The times., 1897-06-03
Inspired Misconception.

Friends of liberty everywhere VIII read
with satisfaction the report OF the i1ro-
ccedings at the woman's mass meeting
at the Columbia Theater on Tuesday.
When the women OF America take hold
| OF a burning subject like the warfare
| against their sex, tolerated by this Gov
| eminent, in Cuba; and when eXpoBents
of Christian civilization like the Rev. DR..
| Bryon Sunderland are bold enough 10 ';all
| a tinlorous Government to order, there
| indeed is room for the hope that some
thing soon may be forced from unwilling
| authority.
One thing in connection with the meet
| ing is OF exceptional interest, as Illus
| trating the fog with which the Admins
| tration has teen able TO ehvelop even
| the warmest and most earnest friends
of the cause. In his stirring address.
delivered on the occasion, Representa-
tive King, of Utah, said: Il know ,hat
| international law and convention pre-
vent Interference; but 1 do not believe
that God and the law OF nations require
that we shall not raise our voice when
people that should live are stricken down
by despots.''
1t is time that the American people
should understand the true position of
their Government at the bar OF civiliZa-
ton. The course pursued by the Cleve-
land. and, to this time, by the Mckinley
Administration, is Justified only by one
single writer, and not a leading one,
among all the authorities on international
law. Larmer says (Vol. l, p. 1922:
by recognizing belligerent rights, reu-
tral powers pronounce no Judgment what
ever, either on the merits of the claim
or the probability of its ultimate vindica-
tion. Belligerent recognition is a mere
| declaration of impartiality To with
hold from the claimant for recognition
the rights Of belligerency, while We ex-
tend them to the parent State, would
be plainly to take part in the war In
this dictum other recognized authorities
coincide Our course in regard to the
Cuban question has been nothing less
than an offensive alliance with Spain,
and, considering the infamous use to
which our Navy has been put, an sctive
participation in the hideous warfare OF
that power against peaceful peasants,
prisoners, the honor of womanhood, and
against sick men in hospitals and helpless
infancy.
One of the greatest writers on inter
national law, Bluntschn tyoelkerrect, sec
ton 81 %, says: "The quality OF belligerents
is, however, accorded TO arme parties who,
without having received from aireadyex-
listing State the tight to combat with armed
forces, have militarily organized themselves
and struggle in good faith, in their own
State, for "a political right" Out OF all
found but a single one to support ii In the
contention that, as conditions precedent
to the right to ask a recognition of bel
ligerency, an insurgept State or province
must be able to meet the armies Of its
tyrant in open, pitched battle, must have a
civil government in full and effcientor
ton, and must possess and maintain q
seaport. In view of all the authorities,
with the single exception of Dana in
his notes on Wheaton, the conditions Just
recited would constitute almost, If not
quite, State "de jure," not to say
something entirely beyond the condition of
a State "de facto," which latter, even, Is
superior to the situation universally re-
garded as sufficient to Justify recognition