deputies, to solve the
economic problem and properly distrib-
ute the existing debt
A HANDS-OFF POLICY.
In the absence Of declaration of the
measures that the government proposes
TO take in carrying out its ,proffer OF
good offices it suggests that Spain be left
free to conduct military operations and
grant political reforms, while the Unit
ed States for its part shall enforce its
neutral obligations and cut off the as
sistance which, 1t is asserted, the insurg-
| ents receive from this country. The sup
position of an indefinite prolongation of
the war is denied. 1t is asserted that the
western provinces are already well nigh
reclaimed; that the planting of cane and
| tobacco therein has been resumed, and
that by force Of arms and new and am
pie reforms very early and complete pac-
ification is hoped for.
FILIBUSTERING.
The immediate amelioration OF exist
J ing conditions under the new administra-
| ton of Cuban affairs is predicted, and
| therewithal the disturbance and all oc-
casion for any change of attitude on the
! part Of the United States. Discussion of
the question of International duties and
responsibilities Of the United States, as
Spain understands them, Is presented,
with an apparent disposition to charge
US with failure IN this regard. This
| charge is without any basis in existing
fact. 1t could not have been made if
Spain had been cognizant of the efforts
this government has made, at the cost Of
millions and by the employment OF the
administrative machinery at the national
command, to perform its duty according
to the law Of nations. That it has sue
cessfuHy prevented the departure Of a
single military expedition or armed yes
sci from our shores in violation of our
laws, would seem TO ibe a sufficient an
sWer.
PATIENCE NOE ETERNAL.
But on this aspect Of the Spanish note
It not necessary to speak further now
Firm in the conviction of wholly per-
formed obligation, due response to the
charge has been made in diplomatic is
sues. Throughout all these horrors and
dangers to our own peace this govern
ment mas never in any way abrogated
-
to itself the determination of its policy
and course according to its own high
sense of right and in corsonance with
the dearest iterests and convictions OF
our own people, should the prolongation
OF the strife so demand.
MEANS YET UNTRIED.
OF the untried measures there remain
belligerents; recognition of the indepen-
dence of Cuba; neutral Intervention to
end the war by imposing a rational com-
promise between the contestants, and in
tervention in their favor of one or the
other party. speak not of forcible an
neXation, for that cannot be thought Of. s,
That by our code of morality would be
criminal aggression.
BELLIGERENCY.
Recognition OF The belligerency of the
Cuban insurgents has often been can
vassed as a possible, if not inevitable,
step, both in regar dto the previous ten
years struggle and during the present
war. I am not unmindful tnat the two
houses of congress in the spring of 1896,
expressed the opinion by concurrent
resolution, that a condition Of public
war existed REBUILDING or justifying the
recognition of a state OF belligerency in
Cuba, and during the extra session the
senate voted joint resolution Of like
import, which, however, was not brought
to vote in the house.
IT'S LEGAL ASPECTS.
In the presence of these significant
expressions of the sentiment of the leg
islative branch, it belooves the execu-
tive TO sJberly consider the conditions
under which so important a measure
must needs rest for justification. It is
20 be seriously considered whether the
Cuban insurrection possesses beyond
dispute the attributes of statehood
which alone can demand the recognition
OF belligerency in its favor. Possession,
in short, OF the essential qualifications of
sovereignty by the insurgents and the
conduct of the war by them according
to the received code Of war are no less
important factors toward the determin-
alton Of the problem of belligerency
than are the influences and conse-
quences of the struggle upon the inter-
nal policy OF the recognizing state
NOT GRANTS KIND OFF WAR.
The wise utterances OF President Grant
in his memorial message of December
Z, 1875. are signally relevant TO the pres
ent situation in Cuba. and it may be
wholesome now to recall them. AT that
time Tuinous conflict had for seven
years wasted the neighboring island
During ali those years an utter disre-
gard of the laws of civilized warfare
and of the Just demands of humanity,
which called forth expressions of con-
demnation from the nations of Christen-
dom, continued unabatei. Desolation
and ruin pervsded that productive re-
gion. enormously affecting the COM
merce Of al commercial nations, but
that OF the United States more than any
other. by reason of proximity and larg-
er trade and intercourse. At that junct-
ure General Grant uttered these words.
which. now as then, cum up the elements
ot the problem:
"A recognition Of the Independence o,
Cuba being, in my opinion. impractical
ble and inistensible. the question which
next presents itself is that OF the recog-
milton Of belligerent rights in the par
ties TO the contest. In a former mes